EMS Exam 4 Vocab

Loss of skin as a result of a body part being rubbed or scraped across a rough or hard surface.

Severe shock caused by an allergic reaction to food, medicine, or insect stings.

Serious bleeding from an artery in which blood frequently pulses or spurts from an open wound.

The two upper chambers of the heart.

An injury in which a piece of skin is either torn completely loose from all of its attachments or is left hanging as a flap.

The pressure of the circulating blood against the walls of the arteries.

Pressure point located in the arm between the elbow and the shoulder; also used in taking blood pressure and for checking the pulse in infants.

Injury caused by a blunt object striking the body and crushing the tissue beneath the skin. Also called a contusion.

Bleeding from the capillaries in which blood oozes from the open wound.

Shock resulting from inadequate functioning of the heart.

Burns that occur when any toxic substance comes in contact with the skin. Most chemical burns are caused by strong acids or alkalis.

Injury in which soft-tissue damage occurs beneath the skin but there is no break in the surface of the skin.

Heart disease characterized by breathlessness, fluid retention in the lungs, and generalized swelling of the body.

A triangular swathe of cloth that is used to hold a body part splinted against the body

Object placed directly on a wound to control bleeding and prevent further contamination.

Burns caused by contact with high- or low-voltage electricity. have an entrance and an exit wound.

Point where an injurious object such as a bullet enters the body.

Point where an injurious object such as a bullet passes out of the body.

Pressure point located in the groin, where the femoral artery is close to the skin.

Burns that extend through the skin and into or beyond the underlying tissues; the most serious class of burn.

A puncture wound caused by a bullet or shotgun pellet.

Excessive bleeding.

To reduce or prevent movement of a limb, usually by splinting.

An object such as a knife, splinter of wood, or glass that penetrates the skin and remains in the body.

Fluids other than blood or blood products infused into the vascular system to maintain an adequate circulatory blood volume.

An irregular cut or tear through the skin.

An injury that affects more than one body system.

An airtight dressing or bandage for a wound.

Injury that breaks the skin or mucous membrane.

Burns in which the outer layers of skin are burned; these burns are characterized by blister formation.

Trouser-like devices placed around a shock victim's legs and abdomen and inflated with air.

Points where a blood vessel lies near a bone; pressure can be applied to these points to help control bleeding.

Commonly known as fainting; caused by a temporary reduction in blood supply to the brain.

A wound resulting from a bullet, knife, ice pick, splinter, or any other pointed object.

An acute viral infection of the central nervous system transmitted by the bite of an infected animal.

Burn to the respiratory system resulting from inhaling superheated air.

An abrasion caused by sliding on pavement. Usually seen after motorcycle or bicycle accidents.

A way to calculate the amount of body surface burned; the body is divided into sections, each of which constitutes approximately 9% or 18% of the total body surface area.

Salt water.

A state of collapse of the cardiovascular system; the state of inadequate delivery of blood to the organs of the body.

A means of immobilizing an injured part by using a rigid or soft support.

A nosebleed with no apparent cause.

Burn in which only the superficial part of the skin has been injured; an example is a sunburn.

Burn caused by heat; the most common type of burn.

External bleeding from a vein, characterized by steady flow; the bleeding may be profuse and life threatening.

The two lower chambers of the heart.

Breathing using only the diaphragm.

The upper portion of the upper extremity; from the shoulder to the elbow.

A clear, watery, straw-colored fluid that fills the space between the brain and spinal cord and their protective coverings.

A fracture in which the overlying skin has not been damaged.

Injury where there is bleeding and/or swelling within the skull.

Disruption of a joint so that the bone ends are no longer in alignment.

A chest injury in which three or more ribs are broken in two or more places, resulting in the injured part of the chest moving in the opposite direction from the rest of the chest.

The lower portion of the upper extremity; from the elbow to the wrist.

The place where two bones come in contact with each other.

The lower portion of the lower extremity; from the knee to the foot.

The means by which a traumatic injury occurs.

Any fracture in which the overlying skin has been damaged.

Abnormal brittleness of the bones in older people caused by loss of calcium; affected bones fracture easily.

Inability of a conscious person to move voluntarily.

Splint made from firm materials such as wood, aluminum, or plastic.

Sudden episode of uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain.

A bandage or material that helps to support the weight of an injured upper extremity.

A splint made from supple material that provides gentle support.

A joint injury in which the joint is partially or temporarily dislocated and some of the supporting ligaments are either stretched or torn.

The upper portion of the lower extremity; from the hip joint to the knee.

A splint that holds a lower extremity fracture in alignment by applying a constant, steady pull on the extremity.

A wound or injury, either physical or psychological.

The distal or terminal ending of the gastrointestinal tract.

The amniotic fluid-filled sac that surrounds the fetus before birth.

The vagina and the lower part of the uterus.

The bloody mucous plug that is discharged from the vagina when labor begins.

A delivery in which the infant's buttocks appear first rather than the head.

Muscular movements of the uterus that push the infant out of the birth canal.

Appearance of the infant's head during a contraction as it is pushed outward through the birth canal.

A pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube; usually terminates with the rupture of the fallopian tube.

A developing infant in the uterus or womb.

The process of delivering an infant.

Delivery of the fetus before it is mature enough to survive outside the womb (about 20 weeks), from either natural (spontaneous abortion) or induced causes.

Life-support system of the fetus (commonly called the afterbirth).

Infants delivered before 36 weeks of gestation or who weigh less than 5 pounds at birth.

A condition in which the umbilical cord appears before the infant does; the infant's head may compress the cord and cut off all circulation.

Aspirating (sucking out) fluid by mechanical means.

Ropelike attachment between the pregnant woman and fetus; nourishment and waste products pass to and from the fetus and the woman through this cord.

Muscular organ that holds and nourishes the developing fetus.

The opening through which the infant emerges.

An acute spasm of the smaller air passages that results in narrowing and inflammation of these passages. It is marked by labored breathing and wheezing.

A series of manual thrusts to the chest to relieve upper airway obstruction; used in the treatment of infants, pregnant women, or extremely obese people.

Inflammation and narrowing of the air passages in young children, causing a barking cough, hoarseness, and a harsh, high-pitched breathing sound.

Submersion in water that results in suffocation or respiratory impairment.

Severe inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis; a life-threatening situation.

A disease manifested by seizures, caused by an abnormal focus of electrical activity in the brain.

Patchy skin discoloration caused by too little or too much circulation.

An assessment tool that measures the severity of a child's illness or injury by evaluating the child's appearance, work of breathing, and circulation to the skin.

Aspirating (sucking out) fluid in the mouth or airway by mechanical means.

A chronic progressive dementia that accounts for 60% of all dementia.

A progressive irreversible decline in mental functioning; marked by memory impairment and decrease in reasoning.

A psychiatric disorder marked by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and decreased interest in daily activities. The person may have persistent thoughts of suicide.

An action taken by a family member or caregiver that results in the physical, emotional, or sexual harm to a person older than 65 years.

Rotated outward, as a fractured hip.

A patient who is older than 65 years.

An interdisciplinary program designed to reduce or eliminate pain and address the physical, spiritual, social, and economic needs of terminally ill patients.

Abnormal brittleness of the bones caused by loss of calcium; affected bones fracture easily.

General term for dementia that occurs in older people

Intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is especially common in elderly and chronically ill persons.