Vocabulary 1-7 Flashcards
(250 cards)
1
Q
Alternative time sampling
A
Time parameters that are set during a research project
2
Q
Blinding
A
The method of not giving the specifics of a project to the people participating in a research or study
3
Q
Case study
A
A type of research in which a single case is investigated and documented over a period of time
4
Q
Certification
A
A process in which a person, institution, or program is evaluated and recognized as meeting certain predetermined standards to provide safe and ethical care
5
Q
Cohort research
A
A type of research that examines patterns of change, a sequence of events, or trends over time within a certain population of study subjects
6
Q
CAPCE
A
Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education
An organization that develops continuing education standards and is involved in setting accreditation standards for prehospital providers
7
Q
CQI
A
Continuous Quality Improvement
A system of internal and external reviews and audits of all aspects of an EMS system
8
Q
Convenience sampling
A
A type of research in which subjects are manually assigned to a specific person or crew, rather than being randomly assigned; the least preferred component of research
9
Q
Cross-sectional design
A
A data collection method in which all data at one point in time is collected, essentially serving as a “snapshot” of events and information
10
Q
Descriptive research
A
A research format in which an observation of an event is made, but without attempts to alter or change it
11
Q
EMS
A
Emergency medical services
A health care system designed to bring immediate on-scene care to those in need along with transport to a definitive medical care facility
12
Q
Ethical
A
A behavior expected by a person or group following a set of rules
13
Q
Evidence-based practice
A
The use of practices that have been proven to be effective in improving patient outcomes
14
Q
Health care professional
A
A person who follows specific professional attributes that are outlined in this profession
15
Q
Inferential research
A
A research format that uses a hypothesis to prove one finding from another
16
Q
IRB
A
Institutional Review Board
A group or institution that follows a set of requirements for review that were devised by the US Public Health Service
17
Q
Licensure
A
The process whereby a state allows qualified people to perform a regulated act
18
Q
Literature review
A
A form of research in which the existing literature is reviewed, and the researcher analyzes the collection of research to draw a conclusion
19
Q
Longitudinal design
A
A data collection method in which information is collected at various set time intervals, and not just at one time
20
Q
Medical direction
A
Direction given to an EMS system or provider by a physician
21
Q
MICUs
A
Mobile Intensive Care Units
An early title given to an ambulance-style unit
22
Q
Off-line medical control
A
Indirect; patient care orders in the form of protocols, policies, or standing orders that do not require direct contact with the medical control physician
23
Q
Online medical control
A
Direct; medical direction given in real time to an EMS service or provider by radio or telephone
24
Q
Parameters
A
Outlined measures that may be difficult to obtain in a research project
25
Peer review
The process used by medical magazines, journals, and other publications to ensure the quality and validity of an article before it is published, and which involves sending the article to subject matter experts for review of the content and research methods
26
Profession
A specialized set of knowledge, skills, and/or expertise
27
Prospective research
A type of research that gathers information as events occur in real time
28
Protocol
A treatment plan developed for a specific illness or injury
29
Qualitative
A type of descriptive statistic in research that does not use numeric information
30
Quality control
The responsibility of the medical director to ensure the appropriate medical care standards are met by EMS personnel on each call
31
Quantitative
A type of measurement in research that uses a mean, median, and mode
32
Reciprocity
The process of granting licensure or certification to a provider from another state or agency
33
Registration
Providing information to an entity that stores it in some form of record book; records of your education, state, or local licensure and recertification are held by a recognized board
34
Research agenda
The specific questions that a study aims to answer, and the precise methods in which the data will be gathered
35
Research consortium
A group of agencies working together to study a particular topic
36
Research domain
The area (clinical, basic science, systems, or education) that will be impacted by a study
37
Retrospective research
Research performed from current available information
38
Safety culture
In an EMS organization, a system of beliefs and practices that:
1) acknowledge that organizations engage in high-risk activities
2) determine the importance of consistent safe operations to counteract these activities
3) support a blame-free environment where errors can be reported without fear or punishment
4) maintain organizational commitment to address reported errors and safety concerns
39
Sampling errors
Expected errors that occur in the sampling phase of research
40
Standard deviation
A measure of the range of scores in a set of data relative to the mean score
41
Standing order
A type of protocol that is a written document signed by the EMS system’s medical director that outlines specific directions, permissions, and sometimes prohibitions regarding patient care that is rendered prior to contacting medical control
42
Systematic sampling
A computer-generated list of subjects or groups for research
43
Trauma systems
The collaboration of prehospital and in-hospital medicine that focuses on optimizing the use of resources and assets of each with a primary goal of reducing the mortality and morbidity of trauma patients
44
Unblinded study
A type of study in which the subjects are advised of all aspects of the study
45
Epidemiologist
Public health professional who investigates patterns and causes of disease and injury in a given population, and seeks to reduce the risk, occurrence, and negative impacts of these threats through research, public education, and legislative change
46
Epidemiology
The study of causes, patterns, prevalence, and control of disease in groups of people
47
Evaluation
Collection of the methods, skills, and activities necessary to determine whether a service or program is needed, likely to be used, conducted as planned, and actually helps people
48
Haddon matrix
A framework developed by William Haddon Jr., MD, as a method to generate ideas about injury prevention that address the host, agent, and environment and their impact in the pre-event, event, and post-event phases of the injury process
49
Intentional injuries
Injuries that are purposefully inflicted by a person on himself or herself or on another person
Ex. Suicide, attempted suicide, homicide, rape, assault, domestic abuse, child abuse
50
Interventions
In the context of prevention, specific measures or activities designed to meet a program objective
Education, Enforcement, Engineering/Environment, Economic incentives
51
Morbidity
Number of non-fatally injured or disabled people; usually expressed as a rate
52
Mortality
Deaths caused by injury and disease; usually expressed as a rate
53
Outcome (impact) objectives
State the intended effect of the program on participants or on the community in such terms as the participants’ increased knowledge, changed behaviors or attitudes, or decreased injury rates
54
Passive interventions
Something that offers automatic protection from injury or illness, often without requiring any conscious change of behavior by the person
Ex. Child-resistant bottles, airbags
55
Primary prevention
Keeping an injury or illness from occurring
56
Process objectives
State how a program will be implemented, describing the service to be provided, the nature of the service, and to whom it will be directed
57
Public health
An industry whose mission is to prevent disease and promote good health within groups of people
58
Risk
A potentially hazardous situation that puts people in a position in which they could be harmed
59
Risk factors
Characteristics of people, behaviors, or environments that increase the chances of disease or injury
Ex. Alcohol use, poverty, smoking, gender
60
Secondary prevention
Reducing the effects of an injury or illness that has already happened
61
Surveillance
The ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of injury data essential to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice
62
Syndromic surveillance
Monitoring and comparing the current number and nature of medical cases against the expected volume of these cases at a given time and place in the community
63
Unintentional injuries
Injuries that occur without intent to harm; commonly called accidents
Ex. MVC, poisonings, drownings, falls, burns
64
YPLL
Years of Potential Life Lost
A way of measuring and comparing the overall impact of deaths resulting from different causes; calculated based on a fixed age minus the age at death
65
Ethnocentrism
Viewing other cultures based solely upon the standards and values of one’s own culture; a belief in the inherent superiority of one’s own cultural or ethnic group
66
Culture
The system of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that are learned and shared by members of a group
67
Cultural competence
An understanding of the predominant cultures that exist in the geographic area in which the paramedic provides patient care
68
Acute stress reaction
Reaction to stress that occurs during a stressful situation
69
Airborne transmission
The spread of an organism in aerosol form, such as droplets or dust
70
Blind panic
A fear reaction in which a person’s judgment seems to disappear entirely; it is particularly dangerous because it may cause mass panic among others
71
Bloodborne pathogens
Pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans
Ex. Hepatitis B virus, HIV
72
Burnout
The exhaustion of physical or emotional strength
73
Communicable disease
Any disease that can be spread from person to person or from animal to person
74
Conversion hysteria
A reaction in which a person subconsciously transforms his or her anxiety into a bodily dysfunction; the person may be unable to see or hear or may become partially paralyzed
75
Critical incident
An event that overwhelms the ability to cope with the experience, either at the scene or later
76
CISM
Critical Incident Stress Management
A process which utilizes trained counselors who confront responses to critical incidents and help to defuse them, directing emergency services personnel toward physical and emotional equilibrium
77
Cumulative stress reaction
Prolonged or excessive stress
78
Defense mechanisms
Psychological ways to relieve stress; they are usually automatic or subconscious
Ex. Denial, regression, projection, displacement
79
Delayed stress reaction
Reaction to stress that occurs after a stressful situation
80
Denial
An early response to a serious medical emergency, in which the severity of the emergency is diminished or minimized; the first coping mechanism for people who believe they are going to die
81
Direct contact
Exposure to or transmission of a communicable disease from one person to another by physical contact
82
Displacement
A defense mechanism characterized by the redirection of an emotion from one person to another
83
EAP
Employee Assistance Program
A counseling program to help with situations that may affect the health and well-being of emergency medical services professionals
84
Fight-or-flight response
A physiologic response to a profound stressor that helps a person deal with the situation at hand; features increased sympathetic tone and results in dilation of the pupils, increased heart rate, dilation of the bronchi, mobilization of glucose, shunting of blood away from the GI tract and cerebrum, and increased blood flow to the skeletal muscles
85
Indirect contact
Exposure or transmission of disease from one person to another by contact with a contaminated, inanimate object
86
Infection
The invasion of a host or host tissues by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites, with or without signs or symptoms of disease
87
Infection control
Procedures to reduce transmission of infection among patients and health care personnel
88
Infectious disease
A disease that is caused by the growth and spread of small, harmful organisms within the body, or one that is capable of being transmitted with or without direct contact
89
PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
A delayed stress reaction to a previous incident, often the result of one or more unresolved issues concerning the incident
90
Projection
A defense mechanism characterized by blaming unacceptable feelings, motives, or desires on others
91
Regression
A defense mechanism characterized by a return to more childlike behavior while under stress
92
Standard precautions
Protective measures that have traditionally been developed by the CDC for use in dealing with objects, blood, body fluids, or other potential exposure risks of communicable disease
93
Stress
A reaction of the body to any agent or situation that requires the person to adapt
94
Stressor
Any agent or situation that causes stress, whether good or bad
95
Transmission
The way in which an infectious agent is spread: contact (direct or indirect), airborne, foodborne, vector-borne
96
Abandonment
Termination of medical care for the patient without giving the patient sufficient opportunity to find another suitable health care professional to take over his or her medical treatment
97
Advance directive
A written document or oral statement that expresses the wants, needs, and desires of a patient in reference to future medical care
Ex. Living wills, DNR orders, organ donation orders
98
Assault
To create in another person fear of immediate bodily harm or invasion of bodily security, including loss of freedom
99
Battery
The unlawful physical acting upon a threat; the use of force against another, resulting in harmful, offensive, or sexual contact
100
Borrowed servant doctrine
A principle which absolves an institution of liability when one of its members acts beyond his or her scope of certification or training by following someone else’s orders
101
Civil lawsuit
An action instituted by a person or entity against another person or entity
102
Common law
A decision that has been made by a judge through a court case based on his or her interpretation of the statutes and constitutions; can be overturned either by another court with a higher authority or the issuing court at a later time; case law
103
Consent
Agreement by the patient to accept a medical intervention
104
Contributory negligence
Act committed by plaintiff that contributes to adverse outcomes
105
Criminal prosecution
An action instituted by the government against a person for violation of criminal law
106
Damages
Compensation for injury awarded by a court
107
Decision-making capacity
The patient’s ability to understand and process the information given to him or her and the proposed treatment plan
108
Defamation
Intentionally making a false statement, through written or verbal communication, which injures a person’s good name or reputation
109
Defendant
In a civil lawsuit, the person against whom a legal action is brought
110
Do not resuscitate (DNR) order
A type of advance directive that describes which life-sustaining procedures should be performed in the event of a sudden deterioration in a patient’s medical condition
111
Due process
A right to a fair procedure for legal action against a person or agency; has two components: Notice and Opportunity to be Heard
112
Duty
Legal obligation of public and certain other ambulance services to respond to a call for help in their jurisdiction
113
Emancipated minor
A person who is under the legal age (generally 18) in a given state, but is legally considered an adult because of other circumstances
114
EMTALA
Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act
A federal law enacted in 1986 to combat the practice of patient dumping (hospitals refusing to admit seriously ill patients or women in labor who could not pay, forcing EMS providers to dump the patients at another hospital); issues are regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the law carries severe monetary penalties- including loss of Medicare funding- for failing to comply
115
Ethics
A set of values in society that differentiates right from wrong
116
Expressed consent
A type of informed consent that occurs when the patient does something, either through words (verbal or written) or by taking some sort of action, that demonstrates permission to provide emergency medical care
117
False imprisonment
Intentionally or unjustifiably detaining a person against his or her will
Ex. Transporting a patient without his or her consent, or using restraints in a wrongful manner
118
Good Samaritan law
A statute providing limited immunity from liability to people responding voluntarily and in good faith to the aid of an injured person outside the hospital
119
Gross negligence
Negligence that is willful, wanton, intentional, or reckless; a serious departure from the accepted standards
120
Health care power of attorney
A legal document that allows another person to make health care decisions for the patient, including withdrawal or withholding of care, when the patient is incapacitated
121
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
The law enacted in 1996 that provides for criminal sanctions as well as for civil penalties for releasing a patient’s protected health information in a way not authorized by the patient
122
Hostile environment
Situation in which an employer or an employer’s agent either creates or allows to continue an offensive practice related to sex that makes it uncomfortable or impossible for an employee to continue working
123
Immunity
Legal protection from penalties that could normally be incurred under the law
124
Implied consent
Assumption on behalf of a person unable to give consent that he or she would have done so
125
In loco parentis
Phrase meaning “in the place of the parent” that is used to describe situations in which a designated authority figure makes medical treatment and transport decisions for a minor child when a parent or guardian is unavailable
126
Informed consent
A patient’s voluntary agreement to be treated after being told about the nature of the disease, the risks and benefits of the proposed treatment, alternative treatments, or the choice of no treatment at all
127
Involuntary consent
An oxymoron, because consent is never involuntary; often used to describe a figure of authority dictating medical care be given to someone in custody, incapacitated, or a minor
128
Legal obligation
A duty that is enforceable in a court of law
129
Liability
A finding in civil cases that the majority of the evidence shows the defendant was responsible for the plaintiff’s injuries
130
Libel
Making a false statement in written form that injures a person’s good name
131
Living will
A type of advance directive, generally requiring a precondition for withholding resuscitation when the patient is incapacitated
132
Malfeasance
Unauthorized act committed outside the scope of medical practice defined by law
133
Medical Practice Act
An act that usually defines the minimum qualifications of those who may perform various health services, defines the skills that each type of practitioner is legally permitted to use, and establishes a means of licensure or certification for different categories of health care professionals
134
Misfeasance
Appropriate act performed in an improper manner
Ex. Medication administered at the wrong dose
135
Morality
Pertaining to conscience, conduct, and character
136
Negligence
Professional action or inaction on the part of the health care practitioner that does not meet the standard of ordinary care expected of similarly trained and prudent health care practitioners and that results in injury to the patient
137
Negligence per se
Inexcusable violation of a statue
Ex. Practicing paramedicine without a valid license or certification
138
Nonfeasance
Failing to perform a required or expected act
139
Ordinary negligence
Negligence that is a failure to act, or a simple mistake that causes harm to a patient
140
Palliative care
A type of medical care intended to provide comfort and relief from pain
141
Patient autonomy
The right to direct one’s own medical care, and to decide how end-of-life medical care should be provided
142
Plaintiff
In a civil lawsuit, the person who brings a legal action against another person
143
Proximate cause
The specific reason that an injury occurred; one of the items that must be proven in order for a paramedic to be held liable for negligence
144
Punitive damages
Compensation, usually monetary, awarded to a plaintiff for intentional or reckless acts committed by the defendant
145
Qualified immunity
Protection in which the paramedic is only held liable when the plaintiff can show that the paramedic violated clearly established law of which he or she should have known
146
Quid pro quo
Circumstance in which a person in authority attempts to exchange some work-related benefit, such as a raise or promotion, for an inappropriate employee action (like sexual favors); literal translation from Latin is “this for that”
147
Res ipsa loquitur
Theory of negligence that assumes an injury can only occur when a negligent act occurs
148
Scope of practice
Describes what a state permits a paramedic practicing under a license or certification to do
149
Slander
Making a false oral statement that injures a good person’s name
150
Standard of care
Describes what a reasonable paramedic with training would do in the same or a similar situation
151
Statutes of limitations
Laws that limit the time period within which a lawsuit may be filed
152
Surrogate decision maker
A person designated by a patient to make health care decisions as the patient would want when the person becomes incapable of making decisions
153
Tort
A wrongful act that gives rise to a civil lawsuit
154
ACN
Automatic Crash Notification
On-board computer systems in motor vehicles that automatically send telemetry data to a monitoring service in the event of a crash, which then relays the data to emergency responders; also called advanced automatic crash notification
155
Base station
A radio at a fixed location (such as a hospital or dispatch center) consisting of a transmitter, receiver, and antenna
156
Biotelemetry
Transmission of physiologic data, such as an electrocardiogram, from the patient to a distant point of reception; commonly referred to in emergency medical services as telemetry
157
Cell phones
Wireless telephones that communicate via radio waves with the telephone system through an interconnected network of repeater stations called cells
158
Clear text
Using regular language (plain English) and accepted terms to enhance clarity of communication, rather than using ten-codes or other code systems
159
Closed-ended question
A question that is specific and focused, requiring either a yes or no answer, or an answer chosen from specific options
160
CAD
Computer Assisted Dispatch
Linked dispatch center computer consoles and vehicle-mounted mobile data terminals
161
CRM
Crew Resource Management
An operational practice designed to enhance communication and teamwork, and to thereby reduce preventable errors
162
Digital radio
The transmission of information via radio waves using native digital (computer) data or analog (voice) signals that have been converted to a digital signal and compressed
163
Dispatch
To send to a specific destination or to send on a task
164
Duplex
Radio system using paired frequencies to permit the use of remote repeaters or simultaneous transmission and reception
165
EMD
Emergency Medical Dispatch
A program specifically designed to meet the unique needs of emergency medical services response and of callers reporting a medical emergency, including first aid instructions given by specifically trained dispatchers to callers over the telephone while an ambulance is en route to the call
166
Encoded radio signals
An embedded signal that permits controlled access to the radio transmission
167
Enhanced 9-1-1 system
An emergency communications system that collects information about 9-1-1 calls from the telephone network, such as the phone number and location of the caller, and displays this information on the dispatcher’s computer terminal
168
FCC
Federal Communications Commission
The independent government agency that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories
169
Frequency
The number of cycles (oscillations) per second of a radio signal
170
GIS
Geographic Information System
Technology that uses Global Positioning System and other data to map the locations of objects and events
171
Hertz (Hz)
Unit of measure of a frequency equal to 1 cycle per second; 1 million Hz equals one megahertz and 1000 megahertz equals 1 gigahertz
172
Interoperability
Public safety communications systems which are compatible across all local, tribal, state, and federal agencies
173
Landline
Communications system linked by wires, usually in reference to a conventional telephone system
174
MPDS
Medical Priority Dispatch System
A dispatch system using a specific format to indicate the nature of the emergency and its priority
175
Mutual aid
Assistance to other nearby agencies when local resources are overwhelmed
176
Multiplex
Simultaneous transmission of multiple data streams, most often voice and electrocardiogram signals
177
Narrow band
Reassignment of frequencies by the Federal Communications Commission to a 12.5 megahertz spacing, now required for all emergency medical services and public safety radio systems
178
Noise
Interference in a radio signal
179
Open-ended question
A question that does not have a yes or no answer, and that does not give the patient specific options from which to choose
180
PDDs
Pervasive Developmental Disorders
A group of disorders that cause delays in many areas of childhood development, such as the development of skills to communicate and interact socially, and may include repetitive body movements and difficulty with changes in routine; includes autism and Asperger syndrome, among others
181
PSAP
Public Safety Answering Point
The location to which 9-1-1 calls are routed, which may or may not serve as the dispatch center
182
Radio dead spots
Areas where mobile or portable radios are unable to communicate with a repeater
183
Remote terminal
A terminal that receives transmissions of telemetry and voice from the field and transmits messages back, usually through the base station
184
Repeater
Remote radio transceiver that receives radio signals and rebroadcasts them at a higher power, extending the range of a radio communications system
185
Simplex
Radio communication using a single frequency
186
SBAR
Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation
A structured patient report format designed to convey important information in a concise manner
187
Squelch
Filtering system to block background noise when a radio is on but not receiving a signal
188
Telemedicine
Computer-based system permitting real-time two-way audio, video, and data communication between the paramedic and medical control physician
189
Ten-code
A radio code system using the number 10 plus another number; no longer used in many emergency medical services systems
190
Therapeutic communication
Communication with the patient using specific strategies to encourage the patient to express ideas and feelings, and to convey respect and acceptance
191
Transceiver
A radio containing both a transmitter and a receiver; a two-way radio
192
Trunked radio system
Computerized sharing of radio frequencies by multiple units, agencies, or systems
193
Ultra high frequency (UHF) band
The portion of radio frequency spectrum between 300 and 3,000 megahertz
194
Universal timeout
A planned pause before the beginning of a procedure that improves communication among all personal involved and reduces preventable errors
195
Very high frequency (VHF) band
The portion of the radio frequency spectrum between 30 and 300 megahertz
196
CHARTE method
A narrative writing method that allows the narrative to be broken down into logical sections similar to the steps of the patient assessment; chief complaint, history, assessment, treatment, transport, and exceptions
197
Medical necessity
A standard used by Medicare to determine whether a patient’s condition requires ambulance transport in a particular situation
198
Minimum data set
The mandatory clinical assessment standard information that must be documented on every emergency call as set by Medicare and Medicaid, and per the NHTSA for the purpose of the national data system
199
PCR
Patient Care Report (or Prehospital Care Report)
A legal document used to record all patient care activities during an incident; a handwritten or electronic report that describes the nature of the patient’s injuries or illness at the scene and the treatment provided
200
Pertinent negatives
Findings that warrant no medical care or intervention, but which show evidence of the thoroughness of the patient exam and history
201
SOAP method
A narrative writing method in which information is organized into four categories: subjective information, objective information, assessment, and plan (for treatment)
202
Abduction
Movement of a limb away from the midline
203
Adduction
Movement of a limb toward the midline
204
Anatomic position
The position of reference, in which the patient stands facing you, arms at the side, with the palms of the hands facing forward
205
Anterior
The front surface of the body; the side facing you in an atomic position
206
Anteroposterior axis
The axis that runs perpendicular to the coronal plane
207
Apex
The pointed extremity of a conical structure
208
Bilateral
In anatomy, a body part or condition that appears on both sides of the midline
209
Combining form
A word root followed by a vowel
210
Compound word
A word containing more than one word root
211
Contralateral
On the opposite side of the body
212
Coronal plane
An imaginary plane in which the body is cut into front and back portions
213
Cross section
The product of slicing an object cross-wise, perpendicular to its long axis
214
Deep
Farther inside the body and away from the skin
215
Distal
Farther from the trunk and nearer to the free end of the extremity
216
Dorsal
The posterior surface of the body, including the back of the hand
217
Eponym
The name of a disease, device, procedure, or drug that is based on the person who invented, discovered, or first described it
218
Extension
The straightening of a joint
219
External rotation
Rotating an extremity at its joint away from the midline
220
Flexion
The bending of a joint
221
Fowler position
A sitting position, with the head elevated at a 90° angle (sitting straight upright)
222
Homonyms
Words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings
223
Horizontal axis
The axis that runs perpendicular to the sagittal plane; also called the mediolateral axis
224
Hyperextension
Maximum extension or extension beyond the normal range of motion
225
Hyperflexion
Maximum flexion or flexion beyond the normal range of motion
226
Inferior
Below or closer to the feet
227
Internal rotation
Rotating the anterior surface of an extremity toward the midline
228
Ipsilateral
On the same side of the body
229
Lateral
In anatomy, parts of the body that lie farther from the midline
230
Longitudinal axis
The axis that runs perpendicular to the transverse plane
231
Longitudinal section
The view of an object cut along its long axis
232
Medial
Closer to the midline
233
Midsagittal plane (midline)
An imaginary vertical line drawn from the middle of the forehead through the nose and the umbilicus to the floor
234
Palmar
The forward-facing part of the hand in the anatomic position
235
Plantar
The sole or bottom surface of the foot
236
Posterior
In anatomy, the back surface of the body; the side away from you in the standard anatomic position
237
Pronation
Turning the palms downward (toward the ground)
238
Prone
Lying flat, face down
239
Proximal
Closer to the trunk
240
Quadrants
The four sections of the abdominal cavity shown by two imaginary lines intersecting at the umbilicus
241
Range of motion
The full distance that a joint can be moved
242
Sagittal (lateral) plane
A plane of the body that passes vertically from front to back, dividing the body into left and right portions
243
Superficial
Closer to or on the surface of the skin
244
Superior
Above or closer to the head
245
Supination
Turning the palms upward (toward the sky)
246
Supine
Lying face up
247
Topographic anatomy
Superficial landmarks of the body that serve as guides to the structures that lie beneath them
248
Transverse (axial) plane
An imaginary plane passing horizontally through the body at the waist, dividing it into top and bottom halves
249
Unilateral
Occurring or appearing on only one side of the body
250
Ventral
The anterior surface of the body
