Key Concepts in Emergency Medical Services and Physiology

1966 White Paper Act

Legislation modernizing EMS in 1966.

CPR

Taught to the public starting in 1970.

EMT Funding (1973)

Financial support for Emergency Medical Technicians.

NHTSA

National Highway Traffic and Safety Act.

PSAP

Public Safety Answering Point.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Divides front/back parts of the body.

Transverse (Horizontal) Plane

Divides top/bottom parts of the body.

Sagittal (Medial) Plane

Divides left/right parts of the body.

Supine Position

Lying on the back.

Prone Position

Lying on the stomach.

Recovery Position

Lying on the left or right side.

Fowlers Position

Sitting upright at a 45-degree angle.

Trendelenburg Position

Feet elevated higher than the head.

Hypovolemic Shock

Shock due to low blood volume.

Cardiogenic Shock

Shock related to heart issues like CHF or MI.

Neurogenic Shock

Shock from spinal cord injury with low systemic vascular resistance.

Distributive Shock

Shock from conditions like anaphylaxis or sepsis.

Obstructive Shock

Shock from conditions like cardiac tamponade or tension pneumothorax.

Nitroglycerin

Vasodilator used for heart conditions.

Glucose

Oral sugar used for hypoglycemia.

Aspirin

Platelet inhibitor used for heart conditions.

Atrovent

Bronchodilator administered through a nebulizer.

Henry's Law

Gas law stating gas dissolved in liquid increases with pressure.

Boyle's Law

Gas law linking gas volume and pressure inversely at constant temperature.

Starling's Law

Describes heart's preload and contractility relationship.

Mild Hypoxia

Causes shortness of breath and mild confusion.

Severe Hypoxia

Can be fatal, with symptoms like confusion and loss of consciousness.

Preload

Blood volume in the heart before contraction.

Afterload

Resistance the heart faces when pumping blood out.

V/Q Mismatch

Ventilating without proper perfusion, seen in COPD and asthma.

Baroreceptors

Stretch-sensitive receptors in the aortic arch and carotid artery.

Fever Response

Increases body temperature to fight infections.

Cardiac output

The amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute, calculated by multiplying heart rate by stroke volume

Cushings reflex

A physiological response to increased cranial pressure characterized by elevated blood pressure and decreased heart rate

Jaundice

Yellowing of the skin and eyes, often indicative of liver dysfunction

Ascites

Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen

Edema

Swelling in the body's tissues due to excess fluid

Minute volume

The total volume of air moved in and out of the lungs per minute, calculated by multiplying respiration rate by tidal volume

Hypoxic drive

A mechanism where low oxygen levels stimulate an increase in respiratory rate

Perfusion

The process of body fluids, like blood, reaching organs and tissues through circulation

Anaerobic metabolism

Energy production without oxygen, leading to lactic acid build-up in muscles

Aerobic metabolism

Energy production using oxygen from breathing to burn carbohydrates, amino acids, and fats

Sodium-potassium pump

A cellular mechanism that maintains the cell's osmotic equilibrium and membrane potential by moving sodium out and potassium into the cell

Reticular activating system (RAS)

A brainstem network that regulates consciousness, arousal, and muscle tone

Metabolism by-products

Waste substances generated during metabolic processes that need to be excreted for cellular health

Plasma

The liquid part of blood containing water, proteins, electrolytes, and nutrients, responsible for transporting substances in the body

Red blood cells

Blood cells carrying oxygen to tissues and carbon dioxide to the lungs, containing hemoglobin

White blood cells

Cells of the immune system that defend against infections by identifying and destroying pathogens

Platelets

Cell fragments involved in blood clotting to prevent excessive bleeding

Synovial joints

Movable joints allowing various movements, like the knee, elbow, and shoulder joints

Cartilaginous joints

Joints connected by cartilage, such as those between ribs and sternum

Ball and socket joints

Joints providing the widest range of motion, found in the shoulder and hip

Hinge joints

Joints moving along a single plane, like the knee joint

Fibrous joints

Immovable joints like the skull joints

Pivot joints

Joints allowing rotation, such as those in the neck and forearm

Saddle joints

Highly flexible joints found in the thumb base and breastbone

Condyloid joints

Joints moving up and down and side to side, like the wrist joint

Heart valves

Structures in the heart directing blood flow, including tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral, and aortic valves

Ventricles

Heart chambers responsible for pumping blood to the lungs (right ventricle) and the body (left ventricle)

Arteries

Blood vessels carrying blood away from the heart, like the pulmonary artery and aorta

Upper airways

Air passages in the face, head, and neck responsible for cleaning and conditioning air

Lower airways

Air passages in the neck and chest involved in gas exchange, absorbing oxygen, and releasing carbon dioxide

Traumatic chest injuries

Injuries to the chest resulting in symptoms like bruising, shortness of breath, tachycardia, and hypotension

Spinal cord injuries

Injuries causing loss of movement, feeling, difficulty breathing, and incontinence