EMT vocab test 1

Abandonment

Ending care for a patient without making sure another qualified person takes over.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Bulging/weakening of the aorta in the stomach; can rupture and cause deadly bleeding

Agonal Respirations

Gasping, irregular breaths right before death; not real breathing.

Apnea

Absence of breathing

Asthma

Airways swell and tighten, making it hard to breathe.

Avulsion

Injury where skin or tissue is torn loose or hanging.

Bradycardia

Heart rate too slow (below 60 bpm in adults).

Cardiac Tamponade

Fluid around the heart that squeezes it, stopping it from pumping well.

Cholecystitis

Inflamed gallbladder (usually from gallstones); causes upper right stomach pain.

Chyne Stokes

Breathing that goes from deep to shallow, then stops for a bit, then repeats; seen near death or brain injury.

Cilia

hair-like structures on the surface of cells that play a crucial role in both movement and sensory functions

Circumferential

encircling or surrounding something. It refers to the outer boundary or perimeter of a structure or area

Commotio Cordis

a rare but potentially fatal cardiac event that occurs when a sudden, blunt impact to the chest—usually from a ball, puck, or other object—triggers a dangerous heart rhythm

Compartment Syndrome

when pressure builds up inside a closed muscle compartment, restricting blood flow and damaging muscles, nerves, and tissues

COPD

COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. a progressive lung disease that makes it hard to breathe over time and often causing symptoms like a chronic cough, mucus production, and shortness of breath

Crohns Disease

type of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation anywhere in the digestive tract — from the mouth to the anus, often affecting the small and large intestines

CVA

cerebrovascular accident (stroke) Blood flow to brain is blocked or bleeding occurs; brain damage results.

Cystic Fibrosis

Genetic disease causing thick mucus in lungs and digestive system.

Ecchymosis

bruise

epiglottis

Flap that keeps food from going into airway.

epiglottitis

Swelling of the epiglottis; can block airway.

Epistaxis

Nosebleed

Evisceration

Internal organs coming out through wound.

Full Thickness Burn

Burn through all skin layers (3rd degree burn)

Good Samaritan Law

Protects people who help in emergencies from being sued, if acting in good faith.

Hematemesis

Vomiting blood.

Hematochezia

Bright red blood in stool.

Hematoma

Swelling with blood under skin (a big bruise)

Hematuria

Blood in urine.

Hemoptysis

Coughing up blood.

Hemorrhagic

Relating to heavy bleeding.

Hep B

Liver infection caused by a virus; spread through blood and fluids

HIV/AIDS

Virus that weakens immune system; leads to AIDS.

Homeostasis

Body keeping balance/stable conditions.

Hypoperfusion (Shock)

Not enough blood flow to organs/tissues

Ischemic

Tissue not getting enough blood/oxygen.

Isotonic Solutions

IV fluids with same salt level as body

Kussmaul

Deep, rapid breathing; often in diabetic ketoacidosis

Levine’s Sign

Patient clutching chest with fist (sign of heart attack).

Melena

Black, tarry stool (digested blood).

Meninges

Protective layers around brain and spinal cord

Meningitis

Infection of meninges; causes fever, headache, stiff neck.

MMR

Vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella

Myocardial Infarction

Blocked blood flow to heart muscle (Heart attack)

Negligence

Failing to provide proper care, causing harm.

Nuchal Rigidity

neck stiffness

Orthostatic Hypotension

Drop in blood pressure when standing up, causes dizziness/fainting.

Partial thickness burn

Burn through first and part of second skin layer; blistering and pain. (second degree)

Perfusion

Blood/oxygen getting to tissues.

Pericarditis

Inflammation of sac around heart.

Pericardium

Sac that surrounds the heart

Peritonitis

Inflammation of lining of stomach; usually from infection.

Pertussis

Whooping cough, Highly contagious lung infection with severe cough.

Photophobia

Sensitivity to light.

Pleura

Lining around lungs and inside chest wall

Pneumonia

Infection in lungs causing cough, fever, trouble breathing.

Pulmonary Embolism

Blood clot stuck in lung artery; blocks blood flow.

Pulsus Paradoxus

Drop in blood pressure during inhalation; seen in cardiac tamponade, asthma.

Puncture

Small, deep wound from sharp object.

Respiration

Breathing in oxygen, out carbon dioxide.

Rhonchi

Low, rattling lung sounds; mucus in airways.

Salivation

producing saliva

Shock

Not enough blood flow/oxygen to body; life-threatening

Stridor

High-pitched sound when breathing in; airway blockage.

Superficial Burn

Only top skin layer; red, painful (like sunburn). (first degree)

Syncope

Fainting

Tachycardia

Heart rate over 100 bpm.

Tachypnea

Rapid breathing

Tidal Volume

Air moved in or out with one normal breath.

Traction

Pulling force to align or stabilize (like for broken femur).

Tuberculosis (TB)

Bacterial lung infection, spreads by cough.

Ulcerative Colitis

Chronic inflammation of colon causing ulcers and bleeding.

Ventilation

Moving air in and out of lungs.

Ventricular Fibrillation (V-Fib)

Heart quivers, no pumping; cardiac arrest.

Ventricular Tachycardia (V-Tach)

Fast heart rhythm from ventricles; can lead to cardiac arrest.

Wheezing

High-pitched whistling sound when breathing out; narrowed airways