Need to know terms Flashcards
1
Q
abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
A
a weakening in the wall of the aorta in the abdominal region.
2
Q
abduction
A
movement away from the midline, or
move apart
3
Q
abruptio placenta
A
the premature separation of the
placenta from the uterine wall.
4
Q
acidosis
A
an abnormally high level of acidity in the
body’s fluids and tissues
5
Q
acute coronary syndrome
A
symptoms caused by
myocardial ischemia, such as angina or myocardial
infarction.
6
Q
acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
A
death to myocardial muscle. Also called heart attack.
7
Q
adduction
A
to move toward the midline, or bring
together
8
Q
alveoli
A
air sacs in the lungs that exchange oxygen
and carbon dioxide with the pulmonary capillaries.
9
Q
amniotic sac
A
a fluid-filled membrane in the uterus
which contains the fetus.
10
Q
anaphylactic shock
A
severe, life threatening allergic
reaction. Also called anaphylaxis.
11
Q
aneurysm
A
weakening in the wall of an artery.
12
Q
angina pectoris
A
temporary chest pain occurs when
myocardial oxygen demand exceeds supply
13
Q
anterograde amnesia
A
unable to remember events
prior to the injury
14
Q
aorta
A
artery that carries blood out of the left heart.
15
Q
apnea
A
absence of spontaneous breaths.
16
Q
appendix
A
pouch connected to the large intestine
in the right lower abdominal quadrant.
17
Q
arterioles
A
small arteries that lead to capillaries.
18
Q
aspiration
A
material, such as vomit, entering the
lungs.
19
Q
atherosclerosis
A
plaque build-up within a blood
vessel.
20
Q
atrium
A
upper chambers of the heart
21
Q
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
A
involuntary component of the peripheral nervous system.
22
Q
battle’s sign
A
bruising behind the ears indicating
possible basal skull fracture.
23
Q
beck’s Triad
A
triad of signs indicating a possible
pericardial tamponade.
24
Q
bradycardia
A
slow heart rate
25
bradypnea
slow respiratory rate
26
breech birth
the presentation of the buttocks as
| the presenting part in the birth canal.
27
bronchitis
inflammation of the lungs, either
| chronic or acute.
28
bronchoconstriction
tightening (constriction) of
| the airways.
29
capillaries
small, branching vessels that connect
| arteries and veins. Allows for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
30
capillary permeability
leakage of fluid out of a
| capillary into surrounding tissue.
31
cardiac tamponade
accumulation of fluid in the
| pericardial sac that compresses the heart.
32
cardiogenic shock
decreased cardiac output due to
| poor cardiac function or mechanical obstruction.
33
cavitation
pressure wave caused by high velocity
| projectile
34
central nervous system (CNS)
brain and spinal chord
35
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
fluid that circulates
| through the central nervous system.
36
cervix
the portion of the uterus that opens into
| the vagina.
37
cholecystitis
inflammation of the gall bladder
38
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
chronic disease processes caused by obstruction of
| the lower airways.
39
compartment syndrome
injury caused by compression of nerves, blood vessels, and muscle in a
closed space within the body
40
conduction
direct transfer of heat through contact
| with a colder structure.
41
congestive heart failure (CHF)
caused by ineffective ventricular function leading to fl uid backup.
42
continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
technique of assisting ventilations in a patient
| with respirator distress.
43
contraindication
situations when a certain intervention should not be performed.
44
convection
loss of heat to passing air
45
coronary arteries
arteries that perfuse the heart
| muscle.
46
croup
inflammation of the upper airways and
| trachea.
47
cushing’s response
triad of signs indicating
| increased intracranial pressure; hypertension, bradycardia, altered respiratory pattern.
48
cyanosis
bluish color to the skin, lips, mouth, or
| nail beds indicating a lack of oxygen.
49
dependent edema
fluid build-up in area of the
| body closest to the ground.
50
dermis
the lower layer of the skin beneath the
| epidermis.
51
diabetes mellitus
a disease process in which the
| body is unable to metabolize glucose normally.
52
diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
a diabetic emergency
| caused by severe hyperglycemia and acidosis.
53
distal
away from the point of attachment
54
distributive shock
shock due to poor distribution
| of blood due to vasodilation.
55
diverticulitis
inflammation of small pouches (diverticula) along the wall of the intestine.
56
dyspnea
difficulty breathing
57
ecchymosis
another term for bruising
58
eclampsia
pregnancy induced seizures
59
ectopic pregnancy
a pregnancy thats develops outside of the uterus
60
edema
swelling
61
embolus
an obstruction in a blood vessel
62
emphysema
a respiratory disease that leads to
| destruction of the alveoli.
63
epidermis
outer most layer of the skin
64
epidural hematoma
bleeding beneath the skull
| and above the dura mater.
65
epiglottis
flap that covers the trachea during swallowing.
66
esophageal varices
weakening of the blood vessels
| lining the esophagus.
67
esophagus
connects mouth to stomach
68
expressed consent
verbal, non-verbal, or written
| consent accepting medical care.
69
external respiration
exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and pulmonary
capillaries.
70
flail chest
a life-threatening medical condition
that occurs when a segment of the chest wall is
fractured and detaches from the rest of the thoracic cage.
71
foramen magnum
the opening in the skull where
| the brain meets the spinal cord
72
full thickness burn (3°)
burn injury through all
| skin layers
73
gallbladder
organ that stores bile from the liver.
74
gastroenteritis
inflammation of the stomach and
| intestines.
75
gravida
the number of pregnancies a woman has
| had.
76
hematemesis
vomiting blood
77
hematochezia
bloody stool.
78
hematoma
collection of blood under the skin in
| tissue or body cavity.
79
hematuria
blood in urine
80
hemorrhage
bleeding
81
hemothorax
the presence of blood in the pleural
| cavity
82
herniation
compression of the brain due to
| increased intracranial pressure
83
humerus
bone of the upper arm
84
hypoperfusion
shock or inadequate tissue perfusion.
85
hypoventilation
ventilations that are too slow or
| shallow.
86
hypovolemia
low blood volume.
87
hypovolemic shock
shock due to loss of blood or
| body fluid.
88
hypoxia
inadequate oxygen supply to the body’s
| cells and tissues.
89
hypoxic drive
the backup respiratory drive, measures oxygen levels in the blood.
90
implied consent
assumption of consent from a
| patient unable to expressly provide it.
91
indications
recommended uses for a medication
92
informed consent
consent to treatment given after
| all the relevant facts are disclosed.
93
insulin shock
a diabetic emergency caused by
| severe hypoglycemia.
94
intercostal
between the ribs
95
internal respiration
gas exchange between the
| body’s cells and the systemic capillaries.
96
intracerebral hemorrhage
bleeding within the
| brain itself
97
intraventricular shunt
a device that allows excess
CSF to drain from the ventricles of the brain to
reduce intracranial pressure.
98
ischemia
poor blood supply
99
kehr’s sign
referred pain in the shoulder due to
| possible abdominal organ injury.
100
laceration
jagged cut
101
lateral
away from the midline
102
ligament
connects bone to bone
103
limb presentation
the presence of an arm or leg as
| the first presenting part in the birth canal.
104
liver
filters toxins from the body
105
maxillae
upper portion of the jaw
106
meconium
the presence of fetal stool in the amniotic fluid.
107
metered dose inhaler (MDI)
device used to deliver
| aerosolized medication through inhalation.
108
miosis
pupillary constriction.
109
mottled
blotched skin coloring
110
myocardial contractility
the heart’s ability to contract.
111
myocardium
middle muscle of the heart
112
nasopharynx
upper part of the pharynx behind
| the nose.
113
neurogenic shock
shock due to spinal cord injury
114
nuchal cord
an umbilical cord wrapped around
| the baby’s neck.
115
obstructive shock
shock due to mechanical
| obstruction of the heart.
116
orbit
portion of the skull surrounding the eyes.
117
oropharynx
portion of the pharynx behind the
| mouth.
118
pancreas
endocrine gland that produces insulin.
119
para
the number of live births. Multiple births
| count as one.
120
paradoxical motion
movement in the opposite
| direction.
121
parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS)
portion of
| the autonomic nervous system.
122
parietal pain
severe, localized pain
123
partial seizure
seizure due to abnormal electrical
| activity in a limited area of the brain.
124
partial thickness burn
burn injury into but not
| through the dermis.
125
pathophysiology
the study of disease
126
pelvic binder
a splint used to stabilize a pelvic
| fracture.
127
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
inflammation of
| the female genital tract.
128
perfusion
circulation of blood
129
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
nervous system
| outside of the brain and spinal cord.
130
peritoneum
membrane lining the abdominal
| organs and abdominal cavity
131
peritonitis
inflammation of the peritoneum.
132
pertinent negatives
symptoms important to consider, but denied by the patient.
133
pharynx
the upper portion of the airway behind
| the mouth and nose
134
placenta previa
when the placenta partially or
| completely covers the cervix.
135
plasma
fluid part of the blood
136
platelets
component of blood essential for clotting
137
pleura
paired membranes in the thorax.
138
pleural space
the closed space between the two
| pleural membranes.
139
pneumothorax
compression of the lung due to
accumulation of air in the space surrounding the
lung.
140
polydipsia
excessive thirst
141
polyphagia
excessive hunger
142
polyuria
excessive urination
143
postpartum
after delivery of the baby and placenta
144
preeclampsia
complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, most often the liver and kidneys.
145
preload
the pre-contraction pressure based on the
| amount of blood coming back to the heart.
146
primary blast injuries
injuries caused by the shock
| wave of the blast
147
psychogenic shock
syncope due to sudden, temporary vasodilation
148
pulmonary artery
arteries that carry blood from
| the right side of the heart to the lungs.
149
pulmonary edema
accumulation of fluid within
| the lungs.
150
pulmonary veins
veins that carry blood from the
| lungs to the left heart.
151
pulse oximetry
measures oxygen saturation of hemoglobin
152
racoon’s eyes
bruising around the eyes indicating
| possible basal skull fracture.
153
radius
lateral bone of the forearm.
154
rales
abnormal lung sound typically caused by
| fluid in the lungs.
155
red blood cells
oxygen carrying component of
| whole blood.
156
respiration
the movement of oxygen and carbon
| dioxide in and out of the lungs
157
retrograde amnesia
unable to remember events
| following the injury.
158
secondary blast injuries
injuries caused by shrapnel or other projectiles.
159
seesaw breathing
opposing movement of the
| chest and abdomen.
160
sellick maneuver
mechanical pressure applied to
| the cricoid cartilage.
161
septic shock
shock due to infection.
162
shock
inadequate tissue perfusion. Also called
| hypoperfusion.
163
somatic nervous system
voluntary portion of the
| peripheral nervous system
164
sprain
injury to a ligament, typically a joint
165
status epilepticus
a prolonged seizure, or rapidly
| recurring seizures.
166
stoma
opening in the neck into the trachea.
167
strain
injury to a muscle or tendon
168
stroke
a lack of blood fl ow to the brain causing
| permanent damage to the brain cells.
169
subarachnoid hemorrhage
bleeding within the
| subarachnoid space surrounding the brain
170
subdural hematoma
bleeding beneath the dura
| mater and above the brain.
171
superficial burn
burn injury involving epidermal
| layer only.
172
supine hypotensive syndrome
hypotension caused
by impaired venous return due to pressure from
uterus.
173
tachycardia
fast heart rate
174
tachypnea
rapid breathing
175
tendons
connects bone to muscle
176
tension pneumothorax
progressive accumulation
| of air in the pleural cavity.
177
tertiary blast injuries
injuries caused when victims
| are propelled against solid objects.
178
thorax
area between the head and the abdomen.
179
tibia
the medial bone of the lower leg.
180
trachea
the windpipe
181
tracheostomy
a surgical opening in the neck into
| the trachea
182
transverse plane or line
divides the body into top
| and bottom portions.
183
type I diabetes
insulin dependent diabetes.
184
type II diabetes
non insulin dependent diabetes
185
ulna
medial bone of the forearm
186
vena cava
large veins which return blood to the
| right heart.
187
ventricle
lower chambers of the heart
188
visceral pain
dull, diff use pain that is difficult to
| localize.
189
white blood cells
component of blood that fights
| infection
