EMT Vocabulary

Hypovolemia

A state of decreased blood volume. Shock.

Acute

With rapid onset.

Agonal Respirations

Gasping type respirations that have no pattern and occur very infrequently; a sign of impending cardiac or respitory arrest.

Apneic

Temporary absence or cessation of breathing.

Artery

Blood vessel that carries blood AWAY from the heart.

Aspiration

Breathing a foreign substance into the lungs.

Avulsion

A loose flap of skin and soft tissue that has been torn loose or pulled completely off.

Brachial Artery

Major artery of the upper arm.

Bradycardia

Low heart rate.

Bradypnea

Low respiratory rate.

Carotid Artery

One of two major arteries of the neck.

Chronic

Long term, progressing gradually.

Constricted

Narrowed, made small.

Contraindication

Situation in which a medicine should not be used.

Contusion

A closed injury to the cells.

Convulsion

Unresponsiveness accompanied by a generalized jerky muscle movement affecting the entire body.

Crepitus

The sound or feel of broken fragments of bone grinding against each other.

Crowing

A sound similar to a crow. Indicates that the muscles around the larynx are in spasm and beginning to narrow the opening of the trachea.

Cyanosis

A blue-grey color of the mucous membranes/skin indicating inadequate oxygenation or poor perfusion.

Distal

Distant, or far from point of reference.

Dorsal

Toward the back or spine.

Dorsalis Pedis Artery

Artery on the top surface of the foot.

Dyspnea

Shortness of breath or perceived difficulty in breathing.

Edema

Swelling caused by fluid accumulating in the tissues.

Fowler Position

Patient is lying on their back with their upper body elevated at a 45 - 60 degree angle.

Hypercarbia

Increased carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

Hyperglycemia

High blood sugar. Blood glucose level greater than 120 mg/dL.

Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar. Blood glucose level less than 50 mg/dL.

Hypoxemia

Decreased oxygen levels in the blood.

Hypoxia

The absence of sufficient oxygen in the body cells.

Inferior

Beneath, lower, or toward the feet.

Lateral

Left or right of the midline, away from the midline.

Multisystem Trauma

Trauma in which more than one major body system is involved.

Pleural Space

Small space between the visceral and parietal pleura that is at negative pressure and filled with serous fluid.

Pnemothorax

Air in the pleural space causing collapse of the lung.

Prolapsed Cord

Umbilical cord, rather than the head of the fetus is the first part to protrude from the vagina.

Proximal

Near the point of reference. Opposite of distal.

Pulseless Electrical Activity

The heart generates relatively normal electrical rhythms but fails to purfuse the body adequately due to decreased or absent cardiac output from cardiac muscle failure.

Renal

Referring to the kidneys.

Respiratory Arrest

Complete stoppage of breathing. Also known as Apnea.

Respiratory Distress

Increased respiratory effort due to impaired respiratory function, while tidal volume and respiratory rate are still adequate.

Respiratory Failure

Insufficient respiratory rate and or tidal volume.

Tachycardia

Fast heart rate. Greater than 100 bpm.

Tachypnea

Faster breathing rate than normal.