Chapter 33 (Burns) Vital Vocabulary EMS-150

Acute radiation syndrome (ARS)

A serious illness that occurs when a person is exposed to very high levels of radiation in a brief period. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, and headache

circumferential burn

A burn on the neck or chest, which may compress the airway, or on an extremity, which might act like a tourniquet.

coagulation necrosis

Cell death typically caused by ischemia or infarction

collagen

A protein that gives tensile strength to the connective tissues of the body.

Consensus formula

A formula that recommends giving 2–4 mL of lactated Ringer solution for each kilogram of body weight, multiplied by the percentage of total body surface area burned

contact burn

A burn produced by touching a hot object.

dermis

The inner layer of skin containing several specialized skin structures, including nerve endings, blood vessels, sweat glands, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands.

elastin

A protein that gives the skin its elasticity.

epidermis

The outermost layer of the skin that is the body’s first line of defense against water, dust, microorganisms, and mechanical stress.

escharotomy

A surgical cut through the eschar or leathery covering of a burn injury to allow for swelling and minimize the potential for development of compartment syndrome in a circumferentially burned limb or the thorax.

flame burn

A thermal burn caused by flames touching the skin.

flash burn

An electrothermal injury caused by arcing of electric current.

full-thickness burn

A burn that extends through the epidermis and dermis into the subcutaneous tissues beneath

homeostasis

A tendency to constancy or stability in the body’s internal environment.

hypovolemic shock

The shock or hypoperfusion caused by a burn injury and the tremendous loss of fluids. Capillaries leak, resulting in intravascular fluid volume oozing out of the circulation and into the interstitial spaces

integument

The skin.

Joule’s law

A description of the relationship between heat production, electrical current, and resistance.

liquefaction necrosis

A form of necrosis that results in the breakdown of protein and collagen, saponification of fats, dehydration of tissues, and thrombosis of blood vessels.

Lund-Browder chart

An accurate, more time-consuming method used to estimate the burned area that takes into consideration the changes in total body surface area affected by growth.

mucopolysaccharide gel

One of the complex materials found, along with the collagen fibers and elastin fibers, in the dermis of the skin.

Ohm’s law

The formula that describes the relationship between voltage and resistance

partial-thickness burn

A burn that involves the epidermis and varying degrees of the dermis, characterized by pain and blistering

rule of nines

A system that is based on dividing the body into 11 sections, each representing approximately 9% of the total body surface area burned.

rule of palms

A system that estimates the total body surface area burned by comparing the affected area with the size of the patient’s palm, which is roughly equal to 1% of the patient’s total body surface area

scald burn

A burn produced by hot liquids.

steam burn

A burn caused by direct exposure to hot steam exhaust.

subdermal burns

Burns in which all layers of the skin have been damaged, along with layers of fat, muscle, and bone or internal organs. These patients are often faced with debilitating and disfiguring injuries due to the damage done to the skin and underlying structures. Also called fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-degree burns.

subglottic

Located below the glottic opening, as in the lower airway structures.

superficial burn

A burn involving only the epidermis, which produces very red, painful skin

supraglottic

Located above the glottic opening, as in the upper airway structures.

thermal burn

An injury caused when skin is exposed to temperatures higher than 118°F (47.8°C), or when the heat absorbed by the skin exceeds the tissue’s capacity to dissipate it.

zone of coagulation

In a thermal burn, the central area of the skin that sustains the most damage. There is little or no blood flow to the injured tissue in this area, resulting in necrotic tissue incapable of repair.

zone of hyperemia

In a thermal burn, the area that is least affected by the burn injury

zone of stasis

In a thermal burn, the peripheral area surrounding the zone of coagulation that has decreased blood flow and inflammation