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22<div id="breadcrumb">	You Are Here&gt; <b>Glossary ::</b>
23</div><h3 align="center">Glossary</h3>
24<p align="center"><a href="#a">A</a> <a href="#b">B</a> <a href="#c">C</a> <a href="#d">D</a> <a href="#e">E</a> <a href="#f">F</a>
25<a href="#g">G</a> <a href="#h">H</a> <a href="#i">I</a> <a href="#j">J</a> <a href="#k">K</a> <a href="#l">L</a> <a href="#m">M</a><br/><a href="#n">N</a> <a href="#o">O</a> <a href="#p">P</a> <a href="#q">Q</a> <a href="#r">R</a> <a href="#s">S</a> <a href="#t">T</a>
26<a href="#u">U</a> <a href="#v">V</a> <a href="#w">W</a> <a href="#x">X</a> <a href="#y">Y</a> <a href="#z">Z</a></p>
27<hr/>
28<dl>
29<dt><a href="/" id="a" name="a"></a><b>Abduction</b></dt>
30<dd>Motion of a limb away from the midline</dd>
31<dt><b><a href="/" id="adduction" name="adduction"></a>Adduction</b></dt>
32<dd>Motion of a limb toward the midline</dd>
33<dt><b><a href="/" id="adrenaline" name="adrenaline"></a>Adrenaline</b></dt>
34<dd>Also known as "epinephrine". A drug given to counter
35anaphylactic shock and severe asthma attacks. Also used during
36ALS</dd>
37<dt><b><a href="/" id="agonal" name="agonal"></a>Agonal Respirations</b></dt>
38<dd>Slow, gasping respiration, sometimes seen in dying
39patients</dd>
40<dt><a href="/" id="anaphylaxis" name="anaphylaxis"></a><b>Anaphylactic
41Shock</b></dt>
42<dd>A sudden reaction to a foreign substance such as a bee sting,
43peanut oil or legumes. Characterised by a red, puffy appearance to
44the face and affected parts, impaired breathing and racing
45pulse.</dd>
46<dt><strong><a href="/" id="anoxia" name="anoxia"></a>Anoxia</strong></dt>
47<dd>Absence of oxygen</dd>
48<dt><a href="/" id="anterior" name="anterior"></a><b>Anterior</b></dt>
49<dd>Means 'front'. Hence the anterior interventricular artery is at
50the front of the body, the side where the face is normally.</dd>
51<dt><b><a href="/" id="aneurysm" name="aneurysm"></a>Aneurysm</b></dt>
52<dd>A swelling or enlargement of a part of an artery, resulting
53from weakening of the arterial wall</dd>
54<dt><b><a href="/" id="angina" name="angina"></a>Angina Pectoris</b></dt>
55<dd>Transient chest discomfort caused by partial or temporary
56blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle</dd>
57<dt><b><a href="/" id="angleoflouis" name="angleoflouis"></a>Angle of Louis</b></dt>
58<dd>A ridge on the sternum that lies at the level where the second
59rib is attached to the sternum; provides a constant and reliable
60bony landmark on the anterior chest wall</dd>
61<dt><a href="/" id="aorta" name="aorta"></a><b>Aorta</b></dt>
62<dd>The main artery of the body. Comes out of the heart and divides
63into the ascending and descending aorta.</dd>
64<dt><a href="/" id="aslvalve" name="aslvalve"></a><b>Aortic Semi-lunar
65Valve</b></dt>
66<dd>The valve between the left ventricle and the aorta.</dd>
67<dt><b><a href="/" id="Apgar" name="Apgar"></a>Apgar</b></dt>
68<dd>A simple and repeatable method to quickly and summarily assess
69the health of newborn children immediately after childbirth.</dd>
70<dt><strong><a href="/" id="Apnoea" name="Apnoea"></a>Apnoea</strong></dt>
71<dd>Cesation of respiration</dd>
72<dt><a href="/" id="artery" name="artery"></a><b>Artery</b></dt>
73<dd>One of the body's highways for blood. Carries blood from the
74heart to the tissues. Arterial blood is usually bright red and
75under considerable pumping pressure.</dd>
76<dt><strong><a href="/" id="Asthma" name="Asthma"></a>Asthma</strong></dt>
77<dd>Spasm of bronchi causing difficulty in exhaling</dd>
78<dt><a href="/" id="atrium" name="atrium"></a><b>Atrium</b></dt>
79<dd>Chambers in the heart where blood is collected and pumped
80through to the ventricles.</dd>
81<dt><a href="/" id="atropine" name="atropine"></a><b>Atropine</b></dt>
82<dd>A drug which has the effect of blocking vagal stimulation,
83speeding up the heart. Also used during ALS to reverse asystole and
84bradycardia</dd>
85<dt><b><a href="/" id="AVPU" name="AVPU"></a>AVPU</b></dt>
86<dd>method of assessing a patient's level of consciousness by
87determining whether a patient is Alert, responsive to Verbal
88stimulus or Pain, or Unresponsive; used principally in the initial
89assessment.</dd>
90<dt><a href="/" id="battlesigns" name="battlesigns"></a><b>Battle Signs</b></dt>
91<dd>Bruising behind an ear over the mastoid process that may
92indicate skull fracture.</dd>
93<dt><a href="#bicuspid" id="b" name="b"></a><b>Bicuspid
94valve</b></dt>
95<dd>The valve in the heart between the left atrium and left
96ventricle.</dd>
97<dt><b><a href="/" id="bilateral" name="bilateral"></a>Bilateral</b></dt>
98<dd>A body part or condition that appears on both sides of the
99midline</dd>
100<dt><b><a href="/" id="Blackout" name="blackout"></a>Blackout</b></dt>
101<dd>Sudden and spontaneous transient loss of consciousness with complete recovery</dd>
102<dt><a href="/" id="bradycardia" name="bradycardia"></a><b>Bradycardia</b></dt>
103<dd>Slow heartbeat. In a normal adult, a heart rate under 60 is
104considered bradycardic in most circumstances. However, some people
105have a normal resting pulse lower than this, usually
106athletes. </dd>
107<dt><strong><a href="/" id="bronchitis" name="bronchitis"></a>Bronchitis</strong></dt>
108<dd>Inflammation of the bronchi</dd>
109<dt><strong><a href="/" id="bronchoconstriction" name="bronchoconstriction"></a>Bronchoconstriction</strong></dt>
110<dd>Constriction of the bronchi</dd>
111<dt><strong><a href="/" id="bronchospasm" name="bronchospasm"></a>Bronchospasm</strong></dt>
112<dd>Spasm of the bronchi, as in what happens during an asthma attack</dd>
113<dt><b><a href="/" id="brugada" name="brugada"></a>Brugada Syndrome</b></dt>
114<dd>Abnormal ST segment elevation in leads V1 to V3 on ECG. This predisposes to ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death, and may present with syncope.</dd>
115<dt><a href="/" id="c" name="c"></a><b>Capillary</b></dt>
116<dd>These blood vessels are very small and have thin walls so that
117  gaseous exchange between the blood and the tissues can take place.
118  Capillary bleeding is characterised by oozing.</dd>
119<dt><a href="/" id="csf" name="csf"></a><b>Cerebro-Spinal Fluid</b></dt>
120<dd>The liquid inside the skull in which the brain is suspended. It
121  cushions the brain against impacts to the skull.</dd>
122<dt><a href="/" id="colic" name="colic"></a><strong>Colic</strong></dt>
123<dd>A word generally used to <strong>describe</strong> a squeezing or gripping <strong>pain</strong>,   which is intermittent rather than continuous, and tends to come in 
123waves.</dd>
124<dt><a href="/" id="coronaryarteries" name="coronaryarteries"></a><b>Coronary Arteries</b></dt>
125<dd>The arteries which supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle. 
126  They comprise the <a href="#leftcorart">left</a> and <a href="#rightcorart">right</a> coronary arteries.</dd>
127<dt><b><a href="/" id="cotdeath" name="cotdeath"></a>Cot Death</b></dt>
128<dd>See <a href="#SIDS">SIDS</a></dd>
129<dt><a href="/" id="cpr" name="cpr"></a><b>CPR</b></dt>
130<dd>Stands for Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation. The process of             
131    keeping someone alive by mechanically emulating the work of the             
132    heart and lungs by compressing the chest and blowing air into the             
133    lungs. </dd>
134<dt><a href="/" id="d" name="d"></a><b>Defibrillator</b></dt>
135<dd>A machine which delivers a controlled electric pulse across the            
136    chest to make the heart restart when it has stopped beating             
137    effectively. Only usually effective when the heart is in <a href="#vf">VF</a>. </dd>
138<dt><b><a href="/" id="dementia" name="dementia"></a>Dementia</b></dt>
139<dd>is progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or
140    disease in the brain beyond what might be expected from normal
141    aging.</dd>
142<dt><b><a href="/" id="dnr" name="dnr"></a>DNR</b></dt>
143<dd>Do Not Resuscitate.<span class="maintext">Written or verbal
144    instruction to medical/ambulance staff not to attempt resuscitation
145    in the event of cardiac arrest</span></dd>
146<dt><strong><a href="/" id="dyspnoea" name="dyspnoea"></a>Dyspnoea</strong></dt>
147<dd>Difficult or laboured breathing</dd>
148<dt><a href="/" id="e" name="e"></a><b>Ecchymosis</b></dt>
149<dd>The skin discoloration caused by the escape of blood into the tissues from  
150    ruptured blood vessels, as in battle signs</dd>
151<dt><b><a href="/" id="entonox" name="entonox"></a>Entonox</b></dt>
152<dd>Also known as Nitronox. A mixture of gases: 50% oxygen, 50%
153    nitrous oxide. An effective analgesia for pain relief.</dd>
154<dt><b><a href="/" id="exposure" name="exposure"></a>Exposure</b></dt>
155<dd>Another name for <a href="#hypothermia">hypothermia</a>. </dd>
156<dt><a href="/" id="f" name="f"></a><b>Fracture</b></dt>
157<dd>A break or crack in a bone. </dd>
158<dt><b><a href="/" id="fowler" name="fowler"></a>Fowler Position</b></dt>
159<dd><span class="maintext">The position in which the patient is
160    sitting up with the knees bent.</span></dd>
161<dt><a href="/" id="g" name="g"></a><b>Glasgow Coma Score</b></dt>
162<dd>A way of measuring the level of consciousness of a             
163    casualty. </dd>
164<dt><b><a href="/" id="goldenhour" name="goldenhour"></a>Golden Hour</b></dt>
165<dd>The time from injury to definitive care, during which treatment
166    of shock or traumatic injuries should occur because survival
167    potential is the best</dd>
168<dt><a href="/" id="h" name="h"></a><strong>Haematemesis</strong></dt>
169<dd>Vomiting blood. If the blood has been in the stomach and gastric juices have started to break it down it will be a dark red colour with small particles resembling coffee grounds. </dd>
170<dt><a href="/" id="Haematuria" name="Haematuria"></a><strong>Haematuria</strong></dt>
171<dd>Blood stained urine caused by injury or disease of any of the urinary organs </dd>
172<dt><a href="/" id="heat" name="heat"></a><b>Heat Exhaustion</b></dt>
173<dd>A condition where the body's temperature rises above 38oC and
174    the person feels sick and dizzy. Caused by dehydration and
175    imbalance in electrolytes.</dd>
176<dt><b><a href="/" id="heatstroke" name="heatstroke"></a>Heat
177    Stroke</b></dt>
178<dd>A very serious condition when the body loses the ability to
179    regulate its own temperature and the internal temperature climbs to
180    a dangerous level (40C and above.) Requires urgent treatment.</dd>
181<dt><strong><a href="/" id="hypercarbia" name="hypercarbia"></a>Hypercarbia</strong></dt>
182<dd>High levels of carbon dioxide</dd>
183<dt><strong><a href="/" id="hyperventilation" name="hyperventilation"></a>Hyperventilation</strong></dt>
184<dd>Increased breathing rate</dd>
185<dt><a href="/" id="hypothermia" name="hypothermia"></a><b>Hypothermia</b></dt>
186<dd>When the body becomes too cold; clinically, when the core
187    temperature drops below 35 degrees Celsius.</dd>
188<dt><b><a href="/" id="hypoxaemia" name="hypoxaemia"></a>Hypoxaemia</b></dt>
189<dd>A low level of saturated oxygen in blood</dd>
190<dt><a href="/" id="hypoxia" name="hypoxia"></a><b>Hypoxia</b></dt>
191<dd>A low level of saturated oxygen in the tissues. </dd>
192<dt><a href="/" id="hypoxdrive" name="hypoxdrive"></a><b>Hypoxic             
193    drive</b></dt>
194<dd>A chronic condition where the normal trigger for breathing is            
195    no longer effective, and the body relies on detecting low levels of             
196    oxygen to start a breath. Can cause problems when administering             
197    oxygen. </dd>
198<dt><a href="/" id="i" name="i"></a><b>Intravenous</b></dt>
199<dd>Given by way of the <a href="#v">veins</a>.</dd>
200<dt><a href="/" id="j" name="j"></a><b>Jugular</b></dt>
201<dd>The veins which carry the main blood supply back down from the            
202    head. </dd>
203<dt><a href="/" id="k" name="k"></a><b>Kussmauls Respirations</b></dt>
204<dd>Deep, rapid breathing; usually the result of an accumulation of
205    certain acids when insulin is not available in the body</dd>
206<dt><a href="/" id="l" name="l"></a><b>Laceration</b></dt>
207<dd>A rough, ripped wound; e.g. caused by barbed wire.</dd>
208<dt><a href="/" id="leftcorart" name="leftcorart"></a><b>
208Left Coronary
209    Artery</b></dt>
210<dd>Supplies oxygenated blood to the left side of the heart and
211    part of the right side.</dd>
212<dt><a href="/" id="m" name="m"></a><b>Marginal branch</b></dt>
213<dd>Supplies blood to the right side of the heart. Part of the
214    <a href="#rightcorart">right coronary</a> artery.</dd>
215<dt><a href="/" id="melaena" name="melaena"></a><strong>Melaena</strong></dt>
216<dd>Faeces take on a dark colouration due to blood pigmentation. The stools may also be sticky </dd>
217<dt><a href="/" id="meninges" name="meninges"></a><b>Meninges</b></dt>
218<dd>The three membranes which cover the brain and protect it from
219    the skull.</dd>
220<dt><a href="/" id="minfarct" name="minfarct"></a><b>Myocardial
221    Infarction</b></dt>
222<dd>A blockage in the coronary arteries which supply blood to the
223    myocardium. Commonly termed a heart attack.</dd>
224<dt><a href="/" id="myocardium" name="myocardium"></a><b>Myocardium</b></dt>
225<dd>The muscle of the heart. </dd>
226<dt><a href="/" id="n" name="n"></a><b>Neurogenic Shock</b></dt>
227<dd>Caused by injury or insult to the nervous system. </dd>
228<dt><a href="/" id="o" name="o"></a><b>Oropharynx</b></dt>
229<dd>The part of the upper airway at the back of the             
230    mouth.</dd>
231<dt><strong><a href="/" id="orthopnoea" name="orthopnoea"></a>Orthopnoea</strong></dt>
232<dd>Difficulty breathing unless in an upright position  </dd>
233<dt><a href="/" id="p" name="p"></a><b>Pneumothorax</b></dt>
234<dd>An injury to a lung such that air is present in the pleural
235    cavity.</dd>
236<dt><a href="/" id="posterior" name="posterior"></a><b>Posterior</b></dt>
237<dd>Means 'back'. Hence the posterior interventricular artery is at
238    the back of the body, the side where the spine is.</dd>
239<dt><b><a href="/" id="postictal" name="postictal"></a>Postictal</b></dt>
240<dd>The period immediately following a seizure, characterized by
241    extreme tiredness or listlessness</dd>
242<dt><a href="/" id="pulartery" name="pulartery"></a><b>Pulmonary
243    artery</b></dt>
244<dd>The blood vessel that carries <em>deoxygenated</em> blood from
245    the right ventricle to the lungs.</dd>
246<dt><a href="/" id="pslvalve" name="pslvalve"></a><b>Pulmonary Semi-lunar
247    Valve</b></dt>
248<dd>The valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary
249    artery.</dd>
250<dt><a href="/" id="pulvein" name="pulvein"></a><b>Pulmonary vein</b></dt>
251<dd>The blood vessel that carries <em>oxygenated</em> blood from            
252    the lungs to the left atrium. </dd>
253<dt><a href="/" id="q" name="q"></a><b>QRS complex</b></dt>
254<dd>The part of an ECG rhythm showing electrical activity in the             
255    ventricles. </dd>
256<dt><strong><a href="/" id="rale" name="rale"></a>Rale</strong></dt>
257<dd>An abnormal rattling sound heard during respiration</dd>
258<dt><strong><a href="/" id="rhonchi" name="rhonchi"></a>Rhonchi</strong></dt>
259<dd>A wheezing sound heard from the bronchial tubes</dd>
260<dt> </dt>
261<dt><a href="/" id="r" name="r"></a><b>Right coronary artery</b></dt>
262<dd>Supplies oxygenated blood to the right side of the heart and
263    some of the left side.</dd>
264<dt><a href="/" id="s" name="s"></a><b>Septum</b></dt>
265<dd>The section of the heart separating the left and right atria
266    and ventricles.</dd>
267<dt><a href="/" id="shock" name="shock"></a><b>Shock</b></dt>
268<dd>Insufficient oxygen getting to where it is needed in the body.            
269    Can be caused by many things including loss of blood, allergic             
270    reactions, emotional response and damage to the spinal             
271    cord. </dd>
272<dt><a href="/" name="SIDS"></a><b>SIDS</b></dt>
273<dd>Sudden Infant Death Syndrome - is the sudden and unexplained death of an infant who is younger than 1 year old. Infants who die of SIDS generally do so in their sleep.</dd>
274<dt><strong><a href="/" id="stridor" name="stridor"></a>Stridor</strong></dt>
275<dd>High pitched whistle caused by obstruction in larynx or trachea</dd>
276<dt><a href="/" id="t" name="t"></a><b>Tachycardia</b></dt>
277<dd>The heart beating quickly. An adult heart is usually considered
278    tachycardic with a resting rate of more than one hundred beats per
279    minute.</dd>
280<dt><a href="/" id="tensionpneumo" name="tensionpneumo"></a><b>Tension
281    Pneumothorax</b></dt>
282<dd>A <a href="#pneumothorax">pneumothorax</a> injury where the air
283    cannot escape, leading to a steady build-up of pressure. Very
284    dangerous.</dd>
285<dt><a href="/" id="tricuspid" name="tricuspid"></a><b>Tricuspid
286    valve</b></dt>
287<dd>The valve in the heart between the right atrium and right             
288    ventricle. </dd>
289<dt><a href="/" id="u" name="u"></a><b>Unconsciousness</b></dt>
290<dd>Interruption of the brain's normal activity so that it is no             
291    longer aware of its surroundings. </dd>
292<dt><a href="/" id="vitalsigns" name="vitalsigns"></a><b>Vital Signs</b></dt>
293<dd>The key signs that are used to evaluate the patient's overall
294    condition, including respirations, pulse, blood pressure, level of
295    consciousness, and skin characteristics</dd>
296<dt><a href="/" id="v" name="v"></a><b>Vein</b></dt>
297<dd>Veins carry blood back to the heart. Venous blood is usually
298    dark red and carries less oxygen than arterial blood. Venous
299    bleeding is characterised by its colour and gushing out of an
300    injury.</dd>
301<dt><a href="/" id="venacava" name="venacava"></a><b>Vena Cava</b></dt>
302<dd>The vein which returns blood to the right atrium of the heart.
303    Comprises the superior vena cava which comes down from above, and
304    the inferior vena cava which comes up from the lower body.</dd>
305<dt><a href="/" id="vf" name="vf"></a><b>VF</b></dt>
306<dd>Short for Ventricular Fibrillation. The muscles of the heart
307    are generating their own electrical pulses and the heart has no
308    organised waveform. This then causes the heart to 'quiver' which in
309    turn prevents any blood being pumped by the heart to the rest of
310    the body</dd>
311<dt><strong><a href="/" id="wheeze" name="wheeze"></a>Wheeze</strong></dt>
312<dd>Breathing with a rasp or whistling sound</dd>
313<dt><a href="/" id="x" name="x"></a><b>X-ray</b></dt>
314<dd>Viewing of a part of the body by means of passing very high            
315    frequency electromagnetic waves through the part and measuring on             
316    film the amount that gets through. </dd>
317<dt><a href="/" id="y" name="y"></a><b>Yankeur</b></dt>
318<dd>A type of suction pipe</dd>
319<dt><a href="/" id="z" name="z"></a><b>Zygoma</b></dt>
320<dd>The cheekbone.</dd>
321</dl>
322<div id="footer">	Thanks to <a href="http://www.nixonmcinnes.co.uk">Nixon Mcinnes</a> for their support
323in producing this site
324<p>SJW 2012</p>
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