EMT Glossary page 1343 Flashcards

1
Q

Heart

A

The muscular organ that contracts to force blood into circulation through the body.

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2
Q

Heel drop test

A

See Markle test.

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3
Q

Hematemesis

A

Vomiting of blood.

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4
Q

Hematochezia

A

Bright red blood in the stool.

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5
Q

Hematoma

A

A closed injury to the soft tissues characterized by swelling and discoloration caused by a mass of blood beneath the epidermis.

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6
Q

Hematuria

A

Blood in the urine.

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7
Q

Hemoglobin

A

A complex protein molecule found on the surface of the red blood cell that is responsible for carrying a majority of oxygen in the blood.

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8
Q

Hemoptysis

A

Coughing up blood or blood-stained sputum.

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9
Q

Hemorrhagic hypovolemic shock

A

Shock from the loss of whole blood from the intravascular space; often called just hemorrhagic shock.

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10
Q

Hemorrhagic stroke

A

A stroke caused by rupture of a blood vessel in the brain that allows blood to leak and collect in or around the brain tissue.

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11
Q

Hemothorax

A

Blood in the pleural space, causing collapse of the lung.

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12
Q

Hernia

A

Protrusion or thrusting forward of a portion of the intestine through an opening or weakness in the abdominal wall.

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13
Q

High-pressure regulator

A

A one-gauge regulator that is used to power the flow-restricted, oxygen-powered ventilation device; the flow rate cannot be adjusted.

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14
Q

Histamine

A

The primary chemical mediator released from the mast cells in an anaphylactic reaction.

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15
Q

Hives

A

Raised, red blotches associated with allergic and anaphylactic reactions.

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16
Q

Horizontal plane

A

See transverse plane.

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17
Q

Hospice

A

A philosophy of care that is aimed at providing relief of symptoms for the patients and support for their families during the late stages of a terminal condition.

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18
Q

Hot zone

A

The area where contamination is actually present. It generally is the area that is immediately adjacent to the accident site and where contamination can still occur; also called exclusion zone.

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19
Q

Huffers

A

People who inhale vapors in order to “get high.”

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20
Q

Humane restraints

A

Padded soft leather or cloth straps used to tie a patient down to keep him from hurting himself or others.

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21
Q

Humerus

A

The largest bone in the upper extremity, located in the proximal portion of the upper arm.

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22
Q

Hydrostatic pressure

A

The blood pressure or force exerted against the inside of vessel walls; the “push” effect that forces fluid out of a capillary.

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23
Q

Hypercarbia

A

Increased carbon dioxide levels in the blood; also called hypercapnia.

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24
Q

Hyperglycemia

A

High blood glucose; a blood glucose level greater than 120 mg/dL.

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25
Q

Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome (HHNS)

A

A condition typically found in type 2 diabetics where the blood glucose level rises excessively, causing loss of large amounts of fluid from glucose spilling into the urine, leading to severe dehydration.

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26
Q

Hypersensitivity

A

A state of altered reactivity to an antigen, or foreign substance, that causes allergic reactions to that substance; see also sensitization.

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27
Q

Hyperthermia

A

Abnormally high core body temperature; core body temperature above the normal 37 degrees C (98.6 degrees F).

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28
Q

Hypoglycemia

A

Low blood glucose; a blood glucose level of 60 mg/dL with signs or symptoms of hypoglycemia or a blood glucose level of less than 50 mg/dL with or without signs or symptoms of hypoglycemia.

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29
Q

Hypoperfusion

A

See shock.

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30
Q

Hypothermia

A

Abnormally low core body temperature; core body temperature under 35 degrees C (95 degrees F); see also generalized hypothermia.

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31
Q

Hypovolemic shock

A

Shock caused by the loss of blood or fluid from the intravascular space resulting in a low blood volume.

32
Q

Hypoxemia

A

A low oxygen content in arterial blood.

33
Q

Hypoxia

A

A reduced oxygen delivery to the tissues.

34
Q

Iliac crest

A

The upper margin of the bones of the pelvis.

35
Q

Immune response

A

Production of antibodies by the immune system to fight off invasion by foreign substances.

36
Q

Immune system

A

The body’s defense mechanism against invasion by foreign substances.

37
Q

Impaled object

A

An object embedded in the body.

38
Q

Implied consent

A

The assumption that, in a true emergency where a patient who is unresponsive or unable to make a rational decision is at significant risk of death, disability, or deterioration of condition, that patient would agree to emergency treatment; also called emergency doctrine.

39
Q

Incendiary devices

A

Devices using agents such as napalm, thermite, magnesium, and white phosphorus to cause injury by burning at high temperatures.

40
Q

Incident command system (ICS)

A

The standardized incident management concept that has become the standard for on-scene management of disasters and multiple-casualty incidents.

41
Q

Incident commander

A

The person who is responsible for coordinating all aspects of a disaster or multiple-casualty incident.

42
Q

Incomplete spinal cord injury

A

Injury to the spinal cord that does not affect all spinal cord tracts: motor, light touch, and pain. May produce conflicting and confusing assessment findings as some motor and sensory functions remain intact while others do not.

43
Q

Index of suspicion

A

An anticipation that certain types of accidents and mechanisms will produce specific types of injuries.

44
Q

Indications

A

The common reasons for using a medication to treat a specific condition; for example, chest pain is an indication for nitroglycerin.

45
Q

Indirect force

A

A force that causes injury some distance away from the point of impact.

46
Q

Infant

A

A child from 1 month to 1 year of age; see also neonate.

47
Q

Inferior

A

Beneath, lower, or toward the feet; opposite of superior.

48
Q

Inferior plane

A

Everything below the transverse line (below the waist); opposite of superior plane.

49
Q

Informed consent

A

Consent for treatment that is given by a competent patient based on full disclosure of possible risks and consequences.

50
Q

Ingested poison

A

A poison that is swallowed and enters the gastrointestinal system.

51
Q

Ingestion

A

Swallowing

52
Q

Inhalation

A

The active process of breathing air into the lungs; also called inspiration.

53
Q

Inhaled poison

A

A poisonous vapor or fume that is breathed in.

54
Q

Injected poison

A

A poison that is forced into the body, usually by the intentional injection of a drug or by the bite or sting of an insect.

55
Q

Injection

A

Forced introduction into the body through the skin, possibly into a muscle or blood vessel, usually via a syringe, a bite, or a sting.

56
Q

In-line stabilization

A

Bringing the patient’s head into a neutral position in which the nose is in line with the navel and the neck is not flexed or extended and holding it there manually.

57
Q

Inspiration

A

See inhalation.

58
Q

Insulin

A

A hormone secreted by the pancreas that lowers the blood glucose level by promoting the movement of glucose from the blood into the cells.

59
Q

Integumentary system

A

The skin.

60
Q

Intentional tort

A

A wrongful act, injury, or damage that is committed knowingly.

61
Q

Intercostal muscles

A

The muscles between the ribs.

62
Q

Internal respiration

A

The gas exchange process that occurs between the cells and the capillaries.

63
Q

Intestinal obstruction

A

Blockage that interrupts the normal flow of intestinal contents.

64
Q

Intimate zone

A

In American culture, the space within less than 1 1/2 feet of an individual.

65
Q

Intracranial pressure (ICP)

A

The amount of pressure within the skull.

66
Q

Intrapartum

A

The period of time from the onset of labor to delivery of the infant.

67
Q

Intraventricular shunt

A

A tube surgically placed in a ventricle of the brain that extends to a blood vessel in the neck, the heart, or the abdomen, or to an external collector to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain and keep intracranial pressure at an acceptable level.

68
Q

Involuntary consent

A

Consent that is assumed when the patient is either mentally incompetent or legally not permitted to make his own medical decisions.

69
Q

Involuntary guarding

A

Abdominal wall muscle contraction caused by inflammation of the peritoneum that the patient cannot control; also called rigidity.

70
Q

Involuntary muscle

A

See smooth muscle.

71
Q

Iris

A

The colored portion of the eye that surrounds the pupil.

72
Q

Irreversible shock

A

The stage of shock in which interventions are unable to prevent the advance of shock to death.

73
Q

Irritant receptors

A

Receptors that are found in the airways and are sensitive to irritating gases, aerosol, and particles and result in a cough, bronchoconstriction, and increased ventilator rate when stimulated.

74
Q

Ischemic stroke

A

A stroke caused by a clot obstructing a blood vessel in the brain, resulting in an inadequate amount of blood being delivered to a portion of the brain distal to the blocked vessel.

75
Q

Ischium

A

The posterior and inferior portion of the pelvis.

76
Q

Jaundice

A

A condition characterized by yellowness of the skin, sclera of the eyes, mucous membranes, and body fluids. It typically indicates liver failure or disease.

77
Q

Jaw-thrust maneuver

A

A manual technique used to open the airway in the patient with a suspected spinal injury. The fingers are placed at the angles of the jaw and used to life the mandible up and forward.