1<!DOCTYPE html public "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> 2 3<html lang="en" xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> 4<head> 5<title>Glossary</title> 6<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="content-type"/><link href="../style.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/><link href="../print.css" media="print" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/> 7</head> 8<body> 9<div id="main"> 10<div id="topmenu"> 11<ul> 12<li><a href="../popup/index.htm">Glossary</a></li> 13<li><a href="../form.html">Feedback</a></li> 14<li><a href="../disclaimer.html">Disclaimer</a></li> 15<li><a href="../about.html">About ATS</a></li> 16<li><a href="../index.html">Home</a></li> 17</ul> 18</div> 19<div id="header"><span class="title">ambulance<span class="darktitle"> technician study</span></span><br/> 20</div> 21<div id="content"> 22<div id="breadcrumb"> You Are Here> <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> 325</div> 326</div> 327<div id="lefty"> 328<center> 329<a class="addthis_button" href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&pubid=ra-4ff0069663644e88"></a>
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