EMT Final Exam Study Guide

Flashcards for key vocabulary terms

Cardiac Output

Amount of blood that passes through the heart in one minute.

Tricuspid Valve

Located between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Mitral Valve

Located between the left atrium and left ventricle.

Aortic Valve

Located between the left ventricle and the aorta.

Pulmonic Valve

Located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.

SA Node

Primary pacemaker of the heart.

AV Node

Secondary pacemaker of the heart.

Automaticity

Cardiac muscle's unique ability to generate electrical impulses independently.

Epiglottis

Located superior to the larynx; prevents food/liquid from entering airway.

Cheyne-Stokes Respirations

Fast and deep breathing followed by periods of apnea (often seen in head injuries).

Kussmaul Respirations

Deep, gasping breathing (often seen in diabetic ketoacidosis).

Stable Angina

Chest pain that resolves with rest and nitroglycerin.

Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)

Chest pain caused by death of heart muscle cells.

Left-sided Heart Failure

Signs include wet lung sounds, pink frothy sputum, productive cough.

Right-sided Heart Failure signs

Signs include jugular vein distension, peripheral edema.

Cardiac Tamponade signs

Presents with jugular vein distension and dropping blood pressure.

Urticaria

Medical term for hives.

Obstructive Shock

Can result from pulmonary embolism.

Hemophilia

Main concern is uncontrollable bleeding.

Nuchal Cord

Umbilical cord wrapped around baby's neck.

Abruptio Placenta

Premature separation of placenta from uterine wall.

Ectopic Pregnancy

Typically occurs in fallopian tube.

Scope of Practice

Range of care an EMT is legally able to provide.

Standing Orders

Protocols designating what EMT is required to do for specific complaints.

Implied Consent

Used for unconscious patients unable to provide consent.

Express Consent

Direct permission from patient.

Direct Contact

Person-to-person transmission.

Indirect Contact

Via inanimate objects transmission.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Regulates all radio communications in US.

Pneumothorax signs and symptoms

Signs/Symptoms: Chest pain, difficulty breathing, diminished lung sounds on affected side, possibly tachycardia.

COPD Exacerbation

Signs/Symptoms: Diminished breath sounds, wheezing, rhonchi, intercostal retractions, difficulty speaking in full sentences.

Croup

Key symptoms: Stridor, barking/seal-like cough.

Wheezing

Associated with bronchial constriction (asthma, COPD).

Rales/Crackles

Associated with fluid in alveoli.

Rhonchi

Low-pitched rumbling sounds from secretions in larger airways.

Stridor

High-pitched inspiratory sound indicating upper airway obstruction.

Atherosclerosis

Buildup of plaque inside vessel walls.

Atria

Upper chambers of the heart.

Ventricles

Lower chambers of the heart.

Compensated Shock

Anxiety, weak/rapid pulse, rapid/shallow breathing.

Decompensated Shock

Falling BP, deteriorating mental status.

Irreversible Shock

End-organ damage, death imminent.

Distributive Shock

Includes septic, neurogenic, and psychogenic shock.

Hemorrhagic Shock

Type of hypovolemic shock.

Neurogenic Shock

Unique presentation with warm, dry skin.

Cardiogenic Shock

Often caused by AMI.

Evisceration

Bowel protrusion.

Glasgow Coma Scale Components

Eye opening (4), verbal response (5), motor response (6).

Placenta Previa

Heavy vaginal bleeding without pain.

Abruptio Placentae

Painful vaginal bleeding.

Eclampsia

Preeclampsia + seizures.

Meconium

Indicated by greenish amniotic fluid, suggests fetal distress.

Heat Exhaustion

Key transition to heat stroke is confusion.

Triage Categories - Red

Immediate (critical but salvageable).

Triage Categories - Yellow

Delayed (serious but stable).

Triage Categories - Green

Minor (walking wounded).

Triage Categories - Black

Deceased/expectant.

Albuterol

Bronchodilator for COPD/asthma exacerbations.

Naloxone

Opioid overdose reversal.

Nitroglycerin

Vasodilator for chest pain, preload/afterload reduction.

ABCDE

Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure.

AVPU

Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive.

Rigor Mortis

Stiffening of body muscles after death.