Anatomy and Physiology - EMT

Anatomic Position

The position of reference in which the patient stands facing you, arms at the side, with the palms of the hands forward.

Anterior

toward the front

Posterior

toward the back

Midaxillary

imaginary vertical line from the middle of the armpit to the angle

Divides the body into anterior and posterior

Midline

imaginary vertical line through the middle of the body: nose through umbilicus

Divides the body into right and left

Midclavicular

Imaginary vertical line through the midpoint of the clavicle, parallel to midline

Superior

Nearer to the head (used referencing head and torso)

Inferior

Nearer to the feet (used referencing head and torso)

Lateral

Part of body away from midline

Ex: Radius lateral

Medial

Part of the body toward the midline

Ex. Ulna medial

Proximal

Closer to the trunk (orgin)

Normally referencing arms and legs

Distal

Farther from the trunk of the body or nearer to the free end of the extremity

Normally referencing arms and legs

Dorsal

Posterior surface. Toward the back

Ex: Dorsalis pedis pulse

Palmer

Palm or front of hand (no fingers)

Plantar

Bottom of the foot

Ex: Planter wart

Prone position

lying face down. Never transport like this unless necessary.

i.e. Burns on back, cleaning bowel movement, etc

Must constantly checking ABC's

Supine position

lying on back, facing upward

Posterial surface

Fowler's position

Semi-sitting position, body sitting up at 45-degree angle, knees bent. Put a pillow/blanket under knees to elevate slightly (relaxes abdominal muscles thus preventing pain)

Semi-Fowler's Position

Semi-sitting position, body sitting up less than 45-degree angle (about 20 degrees), knees bent. Put a pillow/blanket under knees to elevate slightly (relaxes abdominal muscles thus preventing pain)

Use this position after some sort of abdominal surgery or trauma. Protects airway and keeps vomit down

Trendelenburg's position

the head of the bed is lowered and the foot of the bed is raised like a tilt table. For trauma patients, do not bend back. (no longer recommended)

-Reason for the position: For trauma pt. reduces bend in the spine. NOT for blood flow since only ~250mL of blood goes toward the head

Shock Position

Trendenleburg's position but with bend in the back. Legs are elevated.

Sim's position

Prone position with flexed hip openness perineum.

For: Rectal temperatures, cleaning bowel movement, etc

Seated or Exam position

Seated with 90 degree angle

Skeletal System

Gives the body shape, protects vital internal organs, and provides for body movement.

-About 206 bones in human body

Flexion

Bending of the join in the direction it wants to go

Extention

Bending of the join away from the direction it wants to go

Ribs

12 pair of ribs (24 total ribs)

True ribs

Ribs 1-7 because they attach directly to sternum

False ribs

Ribs 8-12 because they do not attach directly to the sternum

False floating ribs

Ribs 11-12 because they do not attach to the sternum or another rib ** (correct?)

Axial bones

Essential bones for life

Ex: Ribs, sternum, skull, etc

Appendicular bones

Not essential bones for life

Ex: Humerous, femur, etc

Cranium

Composed of a number of thick bones that fuse together to form a shell that holds and protects the brain

Temporal Bones

Bones that form the sides of the head in the ear region.

Parietal bones

Bones that form the sides and top of the cranium.

Occiptial bone

Hindmost bone of the skull, below the parietal bones; forms the back of the skull

Nasal bone

forms the bridge of the nose. Flexible cartilage

Zygomatic bones

Cheek bones

Mandible

Only moveable facial bone with a joint. Bottom jaw

Orbit

The eye socket, made up of the maxilla and zygoma.

Thyroid cartilage

Adam's apple. Firm prominence in the upper part of larynx

Cricoid Cartilage

A firm ridge of cartilage that forms the lower part of the larynx.

-Push down on it to help with intubation (helps see the vocal cords)

Cricothyroid membrane

A thin sheet of fascia that connects the thyroid and cricoid cartilages that make up the larynx.

Bronchi

Trachea connects the larynx with the main air passage of the lungs

Vertebra

Makes up the spine, 33 total vertebra

Cervical (neck) region

7 vertebra

Thoracic region (upper back)

12 vertebra

Lumbar region (lower back)

5 vertebra

Sacral region (back wall of the pelvis)

5 vertebra

Coccyx region (tailbone)

4 vertebra

Clavicle

Collar bone. Most commonly broken bone when ejected in multi-system trauma

Scapula

The shoulder blade

Sternum

The breastbone. Midline of the chest

Diaphram

Large, flat muscle at the bottom of the chest cavity that helps with breathing

-When expands pushes on the abdomen

Inhalation

Breathing in. Diaphram contracts

Active

Exhalation

Breathing out. Diaphram relaxes

Inactive

Pelvis

Inclosed by three bones: sacrum, and two pelvic bones.

Body cavity

Ilium

the large broad bone forming the upper part of each half of the pelvis.

Iliac crest

Found on the top of the hip bone/iilum

Ishial tuberosity

Circular bones used for ligaments to attach to

Femur

The thigh bone. Longest and one of the strongest bones

Tibia

Shin/Lower leg

Fibula

Lower leg. Calf bone

Tarsals

bones of the ankle

Metatarsals

bones of the foot between ankle and toes

Phalanges

Fingers, toes

Humerus

upper arm bone

Radius

lateral bone of the forearm

Thumb side. Radial pulse

Metacarpals

Base for each of five fingers

Carpals

wrist bones

Ligament

Connects bone to bone

Voluntary Muscles

Striated Muscle

Muscles you are able to control

Forms major muscle mass of body

Involuntary muscles

Smooth muscle

Automatic muscular functions of the body

No control of muscle

i.e. blood vessels

Cardiac Muscle

Involuntary muscle

ECG only reads heart muscle

Automaticity - makes own beat

Oropharynx

central portion of the pharynx between the roof of the mouth and the upper edge of the epiglottis

-Upper airway

Nasopharynx

Above roof of mouth

Epiglottis

Leaf shaped structure that allows air to pass into the trachea but prevents foods and liquid from entering the trachea during swallowing

Larynx

The voice box

Lower airway **

Thyroid cartilage

Adam's apple

Cricoid Cartilage

Firm cartilage ring forming the lower portion of the larynx

Trachea

The windpipe

About 5" long. Semi-rigid, enclosed air tube made up of rings of cartilage that are open in the back

Divides into left and right bronchi

Bronchi

Splits trachea and each main bronchus goes into the right and left lung

Each main bronchus branches within the lung into smaller and smaller airways

Lung overview

Lungs have a total of 5 lobes. Right lung has three lobes, left lung has two lobes (to make room for the heart)

Alevoli

Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs within the alevoli of each lobe

Pleura

Membrane surrounding the lungs

Visceral Pleura

Covers the lungs. A smooth glistening tissue

Parietal Pluera

Between ribs and lungs. Acts like velcro **

Pleura Space

Between parietal pleura and visceral pleura.

Diaphram

Skeletal and smooth muscle

Divides abdomen and thorax

Air

Environmental oxygen: 21%

Exhaled: 16% (consume about 5%)

Characteristics of normal breathing

Should be quiet, effortless, with equal chest rise

Rate:

Adult (8-10+): 12-20 breaths/minute

Child: (1-8): 15-30 breaths/minute

Infant: (0-1): 25-50 breaths/minute

Quality:

Deep enough breaths for oxygen exchange to occur

Infant/Child airway

Proportionally smaller airway relative to tongue, and more flexible as such they are more easily obstructed

Sclera

white of the eye

Cornea

The clear tissue that covers the front of the eye

Lens

the transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina

Retina

the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information

Conjunctiva

The delicate membrane lining the eyelids and covering the eyeball

Optic Nerve

the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain

Liver

produces bile, RUQ

Gallbladder

stores bile, attached to liver, RUQ