EMT Chapter 13,25-32

Afterload

The force or resistance against which the heart pumps

Anaphylactic shock

Severe shock caused by an allergic reaction

Anaphylaxis

An extreme, life-threatening, systemic allergic reaction that may include shock and respiratory failure.

Aneurysm

A swelling or enlargement of a part of an artery, resulting for the weakening of the arterial wall.

Autonomic nervous system

The part of the nervous system that regulates involuntary activities of the body, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion of food.

Cardia Tamponade

Compression of the heart as the result of buildup of blood or other fluid in the pericardial sac, leading to decreased cardiac output.

Cardiogenic shock

A state in which not enough oxygen is delivered to the tissues of the body, caused by low output of blood from the heart. It can be severe complications of a large acute myocardial infarction, as well as other conditions.

Compensated shock

The early stage of shock, in which the body can still compensate for blood loss.

Cyanosis

A blue skin discoloration that is caused by reduced level of oxygen in the blood. Seen (mucous membrane inside the inner lower eyelid & capillary refill)

Decompensated shock

The late stage of shock when blood pressure is falling

Dehydration

Loss of water from the tissues of the body

Disruptive shock

A condition that occurs when there is widespread dilation of the small arterioles, small venules, or both.

Edema

The presence of abnormally large amounts of fluids between the cells in the body tissues, causing swelling of the affected area.

Homeostasis

A balance of all systems of the body

Hypothermia

A condition in which the internal body temperature falls below 95 F (35 C)

Hypovolemic shock 

A condition in which low blood volume, due to massive internal or external bleeding or extensive loss of body water, results in adequate perfusion.

Irreversible shock

A condition defined by the inability to successfully achieve resuscitation regardless of the methods employed.

Myocardial contractility

The ability of the heart muscle to contract

Neurogenic shock

Circulatory failure caused by paralysis of the nerves that control the size of the blood vessels, leading to widespread dilation; seen in patients with spinal cord injuries.

Obstructive shock

Shock that occurs when there is a block to blood flow in the heart or great vessels, causing an insufficient blood supply to the body’s tissues.

Perfusion

The flow of blood through body tissues and vessels.

Pericardial effusion

A collection of fluid between the pericardial sac and the myocardium

Preload

The precontraction pressure in the heart as the volume of blood builds up.

Psychogenic shock

Shock caused by a sudden, temporary reduction in blood supply to the brain that causes fainting (syncope).

Pulmonary embolism

A blood clot that breaks off from a large vein and travels to the blood vessels of the lung, causing obstruction of blood flow.

Pulse pressure

The difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures

Sensitization

Developing a sensitivity to a substance that initially caused no allergic reaction.

Septic shock

Shock caused by severe infection, usually a bacterial infection.

Shock

A condition in which the circulatory system fails to provide sufficient circulation to maintain normal cellular functions; also called hypoperfusion

Sphincters

Muscles that encircle and, by contracting, constrict a duct, tube, or opening.

Syncope

A fainting spell or transient loss of consciousness

Arterial air embolism

Air bubbles in the arterial blood vessels

Blunt trauma

An impact on the body by objects that cause injury without penetrating soft tissues or internal organs and cavities.

Cavitation

A phenomenon in which speed causes a bullet to generate pressure waves, which cause damage distant from the bullet’s path.

Decerleration

The slowing of an object

Drag

Resistance that slows a projectile, such as air.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score

An evaluation tool used to determine level of consciousness, which evaluates and assigns point values (scores) for eye opening, verbal response, and motor response, which are then totaled; effective in helping predict patient outcomes.

Index of suspicion

Awareness that unseen life-threatening injuries may exist when determining mechanism of injury.

Kinetic energy

The energy of a moving object.

Mechanism of injury (MOI)

The forces, or energy transmission, applied to the body that cause injury;

Medical emergencies

Emergencies that require EMS attention because of illnesses or conditions not caused by an outside force.

Multisystem trauma

Trauma that affects more than one body system.

Penetration trauma

Injury caused by objects, such as knives and bullets, that pierce the surface of the body and damage internal tissues and organs.

Potential energy

The product of mass, gravity, and height, which is converted into kinetic energy and results in injury, such as from a fall.

Projectile

Any object propelled by force, such as a bullet by a weapon

Pulmonary blast injuries

Pulmonary trauma resulting from short-range exposure to the detonation of explosives.

Revised Trauma Score (RTS)

A scoring system used for patients with head trauma

Trajectory

The path a projectile takes once it is propelled

Trauma emergencies

Emergencies that are the results of physical forces applied to patient’s body

Trauma score

A score calculated from 1 to 16, with 16 being the best possible score. It relates to the likelihood of patient survival with the exception of a severe head injury. It takes into account the Glasgo Come Scale (GCS) score, respiratory rate, respiratory expansion, systolic blood pressure, and capillary refill.

Tympanic membrane

The eardrum; a thin, semitransparent membrane in the middle ear that transmits sound vibrations to the internal ear by means of auditory ossicles.

Work

The measure of force over distance.

Aorta

The main artery that receives blood from the left ventricle and delivers it to all the other arteries that carry blood to the tissues of the body.

Arterioles

The smallest branches of arteries leading to vast network of capillaries

Artery

A blood vessel, consisting of three layers of tissues and smooth muscles, that carries blood away from the heart.

Capollaries

The small blood vessels that connect arterioles and venules; various substances pass through capillary walls, into and out of the interstitial fluid, and then on to the cells.

Coagulation

The formation of clots to plug openings in injured blood vessels and stop blood flow.

Ecchymosis

A buildup of blood beneath the skin that produces a characteristic blue or black discoloration as the result of an injury; also see contusion.

Epistaxis

A nosebleed

Hematemesis

Vomited blood

Hematoma 

A mass of blood that has collected within the damaged tissue beneath the skin or in a body cavity.

Hematuria

Blood in the urine

Hemophilia

A hereditary condition in which the patient lacks one or more of the blood’s normal clotting factors.

Hemoptysis

The coughing up of blood

Hemorrhage

Bleeding

Hemostatic dressing

A dressing impregnated with a chemical compound that slows or stops bleeding by assisting with clot formation.

Hypoperfusion

A condition in which the circulatory system fails to provide sufficient circulation to maintain normal cellular functions; also called shock

Junctional tourniquet

A device that provides proximal compression of severe bleeding near the axial or inguinal junction with the torso.

Melena

Black, foul-smelling, tarry stool containing digested blood.

Open-book pelvic fracture

A life-threatening fracture of the pelvis caused by force that displaces one or both sides of the pelvis laterally and posteriorly. 

Pelvic binder

A device to splint the bony pelvis to reduce hemorrhage from bone ends, venous disruption, and pain.

Vasoconstriction

The narrowing of a blood vessel, such as with hypoperfusion or cold extremities.

Veins

The blood vessels that carry blood from the tissues to the heart.

Venules

Very small, thin-walled blood vessel.

Tourniquet

The bleeding control method used when a wound continues to bleed despite the use of direct pressure; useful if a patient is bleeding severely from a partial or complete amputation.

Abrasion

Loss or damage of the superficial layer of skin as a result of a body part rubbing or scraping across a rough or hard surface.

Amputation

An injury in which part of the body is completely severed.

Avulsion

An injury in which soft tissue is torn completely loose or is hanging as a flap

Burns

Injuries in which soft-tissue damage occurs as a result of thermal heat, frictional heat, toxic chemicals, electricity, or nuclear radiation.

Closed injuries

Injuries in which damage occurs beneath the skin or mucous membrane, but the surface of the skin remains intact.

Compartment syndrome

Swelling in a confined space that produces dangerous pressure; may cut off blood flow or damage sensitive tissue.

Contact burn

A burn caused by direct contact with a hot object

Contamination

The presence of infective organisms or foreign bodies such as dirt, gravels, and metal.

Contusion

A bruise from an injury that causes bleeding beneath the skin without breaking the skin.

Crushing injury

An injury that occurs when a great amount of force is applied to the body

Crush syndrome

Significant metabolic derangement that develops when crushed extremities’ or body parts remain trapped for prolonged periods. This can lead to renal failure and death.

Dermis

The inner layer of the skins, containing hair follicles, sweat glands, nerve endings, and blood vessels.

Epidermis

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

Evisceration

The displacement of organs outside the body

Excited delirium

A serious behavioral condition in which a person exhibits agitated behavior combined with disorientation, hallucinations, or delusions; also called agitated delirium or exhaustive mania.

Fascia

The fiber-like connective tissue that covers arteries, veins, tendons, and ligaments.

Flamer burn

A burn caused by an open flame

Flash burn

A burn caused by exposure to very intense heat, such as in an explosion

Full-thickness (third-degree) burns

Burns that affect all skins layers and may affect the subcutaneous layers, muscle, bone, and internal organs, leaving the area dry, leathery, and white, dark brown, or charred.

Impaled objects

Objects that penetrate the skin but remain in place

Incision

A sharp, smooth cut in the skin

Laceration

A deep, jagged cut in the skin

Mucous membranes 

The linings of body cavities and passages that communicate directly or indirectly with the environment outside the body

Occlusive dressing

An airtight dressing that protects a wound from air and bacteria; a commercial vented version allows air to passively escape from the chest, while an unvented dressing may be made of petroleum jelly-based (Vaseline) gauze, aluminum foil. or plastic.

Partial-thickness (second degree) burns

Burns that affect the epidermis and some portion of the dermis but not the subcutaneous tissue, characterized by blisters and skin that is white to red, moist, and mottled.