Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Comprehensive Lecture Review

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering EMT core concepts, vital signs, anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, airway management, and legal aspects of emergency care.

Perfusion

The adequate delivery of oxygenated blood to the cells of the body to support cellular metabolism and sustain life.

Shock

A state of hypoperfusion characterized by a failure in the circulatory or respiratory system that prevents cells from receiving adequate oxygen, leading to cellular dysfunction and death.

Aerobic Metabolism

Cellular respiration that occurs in the presence of oxygen ($\text{O}_2$), providing sufficient energy ($\text{ATP}$) to maintain the sodium/potassium ($\text{Na}^+/\text{K}^+$) pump while yielding water, carbon dioxide ($\text{CO}_2$), and heat as byproducts.

Anaerobic Metabolism

Cellular respiration that occurs in the absence of oxygen, leading to the failure of the sodium/potassium pump, the conversion of pyruvic acid to lactic acid, harmful acid buildup, and cellular death.

Bag Valve Mask (BVM)

A handheld positive-pressure ventilation device used to deliver breaths to patients experiencing respiratory arrest, agonal breathing, or inadequate respirations.

Agonal Respiration

Abnormal, gasping, shallow breaths occurring near the end of life or during cardiac arrest that do not provide adequate ventilation.

Apnea

A complete cessation or absence of spontaneous breathing.

Snoring

A sound audible without a stethoscope caused by the tongue partially obstructing the upper airway at the level of the pharynx.

Gurgling

A noisy airway sound heard without a stethoscope indicating the presence of fluid in the upper airway, requiring immediate suctioning for no more than $15\text{ seconds}$.

Stridor

A harsh, high-pitched respiratory sound audible without a stethoscope, indicating partial obstruction of the upper airway at the level of the larynx.

Wheezing

A high-pitched musical sound audible through a stethoscope caused by constriction, bronchospasm, and inflammation narrowing the internal diameter of the bronchioles.

Crackles (Rales)

A bubbling or clicking sound heard with a stethoscope when fluid fills and surrounds the alveoli, frequently associated with left-sided heart failure.

Rhonchi

A coarse, low-pitched rattling sound audible with a stethoscope caused by mucus and secretions blocking the larger bronchioles.

Jugular Vein Distention (JVD)

An abnormal bulging of the external jugular veins in the neck caused by venous blood backing up due to right-sided heart failure.

Spinal Column Divisions

The five structural regions of the vertebral column consisting of 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, and 5 lumbar vertebrae, followed by the sacrum and coccyx.

Abdominal Quadrants

Anatomical division of the abdomen into Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ), Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ), Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ), and Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) around the midline to localize organs.

Ventricular Fibrillation (VFIB)

A disorganized, trembling cardiac dysrhythmia where the heart shivers erratically without pumping blood, usually lasting approximately $4\text{ minutes}$ before terminating into asystole.

Asystole

The complete cessation of all mechanical and electrical activity within the heart, displayed as a flatline on an EKG.

Assault

An intentional act that creates an apprehension or fear of imminent offensive or harmful contact without requiring actual physical touch.

Battery

The unlawful, intentional, or unwanted physical touching of a patient without legal authority or valid consent.

Expressed Consent

Explicit permission for care granted directly by a conscious, competent adult, communicated either verbally or through clear nonverbal action (such as rolling up a sleeve).

Implied Consent

The legal doctrine assuming that an unconscious, incapacitated, or severely altered patient would consent to life-saving emergency care if capable of making an informed decision.

Informed Consent

A legal agreement where a patient gives permission to receive care after being fully educated about the treatment, risks, and alternatives.

Involuntary Consent

Treatment and transport provided to an individual against their explicit will based upon legal mandates, psychiatric hold orders (e.g., 5150), or law enforcement custody.

Against Medical Advice (AMA)

A refusal form signed by a mentally competent patient who declines emergency treatment or transport after being explicitly warned of all potential risks, up to and including death.

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order

A legally binding advance directive signed by a physician and patient requesting that healthcare providers withhold CPR in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest.

False Imprisonment

The unlawful and intentional detention, physical restraint, or confinement of a person against their will without legal authority.

Good Samaritan Law

Statutory protection designed to shield ordinary citizens and off-duty first responders from civil liability when rendering emergency aid in good faith without gross negligence.

HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, a federal regulation designed to safeguard the privacy and security of a patient's Protected Health Information (PHI).

Negligence

The failure of a provider to perform the expected standard of care, resulting in accidental harm or injury to a patient due to carelessness or violation of established protocols.

Scope of Practice

The defined set of medical interventions, skills, and procedures an EMT is legally authorized and certified to execute by their state licensing agency.

Standard of Care

The benchmark of care, skill, and judgment that an equally trained and reasonable EMT would provide under identical or similar field conditions.

Abandonment

The termination of medical care without the patient's consent and without properly transferring care to an equally or more qualified healthcare provider.

EMTALA

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, a federal statute ensuring that individuals who present to emergency departments receive an examination and stabilization regardless of their ability to pay.

Dependent Lividity

A presumptive sign of death where gravity causes blood to settle into the lowest areas of the body, creating deep purple discoloration.

Rigor Mortis

A definitive, postmortem chemical stiffening of the body's skeletal muscles occurring several hours after death.

Systolic Blood Pressure

The pressure measurement recording the maximum force exerted by blood against the arterial walls during ventricular contraction.

Diastolic Blood Pressure

The pressure measurement recording the residual force within arterial walls while the ventricles of the heart are at rest and refilling.

Pulse Pressure

The numerical difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings, expressed as $\text{Systolic} - \text{Diastolic}$.

Tachycardia

An abnormally rapid resting heart rate exceeding $100\,\text{bpm}$.

Bradycardia

An abnormally slow resting heart rate measuring below $60\,\text{bpm}$.

Cyanosis

A blue-gray discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes indicating poor perfusion, inadequate respiration, or severe hypoxia.

Jaundice

A yellowish pigmentation of the skin, sclera, and mucous membranes indicative of liver disease or dysfunction.

Pallor

Paleness or unnatural loss of color in the skin resulting from vasoconstriction, blood loss, shock, anemia, or syncope.

PEARL

A diagnostic assessment mnemonic used to evaluate the pupils: Pupils Equal And Reactive to Light.

Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale

A standardized visual pain assessment tool composed of six illustrated cartoon facial expressions rated in increments from 0 (No Hurt) to 10 (Hurts Worst).

Minute Volume

The volume of air inhaled and exhaled per minute, calculated using the formula $\text{Minute Volume} = \text{Tidal Volume} \times \text{Frequency of Ventilation}$.

Hypoxic Drive

A secondary respiratory regulation mechanism where low levels of arterial oxygen, rather than high levels of carbon dioxide, stimulate the drive to breathe.

Upper and Lower Airway Divisions

The structural categorization of the respiratory system separated by the cricoid cartilage into the upper airway (pharynx, larynx) and lower airway (trachea, bronchi, alveoli).

Cardiac Output (CO)

The total volume of blood pumped out of a ventricle in one minute, determined by the formula $\text{CO} = \text{Heart Rate (HR)} \times \text{Stroke Volume (SV)}$.

Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR)

The resistance to blood flow created by the systemic arterial vasculature, which increases with vasoconstriction and decreases with vasodilation.

Blood Components (Centrifuged)

The physical fractionation of whole blood into three layers: $55\%$ plasma, $1\%$ buffy coat (white blood cells and platelets), and $45\%$ red blood cells.

Cardiac Conduction System

The network of specialized neuromuscular cells including the Sinoatrial (SA) node, Internodal pathway, Atrioventricular (AV) node, Bundle of His, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers that govern heart contractions.

Skin Layers

The three anatomical divisions of the integumentary system: the protective outer epidermis, the vascular dermis containing sensory receptors and nerves, and the underlying subcutaneous layer.

Hypovolemic

A condition characterized by an abnormally low volume of circulating blood or intravascular fluid in the body.

Hyperglycemia

An abnormally elevated concentration of glucose circulating in the blood stream.

Bradypnea

An abnormally slow respiratory rate.

Tachypnea

An abnormally rapid rate of respiration.

CPAP

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, a noninvasive respiratory ventilation mode delivered to awake, spontaneously breathing patients experiencing respiratory distress.

Capnometry

The numeric measurement and evaluation of the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in exhaled breath ($\text{EtCO}_2$).