Key words Flashcards
(217 cards)
1
Q
Define Abscess.
A
Localised formation of pus in a tissue, organ or confined space.
2
Q
Define Abduction.
A
Movement away from the midline of the body.
3
Q
Define Abortion.
A
Discharge of the foetus before the it is capable of independent life (24 weeks or less).
4
Q
Define Respiratory acidosis.
A
An acid imbalance of carbon dioxide.
5
Q
Define Metabolic acidosis.
A
An acid imbalance of lactic acid.
6
Q
Define activation time.
A
The difference in time between notification of an incident and the deployment of the ambulance.
7
Q
Define acute (of disease).
A
Severe, rapidly developing, or of sudden onset
8
Q
Define adduction.
A
Movement towards the midline of the body.
9
Q
Define admission
A
A patient entering hospital for an intended stay of at least one night.
10
Q
Define amnesia.
A
Loss of memory
11
Q
Define amputee.
A
A patient who has loss one or more limbs.
12
Q
Define anaemia.
A
A deficiency of haemoglobin in the blood.
13
Q
Define Angina (Pectoris).
A
Condition of gripping pain associated with disease of the arteries of the heart.
14
Q
Define Anoxia.
A
Absence of oxygen.
15
Q
Define Antenatal.
A
Before birth.
16
Q
Define Antepartum haemorrhage.
A
Bleeding from the vagina in late pregnancy.
17
Q
Define Anterior.
A
In front of,, further forward.
18
Q
Define Antibody.
A
Substance produced in the body as a defence against the presence of a specific foreign substance.
19
Q
Define antitoxin.
A
Substance capable of neutralizing a given toxin.
20
Q
Define appointment.
A
The time at which a patient is required to attend a hospital or clinic.
21
Q
Define aphonia.
A
Loss of voice.
22
Q
Define Apnoea.
A
Cessation of respiration.
23
Q
Define Asphyxia.
A
Suffocation caused not only by smothering, but by any condition that prevents oxygen being taken up by the blood.
24
Q
Define Aspirator.
A
Suction apparatus.
25
Define Asthma.
Spasms of difficult breathing accompanied by a sense of suffocation or tightness of the chest.
26
Define Asystole.
Cessation of cardiac activity eveidenced by a straight line ECG.
27
Define Attendant.
A member of ambulance crew.
28
Define Ausculation.
Techniques of listening for and interpreting sounds that occur within the body with a stethoscope.
29
Define Autonomic Nervous system.
The part of the nervous system which regulates the functions of the internal organs independently of the will power.
30
Define Barium.
A substance fed to patients whose digestive tract is proposed to x-ray.
31
Define Bed Bureau.
An office which keeps up to date information of the bed state of hospitals in the area, and allocated patients for admission.
32
Define Benign.
Not tending to grow worse of re-occur, non-malignant.
33
Define Bradycardia.
Abnormally low rate of heart contractions and consequent slow pulse below 60bpm; absolute
Bradycardia is less than 40bpm
34
Define breach delivery.
A birth where the infant’s buttocks appear first, instead of the head
35
Define Call sign.
A code name allocated to each transmitter/receiver for identification purposes
36
Define Callus
A new growth of bony tissue around a fracture
37
Define case notes.
A medical file containing information and reports on a patient’s condition and treatment
38
Define Casualty.
Any victim, dead or alive, of an accident or attack of sudden illness
39
Define Casualty clearing station.
A post set up at a major accident by the Site Medical Officer in liaison with the Ambulance
Service, to sort casualties and direct their evacuation
40
Define Catheter.
A tube designed to be passed into a body cavity
41
Define Cerebral.
Relating to the brain
42
Define Cerebrovascular accident.
Stroke
43
Define cervical collar.
A dressing designed to support the neck when moving patients with neck injuries
44
Define Chief executive officer.
The senior accountable officer responsible in an NHS Ambulance Service NHS Trust
45
Define Chemotherapy.
The treatment of disease, usually cancer, by drugs
46
Define chronic.
Lasting a long time.
47
Define circumduction.
Circular movement of a limb
48
Define Collapse.
Severe sudden prostration; sagging of an organ or falling together of its walls
49
Define Coma
Complete unconsciousness
50
Define communication aid.
A portable device which may provide someone with communication difficulties with a means of
communication, e.g. an enhanced or artificial voice, a picture communication board or charts
with words.
51
Define congenital
Present from before birth.
52
Define contra-coup hamorrhage,
Bleeding which occurs within the skull on the opposite side of the skull to that receiving the
blow
53
Define coronary thrombosis.
Blockage of one of the arteries which supply the heart muscle with blood
54
Define cortex.
The outer layer of an organ
55
Define crackles.
Coarse or fine sounds heard through a stethoscope which would signify alveolar malfunction
56
Define cranial
Relating to the skull
57
Define cyanosis.
Dusky bluish tinge to the skin due to lack of oxygen in the blood
58
Define cyst
A hollow swelling containing fluid or soft material
59
Define day hospital
A hospital which receives patients in the morning, nurses, treats and cares for them during the
day, and sends them home again in the afternoon
60
Define death
The state in which life is extinct
61
Define defibrillation
Correction of ventricular fibrillation by electric shock
62
Define degenerative.
Involving deterioration of a tissue or organ
63
Define dermatology.
The study of the skin and its disease
64
Define diarrhoea.
A persistent looseness of the bowels
65
Define diastole.
The resting period between heartbeats when blood flows into the heart
66
Define discharge.
- An in-patient who is being sent home
| - Substance leaving the body, e.g. pus
67
Define disinfection.
Destruction of germs.
68
Define Disinfestation.
Cleaning from lice, fleas or other parasites.
69
Define dropsy.
Excess fluid in the tissues, especially the legs
70
Define dysphagia.
Interference with the act of swallowing
71
Define dyspnoea.
Difficult or laboured breathing
72
Define eclampsia
Fits which may occur when patient is suffering from toxaemia of pregnancy (see Toxaemia)
73
Define eczma
An irritating eruption of the skin.
74
Define ECG
A tracing of the heart’s action made by recording its electrical activity
75
Define ECT
Treatment of mental disorders by passing electric shocks through the brain whilst the patient is
anaesthetised
76
Define EEG
A machine recording the rhythmical changes of the electric potential of the brain caused by the
discharges of energy by nerve cells
77
Define Embolism
Blockage of a blood vessel by a blood clot, an air bubble, fat or a foreign body originating from
elsewhere in the body
78
Define Emergancy
An incident which requires an immediate response from the Ambulance Service
79
Define EOC.
The permanent office which receives all demands for the ambulance service in a specified
area, coordinates them and allocates them to stations or vehicles
80
Define Encephalitis.
Inflammation of the brain.
81
Define Endemic.
Occurring repeatedly in a particular location.
82
Define Endocrine.
Secreting within. Applied to those glands whose secretions (hormones) flow directly into the
blood
83
Define Entinox.
An analgesic mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen to give relief to patients in severe pain
84
Define Epilepsy
Convulsive fits caused by a disorder of the brain
85
Define Epistaxis
Nose bleed.
86
Define Escort.
- A person, such as a relative or friend, accompanying the patient on an ambulance
journey
- Qualified nurse who travels with a patient on medical direction
- As ‘Police escort’, a police vehicle provided for the purpose of facilitating the passage of
an ambulance
87
Define Eupnoea.
Normal, unlaboured breathing.
88
Define eversion
Turing outwards
89
Define exhalation
Breathing out.
90
Define extention
A pull applied to a fractured, dislocated or contracted limb to keep it straight
91
Define faeces
The discharge from the bowels.
92
Define fever
A rise in body temperature.
93
Define fibrillation
Uncoordinated contraction of muscle fibres in the heart
94
Define fistula
Abnormal passage from one internal cavity to another or to the surface
95
Define fomites
Articles (e.g. clothing, bedding, books etc.) which have been used by a patient suffering from a
contagious disease and are capable of transmitting it
96
Define gastric
Relating to the stomach.
97
Define glaucoma
Disease of the eye.
98
Define GTN
A substance given to increase the coronary blood flow by causing coronary artery vasodilation
99
Define gynaecology
The study of the diseases special to women, especially these involving the pelvic organs
100
Define haematemesis
Vomiting blood from the stomach.
101
Define haemodialysis
Blood filtering by use of kidney machine
102
Define haemoptysis
Coughing up of blood.
103
Define haemorrhage
Bleeding
104
Define haemothorax
Bleeding into the chest cavity.
105
Define HCPC
The body which regulates the education and practise of state registered health
106
Define Hemiplagia
Paralysis of one side of the body.
107
Define Hepatic
Relating to the liver.
108
Define Hepatitis.
Inflammation of the liver
109
Define Haematuria.
Blood in the urine.
110
Define Hereditary.
Transmitted from one’s forbearers
111
Define Hernia
Rupture
112
Define Hydrocephalus
Enlargement of the ventricles of the brain
113
Define Hygine
The science of the preservation of health.
114
Define Hyperemesis
Excessive vomiting
115
Define Hyperglycaemia
Excessive sugar in the blood a feature of diabetes mellitus
116
Define Hypoglycaemia
Low blood sugar
117
Define hypothermia
Excessively low body temperature (Below 35)
118
Define Hyperpyrexia
Excessively high body temperature (over 40°C)
119
Define Hypoxia
Lack of oxygen in the blood.
120
Define illness
Any condition, mental or physical, requiring treatment or nursing
121
Define immunisation
Introduction of a substance into the body in order to produce immunity
122
Define immunity
The ability of the body to resist infection by a specific disease
123
Define in-patient
A patient who has been admitted to hospital for at least one night
124
Define incontinent.
Unable to control the passage of faeces or urine, or both
125
Define infarct
An area of dead tissue in an organ, caused by obstruction of an artery
126
Define infectious disease.
A disease which can be passed from person to person, directly or indirectly
127
Define inferior
Lower
128
Define infusion
The introduction of fluid (e.g. blood, saline solution, dextrose) into the body intravenously
129
Define ingestion
The process of taking food into the body through the mouth
130
Define inhalation
Breathing in
131
Define inoculation
Immunisation
132
Define insulin
Endocrine secretion of the pancreas which regulates sugar metabolism
133
Define intubation
The introduction of a tube through the larynx into the trachea to maintain a clear, protected
airway
134
Define ischaemia
Deficiency of blood in a part of the body
135
Define isolation.
Separation from other people of a person suffering from an infectious disease
136
Define isolation.
Separation from other people of a person suffering from an infectious disease
137
Define Jaundice
- Yellow discoloration of the skin
| - Disease causing this discoloration
138
Define Laryngectomy
A person who has had total or partial surgical removal of the larynx
139
Define larynx
Voice box
140
Define Lateral
Relating to the side, away from the midline.
141
Define lesion
An injury, wound or structural change in an organ
142
Define logbook
A book maintained to record significant events; an aid to the management of the Ambulance
Service
143
Define lumbar
Pertaining to the loins.
144
Define major incident
A major incident for health services purposes is one which, because of the number and severity
of live casualties it produces, requires special arrangements
145
Define malignant
Recurrent or incurable and tending to become increasingly severe
146
Define medial
Near the midline
147
Define median
on the midline
148
Define meninges
The three membranes covering the brain and spinal cord
149
Define meningitis
Inflammation of the meninges
150
Define metabolism
The process of transforming foodstuffs and oxygen into body tissue, energy and waste
products
151
Define miscarriage
Abortion; the expulsion of the foetus before the 24th week of pregnancy
152
Define monoplegia
Paralysis of one limb.
153
Define Narcosis
A state of unconsciousness produced by a narcotic drug
154
Define neurology
The study of disease of the nervous system.
155
Define Neurosurgery
surgery of the nervous system
156
Define Nitrous oxide
Laughing gas; analgesic compound known better as Entonox
157
Define Oesophagus
The gullet
158
Define opthalmic
Relating to the eye
159
Define orthopaedic
Relating to the prevention and treatment of bone illnesses
160
Define Osteology.
The study of bones.
161
Define Pacemaker
An apparatus for controlling the rhythm of contraction of the heart
162
Define Paediatrics
The study of children
163
Define paraplegia
paralysis of the lower limbs.
164
Define Pathogenic
Causing disease
165
Define PALS
PALS are responsible for ensuring a system of patient and public involvement in the care and
services provided by the NHS; they provide information and on the spot help for patients, their
families and carers, and will be a powerful lever for change and improvement within the NHS
locally and nationally
166
Define Peripheral
On the outside or outer edges.
167
Define PPE
Special clothing and equipment issued to ambulance crews when dealing with patients who are
dirty and infected or suffering from an infectious disease; also including uniform
168
Define Physiotherapy
Treatment by exercise, heat, electricity or massage to promote recovery
169
Define placenta
Afterbirth
170
Define post-natal
After the birth
171
Define post-partum
After childbirth
172
Define posterior
Behind
173
Define prone
lying face downward
174
Define psychiatric patient
Patient suffering with mental illness.
175
Define phsycosomeatic
Pertaining to the interaction of mind and body
176
Define pulmonary
Relating to the lungs
177
Define pyrexia
Higher than normal body temperature
178
Define quadriplegia
Paralysis of all four limbs
179
Define radiotherapy
The treatment of disease by X-rays or radioactive substances
180
Define Rales
Abnormal breath sounds that usually signal the presence of fluid in the lower airways
181
Define recovery room
A room in which patients are kept during recovery from anaesthesia
182
Define reumbent
Lying down
183
Define Renal
Relating to the kidney
184
Define respiratory system.
The organs of breathing.
185
Define Response times
The time lapse between notification of an emergency and arrival at the scene
186
Define Rhonchi
Battling respiratory sounds usually caused by secretions in the bronchial tubes
187
Define rupture
Escape of all or part of an internal organ through or between the structures which contain it
(e.g. protrusion of the bowels through a small gap in the abdominal wall)
188
Define scabies
A contagious itching skin disease caused by a mite
189
Define sedation
Reduction of anxiety by the use of drugs
190
Define semi-recumbent
In half sitting postion
191
Define sepsis
Describes the condition of infection of the body by pus-forming bacteria
192
Define sinus
A cavity connecting with the outside of the body
193
Define speech therapy.
The treatment of all communication problems involving the understanding and production of
speech and language
194
Define sputum
Phlegm
195
Define stoma
An artificially created opening, such as that made by tracheostomy
196
Define superior
Above
197
Define systole
The contraction of the heart, associated with ejection of blood
198
Define tachycardia
Abnormally rapid heart action resulting in rapid pulse
199
Define Tachypnoea
Rapid respiration
200
Define tetraplegia
Paralysis of all four limbs
201
Define Thrombosis
A formation of a thrombus
202
Define Thrumbus
A stationary blood clot.
203
Define Toxaemia
Poisoning of the blood by the absorption of toxins.
204
Define toxic
Poisonous
205
Define transfer
A patient being conveyed from one hospital to another
206
Define trauma
A wound or injury
207
Define triage
Sorting of casualties according to priority
208
Define tumour
Swelling
209
Define uraemia
Abnormal accumulation in the blood of urea which is normally excreted in the urine
210
Define urgent case
A case when for medical reasons a definite time limit is imposed
211
Define uterus
the womb
212
Define vaccination
immunisation by giving a vaccine
213
Define vaccine
Substance made of the killed or weakened germs of an infectious disease
214
Define ventricular fibrillation
An uncoordinated tremor of the ventricles resulting in ineffective contractions and cardiac arrest
215
Define virus
A germ smaller than a bacterium
216
Define viscera
Internal organs
217
Define wheeze.
High pitched whistling sound characterising obstruction or spasm of the lower airways
