Chapter 32 (Soft Tissue Trauma) Vital Vocabulary EMS-150

abrasion

A superficial wound that occurs when the skin is rubbed or scraped over a rough surface and part of the epidermis is lost.

amputation

An avulsion involving the complete or partial loss of a body part, typically one or more of the extremities.

avulsion

An injury that leaves a piece of skin or other tissue partially or completely torn away from the body.

bandage

Material used to secure a dressing in place.

chemotactic factors

The factors that cause cells to migrate into an area of injury.

closed wound

An injury in which damage occurs beneath the skin or mucous membrane but the epidermis remains intact.

collagen

A tough, fibrous protein found in scar tissue, hair, bones, and connective tissue

contusion

A bruise

degloving

A traumatic injury that results in the soft tissue of a part of the body being drawn downward like a glove being removed.

dermis

The inner layer of skin, containing hair follicle roots, sweat glands, blood vessels, nerve endings, and sebaceous glands.

desquamation

The continual shedding of the nonliving cells on the surface of the skin.

dressing

Material used to directly cover a wound and control bleeding.

ecchymosis

Extravasation of blood under the skin that produces a black-and-blue mark.

epidermis

The outer, visible layer of the skin.

epithelialization

The formation of new epithelial tissue to heal a wound.

erythema

Reddening of the skin.

fasciitis

Inflammation of the fascia.

flexor tenosynovitis of the hand

A closed-space infection of the hand, which is usually the result of penetrating trauma.

gangrene

An infection commonly caused by Clostridium perfringens, which results in tissue destruction and gas production that may lead to death.

granulocytes

Cells that contain granules.

hematoma

A localized collection of blood beneath the skin that results from injury or a broken blood vessel.

high-pressure injection injuries

A type of injury that occurs when a foreign material is forcefully injected into soft tissue.

homeostasis

The tendency toward constancy or stability in the body’s internal environment.

hypertrophic scar

An abnormal scar with excess collagen that does not extend past the borders of the wound margins.

incision

A wound usually made deliberately, as in surgery

integument

The skin.

keloid scar

An abnormal scar commonly found in people with darkly pigmented skin

laceration

A cut inflicted by a sharp instrument, such as a knife or razor blade, or by a blunt force that tears the tissue, producing a jagged wound through the skin surface and underlying structures.

lymphangitis

Inflammation of the lymph channels.

myositis

Inflammation of the muscle, usually caused by injury, infection, or overuse of a muscle.

necrotizing fasciitis

Death of tissue from bacterial infection, caused by more than one infecting organism—most commonly group A Streptococcus.

neovascularization

Development of new blood vessels to bring oxygen and nutrients to the injured tissue.

open wound

An injury in which there is a disruption in the skin or the mucous membrane, exposing deeper tissue to potential contamination.

paronychia

Bacterial infection located near the nail plate.

pedicle

A narrow strip of tissue by which an avulsed piece of tissue remains connected to the body.

phagocytosis

The process in which cells ingest damaged cellular parts, foreign products, and bacteria.

puncture wound

An injury resulting from a piercing object, such as a nail or a knife

rabid

Describes an animal that is infected with rabies.

scar revision

A surgical procedure to improve a scar’s appearance, reestablish function, or correct disfigurement from soft-tissue damage, surgical incision, or lesion.

tension lines

The pattern of tautness of the skin, which is arranged over body structures and affects how well wounds heal.

tetanus

A disease caused by infection with an anaerobic bacterium, Clostridium tetani

thermoregulation

The process by which the body maintains temperature through a combination of heat gain by metabolic processes and muscular movement and heat loss through breathing, evaporation, conduction, convection, and perspiration.