Jones And Bartlett EMT Course

AEMT

an individual who has training in specific aspects of advanced life support, such as IV therapy and the administration of certain emergency medications.

ALS

advanced lifesaving procedures, some of which are now being provided by the EMT

ADA Act

comprehensive legislation that is designed to protect people with disabilities against discrimination

AED

device that detects treatable life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia) and delivers the appropriate electrical shock to the patient.

community paramedicine

a health care model in which experienced paramedics receive advanced training to equip them to provide additional services in the prehospital environment, such as health evaluations, monitoring of chronic illnesses or conditions, and patient advocacy.

IV therapy

the delivery of medication directly into a vein

medical control

physician instructions given directly by radio or cell phone (online/direct) or indirectly by protocol/guidelines (off-line/indirect), as authorized by the medical director of the service program

medical director

the physician who authorizes or delegates to the EMT the authority to provide medical care in the field

MIH

a method of delivering health care which involves providing health care within the community rather than at a doctor's office or hospital

National EMS Scope of Practice Model

a document created by the NHTSA that outlines the skills performed by various EMS providers.

primary prevention

efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occurring

public health

focused on examining the health needs of entire populations with the goal of preventing health problems.

secondary prevention

efforts to limit the effects of an injury or illness that you cannot completely prevent.

abduction

motion of a limb away from the midline

adduction

motion of a limb toward the midline

anterior

the front surface of the body; the side facing you in the standard anatomic position

apex

the pointed extremity of a conical structure

bilateral

a body part or condition that appears on both sides of the midline

combining vowel

the vowel used to combine two word roots or a word root and suffix

deep

farther inside the body and away from the skin

distal

further from the trunk or nearer to the free end of the extremity

dorsal

the posterior surface of the body, including the back of the hand

extension

the straightning of a joint

flexion

the bending of a joint

fowler position

an inclined position in which the head of the bed is raised

inferior

below a body part or nearer to the feet

lateral

parts of the body that lie farther from the midline; also called outer structures

medial

parts of the body that lie closer to the midline; also called inner structures

palmar

the forward facing part of the hand in the anatomic position

plantar

the bottom surface of the foot

posterior

the back surface of the body; the side away from you in the standard anatomic position

prefix

part of a term thatr appears before a word root, changing the meaning of the term

prone

lying face down

proximal

closer to the trunk

quadrants

describes the sections of the abdominal cavity, in which two imaginary lines intersect at the umbilicus, dividing the abdomen into four equal areas

suffix

the part of a term that comes after the root word, at the end of the term

superficial

closer to or on the skin

superior

above a body part or nearer to the head

supine

lying face up

ventral

the anterior surface of the body

word root

the main part of a term that contains the primary meaning

abdomen

the body cavity that contains the major organs of digestion and excretion. it is located below the diaphragm and above the pelvis

acetabulum

the depression on the lateral pelvis where its three component bones join, in which the femoral head fits snugly

adam's apple

a firm prominence of cartilage that forms the upper part of the larynx. it is more prominent in men than in women. also called the thyroid cartilage

adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

the nucleotide involved in energy metabolism; used to store energy

adrenal glands

endocrine glands located on top of the kidneys that release adrenaline when stimulated by the sympathetic nervous system

adrenergic

pertaining to nerves that release the neurotransmitter norephinephrine, or noradrenaline (such as adrenergic nerves, adrenergic response); also pertains to the receptors acted on by neorepinephrine

aerobic metabolism

metabolism that can proceed only in the presence of oxygen

agonal gasps

abnormal breathing pattern characterized by slow, gasping breaths, sometimes seen in patients in cardiac arrest

alpha-adrenergic receptors

portions of the nervous system that, when stimulated, can cause constriction of blood vessels

alveoli

the air sacs of the lungs in which the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place

anaerobic metabolism

the metabolism that takes place in the absene of oxygen; the main by-product is lactic acid

anatomic position

the position of reference in which the patient stands facing forward, arms at the side, with the palms of the hands forward

aorta

the main artery leaving the left side of the heart and carrying freshly oxygenated blood to the body

appendicular skeleton

the portion of the skeletal system that comprises the arms, legs, pelvis, and shoulder girdle

appendix

a small, tubular structure that is attached to the lower border of the cecum in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen

arterioles

the smallest branches of arteries leading to the vast network of capillaries

articular cartilage

a pearly layer of specialized cartilage covering the articular surfaces (contact surfaces on the ends) of bones in synovial joints

atrium

one of the two upper chambers of the heart

autonomic nervous system

the part of the nervous system that regulates functions, such as digestion and sweating, that are not controlled voluntarily

axial skeleton

the part of the skeleton comprising the skull, spinal column, and rub cage

ball-and-socket joint

a joint that allows internal and external rotation, as well as bending

beta-adrenergic receptors

portions of the nervous system that, when stimulated, can cause an increase in the force of contraction of the heart, an increased heart rate, and bronchial dilation

biceps

the large muscle that covers the front of the humerus

bile ducts

the ducts that convey bile between the liver and intestine

blood pressure

the pressure that the blood exerts against the walls of the arteries as it passes through them

brachial artery

the major vessel in the upper extremities that supplies blood to the arm

brain

the controlling organ of the body and center of consciousness; functions include perception, control of reactions to the environment, emotional responses, and judgement

brain stem

the area of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebrum, surrounded by the cerebellum; controls functions that are necessary for life, such as respiration

capillary vessels

the tiny blood vessels between the arterioles and venules that permit transfer of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste between body tissues and the blood

cardiac muscle

the heart muscle

cardiac output

a measure of the volume of blood circulated by the heart in 1 minute, calculated by multiplying the stroke volume by the heart rate

carotid artery

the major artery that supplies blood to the head and brain

cartilage

the smooth connective tissue that forms the support structure of the skeletal system and provides cushioning between bones; also forms the nasal septum and portions of the outer ear

cecum

the first part of the large intestine, into which the ileum opens

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord

cerebellum

one of the three major subdivisions of the brain, sometimes called the little brain' coordinates the various activities of the brain, particularly fine body movements

cerebrospinal fluid

fluid produced in the ventricles of the brain that flows in the subarachnoid space and bathes the meninges

cerbrum

the largest part of the three subdivisions of the brain, sometimes called the gray matter; made up of several lobes that control movement, hearing, balance, speech, visual perception, emotions, and personality

cervical spine

the portion of the spinal column consisting of the first seven vertebrae that lie in the neck

chordae tendineae

thin bands of fibrous tissue that attach to the valves in the heart and prevent them from inverting

chyme

the substance that leaves the stomach. it is a combination of all of the eaten foods with added stomach acids

circulatory system

the complex arrangement of connected tubes, including the arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins, that moves blood, oxygen, nutrients, carbon dioxide, and cellular waste throughout the body

clavicle

the collar bone; it is lateral to the sternum and anterior to the scapula

coccyx

the last three or four vertebrae of the spine; the tail bone

coronal plane

an imaginary place where the body is divided into front and back parts

cranium

the area of the head above the ears and eyes; the skill. the cranium contains the brain

cricoid cartilige

a firm ridge of cartilage that forms the lower part of the larynx

cricothyroid membrane

a thin sheet of fascia that connects the thyroid and cricoid cartilages that make up the larynx

dead space

any portion of the airway that does contain air and cannot participate in gas exchange, such as the trachea and bronchi

dermis

the inner layer of the skin, containing hair follicles, sweat glands, nerve endings, and blood vessels

diaphragm

a muscular dome that forms the undersurface of the thorax, separating the chest (from the chest wall muscles) brings air into the lungs. relaxation allows air to be expelled from the lungs

diastole

the relaxation, or period of relaxation, of the heart, especially of the ventricles

diffusion

movement of gas from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration

digestion

the processing of food that nourishes the individual cells of the body

dorsalis pedis artery

the artery on the anterior surface of the foot between the first and second metatarsales

endocrine system

the complex message and control system that integrates many body functions, including the release of hormones

enzymes

substances designed to speed up the rate of specific biochemical reactions

epidermis

the outer layer of skin, which is made up of cells that are sealed together to form a water-tight protective covering for the body

epiglottis

a thin, leaf-shaped valve that allows air to pass into the trachea but prevents food and liquid from entering