New York State EMT-B Exam Study Guide

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical terms, clinical signs, and emergency protocols for the EMT-B certification exam based on New York State standards.

Accessory Muscles

Muscles used while breathing that signify respiratory distress in a patient assessment.

Angina Pectoris

Diffused chest pain caused by spastic constriction of the arteries that often disappears with rest.

Myocardial Infarction

An acute disorder of the cardiovascular system caused by the sudden blockage of coronary arteries.

Implied Consent

Assumption of consent for emergency care when a patient is unconscious, or suffering from a life-threatening injury or illness.

Proximal

The anatomical term that is the opposite of distal.

Baseline Vital Signs

The purpose of the first set of vital signs taken to provide a standard for additional evaluations.

Cyanosis

A bluish skin color that, in darkly pigmented people, is best observed in the mucosal membranes.

Contusion

A localized soft tissue injury characterized by swelling and bruising, commonly referred to as a bruise.

Avulsion

A soft tissue injury characterized by a flap of skin or tissue.

Laceration

An open wound with jagged skin edges.

Abrasion

A localized soft tissue injury referred to as road rash.

Evisceration

A condition where bowel loops protrude through an abdominal laceration.

Tension Pneumothorax

A type of pneumothorax in which air enters the chest cavity and is prevented from escaping.

Mediastinum

The anatomical area including the heart, aorta, esophagus, trachea, and thymus gland.

Rule of Nines (Partial 45% case)

Burn calculation involving the chest, abdomen, back, buttocks, and right arm, where each area counts as 9% of the body surface.

Hypoglycemia

A medical term for low blood sugar concentration, characterized by rapid onset and an altered mental status often resembling a drunken stupor.

Insulin

A chemical substance that aids in the passage of sugar from the blood into the cells.

Cushing's Triad

A set of signs indicating brain injury in head trauma, consisting of increased blood pressure, decreased pulse rate, and irregular respiratory rate.

Incomplete Stoma

A neck opening where the EMS provider must seal the mouth and nose of the patient to perform effective ventilation.

Negligence

The failure to provide the same care that a person with similar training would provide in the same or similar situation.

Cardiac Output

$$\text{Stroke volume} \times \text{Heart Rate}$$

Vertebral Sections

The spinal column sequence consisting of cervical (7), thoracic (5), lumbar (12), sacral (5), and coccygeal (4).

Auscultation

The medical term defined as listening, such as to lung or heart sounds.

5 Stages of Grief

The psychological process consisting of 1. Denial, 2. Anger, 3. Bargaining, 4. Depression, and 5. Acceptance.

Obvious Signs of Death

Physical conditions including 1. Decomposition (putrefaction), 2. Rigor Mortis, 3. Dependent Lividity, and 4. Decapitation.