AI - Unit 4 Test

Vocabulary flashcards covering bleeding control, shock, soft tissue, burns, chest/abdominal trauma, musculoskeletal, neuro, triage, and environmental emergencies.

Blood Vessels (Artery, Vein, Capillary)

Arteries carry oxygenated blood under high pressure; veins return de-oxygenated blood under lower pressure; capillaries allow exchange of gases and nutrients.

Perfusion

Adequate circulation of blood and oxygen to body tissues.

Hypoperfusion

State of inadequate perfusion; another term for shock.

Arterial Bleeding

Bright red, spurting bleeding that is difficult to control and rapidly life-threatening.

Venous Bleeding

Dark red, steady flow of blood; easier to control than arterial bleeding.

Capillary Bleeding

Slow, oozing blood loss from damaged capillaries.

External Bleeding Control Sequence

Direct pressure → Pressure dressing → Tourniquet → Hemostatic agent (if accessible).

Tourniquet

Device applied proximal to severe limb hemorrhage to stop blood flow when direct pressure fails.

Hemostatic Agent

Substance impregnated in gauze or powder that promotes rapid clotting in severe bleeding.

Early Signs of Shock

Anxiety, tachycardia, cool clammy skin, delayed capillary refill, pale color.

Compensated Shock

Early phase where body maintains blood pressure through sympathetic responses.

Decompensated Shock

Phase where compensatory mechanisms fail; falling BP, altered LOC.

Irreversible Shock

Final stage; widespread cell death despite adequate resuscitation.

Hypovolemic Shock

Shock from fluid or blood loss.

Cardiogenic Shock

Shock caused by inadequate heart pumping (e.g., MI).

Obstructive Shock

Shock due to mechanical obstruction of heart or great vessels (e.g., tamponade, tension pneumothorax).

Neurogenic Shock

Vasodilation shock from spinal cord injury disrupting sympathetic tone.

Hemorrhagic Shock

Most common type; hypovolemia specifically from blood loss.

Golden Hour

First 60 minutes after traumatic injury when prompt care improves survival.

Platinum 10 Minutes

Goal on-scene time for critical trauma patients before transport.

Rule of Palm

Patient’s palm (including fingers) ≈ 1% of body surface area for estimating burn size.

Major Functions of Skin

Protection, temperature regulation, sensation, fluid balance.

Abrasion

Superficial scrape to the epidermis.

Laceration

Cut with irregular or jagged edges.

Avulsion

Flap of skin torn loose or pulled off.

Open vs Closed Injury

Open breaks skin; closed does not break skin surface.

High-Pressure Injection Injury

Penetration of chemicals (paint, grease) at high pressure; causes deep tissue damage.

Amputated Part Care

Rinse, wrap in sterile moist dressing, seal in plastic bag, keep cool—not directly on ice.

Gunshot Wound

Penetrating trauma from firearm; treat as high-energy injury with possible cavitation.

Respiratory Failure

Inadequate ventilation or oxygenation leading to hypoxia/hypercapnia.

First-Degree Burn

Superficial; only epidermis; red and painful, no blisters.

Second-Degree Burn

Partial-thickness; epidermis + part dermis; blisters, intense pain.

Third-Degree Burn

Full-thickness; destroys all skin layers; leathery, charred, little pain.

Burn Severity

Determined by depth, % BSA, location, patient age, and associated injuries.

Electrical Burn

Injury from electrical current; may cause deep unseen tissue damage and arrhythmias.

Occlusive Dressing

Airtight, non-porous dressing used on neck, chest, abdominal wounds to prevent air entry/exit.

Sucking Chest Wound

Open pneumothorax where air enters pleural space during inspiration.

Immediate Treatment for Sucking Chest Wound

Gloved hand seal followed by occlusive dressing taped on three sides.

Evisceration

Protrusion of abdominal organs through wound.

Evisceration Treatment

Cover organs with moist sterile dressing, seal with occlusive dressing, flex knees if no spinal injury.

Cardiac Tamponade

Blood in pericardial sac compressing heart; Beck’s triad: JVD, muffled heart tones, narrowing pulse pressure.

Commotio Cordis

Sudden cardiac arrest from blunt chest impact during vulnerable repolarization phase.

Traumatic Asphyxia

Severe chest compression causing facial cyanosis, JVD, subconjunctival hemorrhage.

Solid Organs

Liver, spleen, kidneys; bleed profusely when injured.

Hollow Organs

Stomach, intestines, bladder; risk of spillage and peritonitis when ruptured.

Paradoxical Motion

Flail segment of chest moves opposite to normal breathing pattern.

Ligament

Fibrous tissue connecting bone to bone.

Tendon

Fibrous tissue connecting muscle to bone.

Axial Skeleton

Skull, spine, ribs, sternum.

Appendicular Skeleton

Limbs and girdles (shoulder, pelvis).

Periosteum

Pain-sensitive membrane covering bones.

Direct Force

Injury at point of impact.

Indirect Force

Injury occurs away from point of impact (e.g., fall on hand causing clavicle fracture).

Strain

Muscle or tendon overstretch/tear ("pulled muscle").

Sprain

Ligament injury from joint overstretching.

Traction Splint

Device applying longitudinal pull to stabilize mid-shaft femur fractures and reduce bleeding.

Compartment Syndrome

Increased pressure within fascial compartment impairing circulation and nerves.

Six Ps

Pain, Pallor, Paralysis, Paresthesia, Pulselessness, Poikilothermia—signs of neurovascular compromise.

Compare Injured vs Non-Injured Side

Assess color, temperature, pulses, sensation, movement to detect differences.

Musculoskeletal Injury

Any fracture, dislocation, sprain, or strain to bones, joints, or soft tissues.

Dislocation

Displacement of a bone from its joint.

Open Fracture

Broken bone with associated skin wound exposing bone.

Angulated Fracture

Bone fragments at an angle to each other causing limb deformity.

Pelvic Fracture Signs

Pain, instability, blood at urethral meatus, blood-stained underwear.

Pillow Splint

Supportive immobilization using pillows, often for ankle or knee injuries.

Spinous Process

Posterior bony projection off each vertebra.

Dermatome

Skin area supplied by a single spinal nerve root.

Motor Nerve

Carries impulses from CNS to muscles for movement.

Sensory Nerve

Transmits sensations from body to CNS.

Spinal Column Segments

Cervical 7, Thoracic 12, Lumbar 5, Sacral 5 fused, Coccyx 4 fused.

Cushing’s Triad

Bradycardia, hypertension (widened pulse pressure), irregular respirations—indicates increased ICP.

Direct Head Injury

Brain damage from direct impact (e.g., laceration, contusion).

Indirect Head Injury

Brain injury from acceleration-deceleration forces without external impact.

Epidural Hematoma

Arterial bleeding between skull and dura; rapid onset symptoms, lucid interval common.

Subdural Hematoma

Venous bleeding beneath dura; slower onset, common in elderly.

Posturing

Abnormal flexion (decorticate) or extension (decerebrate) indicating severe brain injury.

Avoid Hyperventilating Head Injury

Excessive ventilation lowers CO₂ causing cerebral vasoconstriction and worsened ischemia.

Battle’s Sign

Bruising behind ears indicating basilar skull fracture.

Raccoon Eyes

Periorbital bruising suggestive of basilar skull fracture.

Impaled Object

Leave in place, stabilize with bulky dressing unless obstructing airway or CPR.

Concussion

Temporary brain dysfunction without structural damage; LOC may or may not occur.

Contusion (Brain)

Bruising of brain tissue with localized swelling and bleeding.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

Score 3–15 assessing eye, verbal, motor responses to determine LOC.

GCS Categories

Eye (4), Verbal (5), Motor (6) response sections.

GCS Timing

Calculate at first patient contact and monitor for change en route.

C-Collar Sizing Issues

Too large causes neck extension; too small causes flexion—both worsen injury.

Log Roll

Coordinated move keeping spine in neutral alignment during roll.

Helmet Removal

Remove if airway can’t be accessed, helmet unstable, or doesn’t allow spinal immobilization.

Whiplash

Cervical strain/sprain from rapid flexion-extension motion.

Multi-Trauma

Patient with multiple injuries to same body system.

Multi-System Trauma

Injuries involving two or more body systems.

CDC Field Triage Four Categories

Physiologic, Anatomic, Mechanism of injury, Special considerations.

Heat Loss Mechanisms

Conduction, Convection, Radiation, Evaporation, Respiration.

Shivering

Involuntary muscle activity generating heat during hypothermia.

Passive Rewarming

Remove wet clothes, insulate patient; relies on own heat production.

Active Rewarming

External heat sources (hot packs, warm water); risk of rewarming shock.

Frostnip

Early cold injury; skin blanched, numb, but not frozen.

Frostbite

Frozen tissues; hard, waxy skin, possible blisters after thaw.

Hypothermic Pulse Check

Carotid pulse for 30–45 seconds due to bradycardia and weak pulse.

Hyperthermia

Abnormally high body core temperature > 101°F (38.3°C).