Medical Terminology

BLS

Basic Life Support

ALS

Advanced Life Support

AED

Automatic External Defibrillator

EMT

Emergency Medical Technician

AEMT

Advanced EMT

BP

Blood Pressure

C/C

Chief Complaint

CO2

Carbon Dioxide

O2

Oxygen

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

HR

Heart Rate

LOC

level of consciousness, loss of consciousness

ALOC

altered level of consciousness

mg

milligram

g

gram

MOI

mechanism of injury

NOI

nature of illness

NREMT

National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians

SOB

shortness of breath

PRN

as needed

Shock

A condition of insufficient perfusion to the body's tissues

dyspnea

difficulty breathing

pediatrics

branch of medicine dealing with children and their diseases

geriatrics

branch of medicine dealing with older individuals and their medical problems

bariatrics

branch of medicine dealing with weight issues

obstetrics

branch of medicine concerned with pregnancy and childbirth

minor

Less than 18 years old

adult

(Legal) 18 years old or older

competent

capable (when making medical decisions)

incompetent

not capable (when making medical decisions)

stable

steady; not likely to move or change

unstable

unsteady; likely to have significant changes

prehospital

treatment (by EMS) before arrival to a hospital

systolic

related to contraction of the heart

diastolic

related to relaxation of the heart

tachycardia

fast heart rate

bradycardia

slow heart rate

ventilation

movement of air in and out of the lungs

respiration

exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide

perfusion

the supply of oxygen and nutrients to and removal of wastes from the cells and tissues

metabolism

the chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life

diaphoresis

profuse sweating

diaphoretic

a patient with diaphoresis

hypoglycemia

low sugar in the blood

hyperglycemia

high sugar in the blood

hypothermic

low body temperature

hyperthermic

high body temperature

patent

open

occluded

closed or obstructed

apnea

absence of breathing

apneic

a patient with apnea

hypoventilation

lower than normal ventilation

hyperventilation

higher than normal ventilation

saturation

the amount of a substance absorbed (usually oxygen)

cyanosis

a condition of being blue

cyanotic

a patient with cyanosis

mottling

condition of spotting with patches of color

edema

swelling

pulmonary

pertaining to the lungs

cardiac

pertaining to the heart

vascular

pertaining to blood vessels

paralysis

loss of motor function

parasthesia

abnormal sensation

vertigo

Condition of dizziness, "room spinning"

crepitus

a crackling or grating sound usually of bones

emesis

vomiting

pneumothorax

air in the thoracic (chest) cavity

hemothorax

blood in the thoracic (chest) cavity

hyperbaric

high pressure

indicated

appropriate in the circumstances

contraindicated

inappropriate in the circumstances

hemorrhage

excessive bleeding

catheter

A tube used to drain or inject fluid

midaxillary line

Line drawn vertically from middle of the armpit to ankle.

midclavicular

middle of the clavicle (collarbone)

anterior

front of the body or a body part

posterior

back part of the body or a body part

superior

toward the head (e.g., the chest is superior to the abdomen).

inferior

Away from the head, usually compared with another structure that is closer to the head (e.g., the lips are inferior to the nose). OR towards the feet.

proximal

Nearer to the trunk of the body

distal

Farther from the trunk of the body

prone

lying face down

supine

lying face up

medial

toward the midline of the body.

lateral

toward the side, away from midline of the body.

superficial

near the surface

deep

away from the surface

Semi-Fowler

Leaning back in a semi-sitting position

Fowler

Sitting fully upright

mL

milliliter

cc

cubic centimeter (same as mL)

kg

kilogram

PCR

Patient Care Report

BVM

bag valve mask

NRB

Non-rebreather mask

NC

nasal cannula

IV

intravenous

IM

intramuscular

IN

intranasal

PO

by mouth