Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology Review

Anterior

the front surface of the body, the side facing you in the standard anatomic position

Posterior

the back surface of the body, the side away from you in the standard anatomic position

Dorsal

the posterior surface of the body, including the back of the hand

Ventral

the anterior surface of the body

Superior

above a body part or nearer to the head

Inferior

below a body part or nearer to the feet

Superficial

closer to or on the skin

Deep

farther inside the body and away from the skin

Distal

father from the trunk or nearer to the free end of the extremity

Proximal

closer to the trunk (point of attachment)

Medial

parts of the body that lie closer to the midline, also called inner structures

Transverse plane

an imaginary horizontal line where the body is divided into top and bottom parts

Midsagittal plane

an imaginary vertical line drawn from the middle of the forehead through the nose and the umbilicus to the floor, dividing the body into equal left and right halves

Frontal plane

divides the body into a front and back half

Thoracic cavity

hollow space surrounded by the rib cage and the diaphragm that contains the heart, lungs, esophagus, thymus. It comprises three compartments

Abdominal cavity

The cavity within the abdomen, the space between the abdominal wall and the spine.

The four quadrants

of the abdominal cavity, right upper quadrant, left upper quadrant, right lower quadrant, left lower quadrant

Describe the Trendelenburg position

patient is supine and feet are elevated above the head, 15-30 degree incline. used when people pass out while donating blood

Describe the Fowlers position

Head and torso raised between 45 and 60 degrees. sitting position

Semi-Fowlers position

15-45 degrees

Supine position

position when lying face up

Prone position

position when lying face down

Midline

divides the body into halves that are mirror-images of each other.

Mid axillary line

divides body into anterior and posterior

Palpation

touching the sight, auscultation

Describe 5 functions of blood

fights infections, transport oxygen, transports carbon dioxide, controls pH, transport wastes and nutrients, clotting, fights off disease

Plasma

a sticky, yellow fluid that carries blood cells and nutrients and transports cellular waste and material to the organs of excretions. the water and other non living substances in the blood

Vein

the blood vessels that carry blood away from the tissues to the heart. carry deoxygenated blood toward heart

Artery

a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. carry oxygenated blood away from the heart

Capillary

small vessels that connect arterioles and venules, passes substances into cells. diffusion of gases and nutrients between cells and blood

Red blood cell

carry oxygen to the body's tissues (erythrocytes)

White blood cell

immune defense against infections (antibodies/leukocytes)

Platelet

essential in formation of blood clot

What blood vessels surround alveoli?

capillaries

Write the steps of how a single red blood cell goes into and out of the heart.

SVC/ICC, right atrium, tricuspid valve, right ventricle, pulmonary semilunar valve, pulmonary arteries, lungs, pulmonary veins, left atrium, mitral valve, left ventricle, aortic semilunar valve, aorta

Blood on the left side of the heart has (oxygenated, deoxygenated) blood

oxygenated

The (left, right) ventricle is the strongest and most muscular part of the heart

left

Describe the steps to follow to find a blood pressure

wrap cuff around arm and line up arrow with artery, find antecubital heartbeat with stethoscope, pump up cuff to 160 mmHg, slowly release air, listen for what heartbeat starts and stops

Describe what the diastolic number is

the pressure between heart beats when left ventricle is at rest (atria contracting), bottom bp number

Describe what the systolic number is

increased pressure when ventricles contract, top bp number

Describe what happens in the heart at the P, QRS and T phases of an EKG

P wave: the right and left atrial depolarization

QRS: depolarization of the ventricles

ST: repolarization of the ventricles

SA node originates electrical pulse, electricity goes to both atria, both atria contract, electricity moves to AV node, AV node boosts strength of impulse and sends electricity to both ventricles, both ventricles contract

What contracts first in the heart and what contracts next?

atria, then ventricles

What makes the lub, dub sound in the heart?

lub sound comes from tricuspid and bicuspid closing, dub sound comes from aortic valve and pulmonary valve closing

Automaticity

the ability of cardiac muscle cells to contract without stimulation from the nervous system

Myocardial infarction

heart attack, area(s) of the heart muscle don't get enough oxygen. arteries are blocked and areas of the heart die from a lack of oxygen

Stroke

interruption of blood flow (hemorrhage o clot) to the brain that results in the loss of brain functions (cerebrovascular accident)

Pathophysiology

the study of how normal physiologic process are affected by disease

(Platelets or Plasma or Leukocytes) are the main material needed to form a clot

platelets

What is the function of the spleen?

RBC filter from the bloodstream and digested in the spleen

List all the actions an EMT could take to assist a patient in cardiac distress

begin high quality CPR, use an AED, give oxygen, give nitro/aspirin

Where is the location of the femoral pulse?

groin (inner thigh)

What is the pulse called on the top of the foot?

dorsalis pedis

Describe three functions of the skeletal system

provide structural support to bear the body's weight, establish a framework to attach soft tissues and internal organs, protect vital organ, produce red blood cells

The thigh bone is the

femur

The two lower leg bones are the

tibia, fibula

The two bones of the forearm are the

radius, ulna

Which one is on the thumb side?

radius

The upper arm is the

humerus

The shoulder is the

scapula

Where specifically is the ilium?

pelvis (upper bowl part)

Where is the xiphoid process?

narrow cartilaginous structure, inferior tip of the sternum

What bone is called the tailbone?

coccyx

What are the bones that make up the thorax?

the 12 thoracic vertebrae and their 12 pairs of ribs

The small bones in the wrist are called what?

carpals

Where is the ischium?

lower pelvis, forms part of the coxa

What is another name for the eye socket?

zygomatic bones

List all the things an EMT could do to help a patient with skeletal problems.

stabilize injury (c-spine, tourniquet), medication to relieve pain

What do smooth muscles in the body control?

involuntary muscle (organs)

What do skeletal muscles in the body control?

attach to bone, voluntary movement

The (smooth, skeletal) muscles control the size of the bronchioles in the lungs AND the size of blood vessels.

smooth

Describe four functions of the digestive system

mechanical processing, digestion, absorption of food, secretion of water, excretion

What organ absorbs all the nutrients?

small intestine

What is the function of the liver?

renders poisonous substances from digestion harmless. produce bile to assist in breakdown of fats, assist in metabolism

What is the flap that covers the trachea when you swallow food?

epiglottis

What is metabolism?

digestion and breakdown of food. the chemical processes that occur within a living organism to maintain life

What is the key nutrient needed to create ATP?

glucose

What is the main function of the stomach?

breakdown of food (chemical and mechanical digestion)

What is the main function of the small intestine?

absorb nutrients

What can an EMT give if a patient has swallowed a poison?

activated charcoal

Describe four functions of the respiratory system.

pulmonary ventilation, external respiration, transport of respiratory gasses, internal respiration

List the areas that air moves through on the way to the alveoli.

mouth, nasal cavities, pharynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli

What percentage of oxygen is in the air we breathe?

21%

How much air is expelled and then taken in when we exhale and inhale?

16% oxygen, 3% carbon dioxide, 79% nitrogen. 7-8 L

Describe the process of inhalation. Use the terms diaphragm, rib muscles and diffusion

the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, it moves down (enlarging the thoracic cage from top to bottom). When the intercostal muscles contact, they move the ribs up and out. This part is active, requiring muscle contraction. Diffuses air back in

Exhalation is an active process that requires energy. T or F

False

Inhalation is an active process that requires energy. T or F

True

Describe the process of exhalation. Use the terms diaphragm, rib muscles, and diffusion.

When you breathe out, or exhale, your diaphragm relaxes and moves up into your chest cavity. As the space in your chest cavity gets smaller, air rich in carbon dioxide is forced out of your lungs and windpipe, and then out your nose or mouth

What key chemical reaction takes place in the mitochondria that depends on oxygen and nutrients?

cellular respiration

Choking usually occurs in the (upper or lower) airway?

upper

What blood vessels surround the alveoli in the lungs?

capillaries

Patent airway

airway is open (nothing blocking it)

Hypoxia

lack of oxygen

Cyanotic

blue skin color caused by reduced level of oxygen in the blood

Hypercapnia

high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood

What are all the things an EMT can do when a patient is in respiratory distress?

airway management, oxygen, CPAP, chest decompression, bronchodilators, epinephrine, nitroglycerin

Write three functions of the skin

protect the body from the environment, maintain normal body temperature, transmit sensory information (touch, pain, pressure, temperature) from the environment to the brain

What is a hormone?

stimulate or inhibit body organs/systems, chemical messengers

Name four hormones

epinephrine, norepinephrine, insulin, cortisol, estrogen, glucagon, parathyroid, testosterone, thyroxine

What organ makes the hormone insulin?

pancreas

Describe the function of insulin

rapidly move glucose into cells (lower blood glucose). regulate blood sugar levels