Emergency Care Chapter 30: Soft-Tissue Trauma

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering skin anatomy, wound types (open and closed), burn classifications, and dressing techniques from Chapter 30.

Soft Tissues

Body structures including skin, fatty tissues, muscles, blood vessels, connective tissues, membranes, glands, and nerves.

Epidermis

The outermost layer of the skin.

Dermis

The second layer of skin, located below the epidermis, which contains blood vessels and nerves.

Subcutaneous layers

The layers of fat and soft tissues found below the dermis.

Closed Wound

An internal injury with no pathway from the outside to the injured site, where the skin remains unbroken.

Contusion

A bruise; a closed wound where tissues beneath the skin are damaged or crushed.

Hematoma

A closed injury similar to a contusion but involving more tissue damage and the involvement of larger blood vessels.

Closed crush injury

An injury where force is transmitted from the exterior to internal structures, potentially rupturing solid organs (causing severe bleeding) or hollow organs (causing leaks into body cavities).

Abrasion

A type of open wound caused by the scraping or rubbing of the skin surface.

Laceration

A cut to the skin that may be smooth or jagged.

Puncture wound

A penetrating trauma caused by an object tearing through the skin and damaging soft tissues in a sharp, narrow path.

Avulsion

An injury where a flap of skin and soft tissue is torn loose or pulled off completely.

Amputation

The surgical or traumatic removal of a body part, such as a finger, toe, or limb.

Superficial burn (1st degree)

A burn involving only the epidermis, characterized by reddening with minor swelling.

Partial thickness burn (2nd degree)

A burn where the epidermis is burned through and the dermis is damaged, characterized by deep intense pain, reddening, blisters, and mottling.

Full thickness burn (3rd degree)

A burn in which all layers of the skin are burned, resulting in blackened areas or dry and white patches.

Rule of Nines

A method for estimating the extent of burn area where the adult body is divided into 11 main areas, each representing $9\%$ of the body surface.

Rule of palm

A method for estimating burn area where the patient's palm and fingers represent about $1\%$ of the total body surface area.

Dressing

Any material applied to a wound to control bleeding and prevent contamination.

Bandage

Any material used to hold a dressing in place.

Universal dressing

A dressing required for treating profuse bleeding or large wounds.

Pressure dressing

A dressing used specifically to control bleeding.

Occlusive dressing

A dressing used to form an airtight seal over wounds to the abdomen, large neck veins, or open wounds to the chest.