Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured: The Human Body

Vocabulary flashcards for reviewing key terms and concepts related to the human body as covered in the Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured textbook.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of the human body.

Physiology

The study of the function of the human body.

Pathophysiology

The study of how normal physiological processes are affected by disease.

Topographic Anatomy

Applies to a body in the anatomic position, where the patient stands facing you with arms at the side and palms forward.

Coronal (frontal) plane

Divides the body into front and back sections.

Sagittal (lateral) plane

Divides the body into left and right sections.

Midsagittal (midline) plane

Divides the body into equal left and right halves.

Transverse (axial) plane

Divides the body into top and bottom sections.

Tissues

Cells that share a common function.

Organs

Groups of tissues that perform similar or interrelated jobs.

Body systems

Organs with similar function working together.

Axial skeleton

Foundation to which the arms and legs are attached; includes the skull, facial bones, thoracic cage, and vertebral column.

Appendicular skeleton

Includes the arms, legs, their connection points, and the pelvis.

Ball-and-socket joint

Allows rotation and bending.

Hinge joint

Motion restricted to flexion and extension.

Cranium

Made up of 4 bones in the skull

Face

Made up of 14 bones in the skull.

Spinal column

Composed of 33 bones (vertebrae) divided into 5 sections: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx.

Thorax

Formed by 12 thoracic vertebrae and 12 pairs of ribs; thoracic cavity contains the heart, lungs, esophagus, and great vessels.

Shoulder girdle

Clavicle, Scapula, and Humerus.

Humerus

The supporting bone of the arm.

Radius

The lateral bone in the forearm.

Ulna

The medial bone in the forearm.

Carpals

Principal bones of the wrist.

Metacarpals

Principal bones of the hand.

Phalanges

Principal bones of the fingers.

Pelvic girdle

Consists of two coxae (hip bones), sacrum, and coccyx; each pelvic bone is formed by fusion of the ilium, ischium, and pubis.

Femur

Longest bone in the body and connects into the acetabulum (pelvic girdle) by a ball-and-socket joint.

Patella

Kneecap.

Tibia

Shinbone; anterior of the lower leg.

Fibula

Lateral side of the lower leg.

Tarsal bones

7 bones contained in the feet.

Metatarsal bones

5 bones form the substance of the foot.

Musculoskeletal system

Provides form, upright posture, movement, and protection of vital internal organs.

Skeletal muscle

Voluntary muscle.

Smooth muscle

Involuntary muscle, such as in the digestive system.

Cardiac muscle

Specialized muscle of the heart.

Diaphragm

Primary muscle of breathing.

Inhalation

Active part of the respiratory cycle where the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, decreasing pressure in the thoracic cavity, and the lungs fill with air.

Exhalation

Passive portion of the respiratory cycle where the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, and the thoracic cavity returns to its normal shape and volume.

Respiration

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the alveoli and tissues.

Diffusion

Passive process in which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Hypoxic drive

A condition in which chronically low levels of oxygen in the blood stimulate the respiratory drive; seen in some people with chronic lung diseases.

Tidal volume

Amount of air moved into or out of the lungs during a single breath.

Residual volume

The gas that remains in the lungs to keep the lungs open.

Dead space

The portion of the respiratory system that has no alveoli and where little or no exchange of gas between air and blood occurs.

Minute volume

Respiratory rate multiplied by tidal volume.

Systemic circulation

Circulation of blood throughout the body.

Pulmonary circulation

Circulation of blood through the lungs.

Atrium

Upper chamber of the heart.

Ventricle

Lower chamber of the heart.

Stroke volume (SV)

Amount of blood moved by one beat of the heart.

Cardiac output (CO)

Amount of blood moved in 1 minute.

Aorta

The main artery that branches into numerous other arteries.

Pulmonary artery

Carries oxygen-poor blood to the lungs.

Capillaries

Connect arterioles to venules and allow contact between blood and cells.

Superior vena cava

Carries blood returning from the head, neck, shoulders, and upper extremities.

Inferior vena cava

Carries blood from the abdomen, pelvis, and lower extremities.

Plasma

The liquid component of blood.

Red blood cells (erythrocytes)

Cells that transport oxygen.

White blood cells (leukocytes)

Cells that fight infection.

Platelets

Components of blood necessary for clotting.

Systole

When the left ventricle of the heart contracts, it pumps blood from the ventricle into the aorta.

Diastole

When the muscle of the ventricle relaxes, the ventricle fills with blood.

Perfusion

Circulation of blood in an organ or tissue in adequate amounts to meet the needs of the cells.

Hypoperfusion

Inadequate blood supply to organs, tissues, and cells.

Sympathetic nervous system

Responsible for the fight-or-flight response.

Epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline)

Secreted to stimulate the heart and blood vessels.

Baroreceptors

Sense pressure in the blood vessels.

Central nervous system (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral nervous system

Consists of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.

Cerebrum

The controlling organ of the body: subdivision of the brain.

Cerebellum

Subdivision of the brain.

Brainstem

Subdivision of the brain.

Cerebrospinal fluid

Cushions and protects the brain and spinal cord.

Somatic nervous system

Transmits signals from the brain to voluntary muscles.

Autonomic nervous system

Controls involuntary actions and is split into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Sensory nerves

Carry information from the body to the CNS.

Motor nerves

Carry information from the CNS to muscles.

Epidermis

The superficial layer of the skin.

Dermis

The deeper layer of the skin.

Hormones

Released directly into the bloodstream in the Endocrine System.

Kidneys

Located in the Urinary System, filter and eliminate wastes, and control pH balance.

Aerobic metabolism

Metabolism that uses oxygen.

Anaerobic metabolism

Metabolism when oxygen is limited.

Hypoxia

An insufficiency of oxygen in the body's tissues.

Hypercarbia

Increased carbon dioxide level in the bloodstream.

V/Q ratio

How much gas is being moved effectively through the lungs / How much blood is flowing around the alveoli where perfusion occurs.