Soft-Tissue Injuries and Burns

Essential vocabulary and concepts from the emergency medical technician lecture regarding soft-tissue injury types, skin anatomy, burn classifications, and trauma management.

Epidermis

The tough, external layer of the skin that forms a watertight covering for the body.

Dermis

The inner layer of skin that lies below the germinal cells of the epidermis and contains accessory structures like hair follicles, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands.

Sebaceous glands

Glands that produce sebum, the oily material that waterproofs the skin and keeps it supple.

Mucous membranes

A layer of tissue that lines body openings such as the mouth, nose, and vagina, secreting a watery substance for lubrication.

Contusion

More commonly known as a bruise; an injury that causes bleeding beneath the skin but does not break the epidermis.

Ecchymosis

The characteristic blue or black discoloration of the skin caused by a buildup of blood underneath the surface.

Hematoma

A collection of blood that is larger than a contusion, occurring within damaged tissue or in a body cavity when a blood vessel is damaged.

Crush syndrome

A condition caused when an area of the body is trapped for an extended time (usually more than $1_{}\text{hour}$) with compromised arterial blood flow, leading to the release of harmful metabolic by-products upon extrication.

Compartment syndrome

A condition where edema and swelling result in increased pressure within a closed soft-tissue compartment, which interferes with circulation and can lead to muscle weakness and numbness.

Pressure ulcers

Also known as bedsores or decubitus ulcers; these form when body weight cuts off blood flow to the skin, which can occur in as little as $45_{}\text{minutes}$.

Abrasion

A wound to the superficial layer of skin caused by friction when a body part rubs or scrapes across a rough or hard surface.

Laceration

A jagged cut in the skin caused by a sharp object or a blunt force that tears the tissue.

Incision

A sharp, smooth cut in the skin.

Avulsion

An injury that separates various layers of soft tissue so that they become completely detached or hang as a flap.

Amputation

An injury in which a part of the body is completely severed.

Impaled object

Any object that penetrates the skin and remains in place.

Evisceration

An abdominal injury where internal organs protrude through an open wound.

Air embolism

A potentially fatal condition where air is sucked into a blood vessel (common in open neck injuries), blocking blood flow into the lungs.

Rabies

An acute, potentially fatal viral infection of the central nervous system transmitted through the saliva of a rabid animal via an open wound.

Superficial burn

Also called a first-degree burn; involves only the epidermis, causing redness and pain but no blisters.

Partial-thickness burn

Also called a second-degree burn; involves the epidermis and some portion of the dermis, characterized by moist, red skin and blisters.

Full-thickness burn

Also called a third-degree burn; extends through all skin layers and can involve muscle, bone, or internal organs, appearing dry, leathery, and often charred.

Rule of palms

A method of estimating the surface area of a burn by comparing it to the size of the patient's palm, which equals approximately $1\%_{}$ of the total body surface area (TBSA).

Rule of nines

A measurement system that divides the body into sections each representing approximately $9\%_{}$ of the total body surface area (TBSA) to estimate burn extent.

RICES

A mnemonic for the emergency treatment of closed soft-tissue injuries: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, and Splinting.

Occlusive dressing

A dressing made of petroleum jelly-based gauze, aluminum foil, or plastic that prevents air and liquids from entering or exiting a wound.

rad

The unit for Radiation Absorbed Dose; the amount of radiation absorbed by an object or person.

rem

Radiation Equivalent Man; a unit used to account for the effects of different types of radiation on human tissue.

Inverse square law

A law of physics stating that doubling the distance from a radiation source reduces the intensity of the source to $\frac{1}{4}_{}$ of its original strength.