Chapter 26 - Bleeding

Aorta

The main artery that receives blood from the left ventricle and delivers it to all the other arteries that carry blood to the tissues of the body

Arterioles

The smallest branches of arteries leading to the vast network of capillaries

Artery

A blood vessel, consisting of three layers of tissue and smooth muscle, that carries blood away from the heart

Capillaries

The small blood vessels that connect arterioles and venules; various substances pass through capillary walls, into and out of the interstitial fluid, and then on to the cells

Coagulation

The formation of clots to plug openings in injured blood vessels and stop blood flow

Contusion

A bruise from an injury that causes bleeding beneath the skin without breaking the skin; also see ecchymosis

Ecchymosis

A buildup of blood beneath the skin that produces a characteristic blue or black discoloration as the result of an injury; also see contusion

Epistaxis

A nosebleed

Hematemesis

Vomited blood

Hematoma

A mass of blood that has collected within damaged tissue beneath the skin or in a body cavity

Hematuria

Blood in the urine

Hemophilia

A hereditary condition in which the patient lacks one or more of the blood's normal clotting factors

Hemoptysis

The coughing up of blood

Hemorrhage

Bleeding

Hemostatic Dressing

A dressing impregnated with a chemical compound that slows or stops bleeding by assisting with clot formation

Hypoperfusion

A condition in which the circulatory system fails to provide sufficient circulation to maintain normal cellular functions; also called shock

Hypovolemic Shock

A condition in which low blood volume, due to massive internal or external bleeding or extensive loss of body water, results in inadequate perfusion

Junctional Tourniquet

A device that provides proximal compression of severe bleeding near the axial or inguinal junction with the torso

Melena

Black, foul-smelling, tarry stool containing digested blood

Open-Book Pelvic Fracture

A life-threatening fracture of the pelvis caused by a force that displaces one or both sides of the pelvis laterally and posteriorly

Pelvic Binder

A device to splint the bony pelvis to reduce hemorrhage from bone ends, venous disruption, and pain

Perfusion

The circulation of blood within an organ or tissue in adequate amounts to meet the current needs of the cells

Shock

A condition in which the circulatory system fails to provide sufficient circulation to maintain normal cellular functions; also called hypoperfusion

Tourniquet

The bleeding control method used when a wound continues to bleed despite the use of direct pressure; useful if a patient is bleeding severely from a partial or complete amputation

Vasoconstriction

The narrowing of a blood vessel, such as with hypoperfusion or cold extremities

Veins

The blood vessels that carry blood from the tissues to the heart

Venules

Very small, thin-walled blood vessel