EMT Day One: The Human Body, Terminology, and Patient Assessment

Fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering anatomical positions, medical terminology, patient assessment mnemonics, vital signs, radio and driving protocols, and aeromedical considerations for EMT students.

The anatomical position in which a patient lies face up is called __.

Supine

A patient lying face down is in the __ position.

Prone

The position used to help maintain a clear airway in an unconscious breathing patient is the __ position.

Recovery

Positioning a patient at roughly 45° is known as the __ position.

Semi-Fowler's

Placing a patient upright at about 90° is called the __ position.

High Fowler's

The imaginary line that divides the body into equal right and left halves is the __.

Midline

Moving toward the midline of the body is termed __.

Medial

Moving away from the midline is termed __.

Lateral

A location toward the head is described as __.

Superior

A location toward the feet is described as __.

Inferior

Closer to the point of attachment on a limb is __; farther away is __.

Proximal / Distal

The front surface of the body is the __ aspect.

Anterior

The back surface of the body is the __ aspect.

Posterior

The prefix "Gastro-" refers to the __.

Stomach

The prefix "Myo-" refers to __ tissue.

Muscle

The prefix "Pulmo-" pertains to the __.

Lungs

The color prefix "Cyano-" indicates the color __.

Blue

The suffix "-itis" means __.

Inflammation

The suffix "-rrhea" denotes __ or flow.

Discharge

Respiration that occurs without oxygen and yields only 2 ATP per glucose is called __ respiration.

Anaerobic

The passive movement of water across a semipermeable membrane is __.

Osmosis

The passive movement of particles from high to low concentration is __.

Diffusion

Scene size-up begins with the __ call.

Dispatch

During scene size-up, the first consideration is __ safety (personal, partner, patient).

Safety

MOI stands for __.

Mechanism of Injury

NOI stands for __.

Nature of Illness

The mnemonic AVPU is used to assess a patient’s __.

Level of Consciousness

In AVPU, "V" represents response to __ stimuli.

Verbal

The patient-stated reason for calling 911 is called the __.

Chief Complaint

The "A" in the ABCs of primary assessment stands for __.

Airway

Normal adult capillary refill should be under __ seconds.

2

In the SAMPLE history, the letter "A" stands for __.

Allergies

In SAMPLE, "M" stands for __.

Medications

In OPQRST, the letter "P" refers to __ and palliation.

Provocation

In OPQRST, "S" stands for __.

Severity

The central pulse commonly checked in adults is the __ pulse.

Carotid

A normal SpO2 value ranges from % to %.

94 / 100

Normal blood glucose for an adult is – mg/dL.

80 / 100

Pupil assessment documented as equal, round, and reactive to light is abbreviated __.

PERRL

In DCAP-BTLS, the "A" stands for __.

Abrasion

A rapid head-to-toe assessment should take – seconds.

60 / 90

At a roadway incident, you should establish a __ zone to protect from traffic.

Buffer

Before speaking on the radio, press the transmit button for about __ second.

1

When driving the ambulance, only pass other vehicles on their __ side.

Left

No one should talk to the driver in a __ cockpit.

Sterile

A helicopter landing zone should measure approximately ft × ft.

100 / 100

Aeromedical transport is NOT used for patients in __ arrest.

Cardiac

The suffix "-algia" denotes __.

Pain

The suffix "-edema" denotes __.

Swelling

The "G" in a full vital-sign set often refers to the __ Coma Scale.

Glasgow

In a blood pressure reading, the top number represents __ pressure.

Systolic

In OPQRST, asking "Does the pain go anywhere else?" addresses __.

Radiation