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Medical Emergencies
Paramedic Medical Emergencies: Resp/Neuro/Endo/Psych
| Question/Definition | Term/Answer |
|---|---|
| a form of pulmonary edema that is caused by fluid accumulation in the interstitial space within the lungs | Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) |
| the absence of breathing | Apnea |
| a decrease in the amount of oxygen and an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide as a result of some interference with respiration | Asphyxia |
| slow respirations | Bradypnea |
| hemoglobin bound with carbon dioxide | Carbaminohemoglobin |
| hemoglobin bound with carbon monoxide | Carboxyhemoglobin |
| the point at which the trachea bifurcates into the right a left mainstem bronchi | Carina |
| a disease characterized by a decreased ability of the lungs to perform the function of ventilation | Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) |
| hypertrophy of the right ventricle resulting from disorders of the lungs | Cor Pulmonale |
| crackling sounds | Crepitus |
| bluish discoloration of the skin due to an increase in reduced hemoglobin in the blood as a result of poor ventilation | Cyanosis |
| hemoglobin without oxygen | Deoxyhemoglobin |
| sweatiness | Diaphoresis |
| the movement of molecules through a membrane from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration | Diffusion |
| difficult of labored breathing; a sensation of "shortness of breath" | Dyspnea |
| one or more ribs fractured in two or more places, creating an unattached rib segment | Flail Chest |
| molecules, atoms, or ions with an odd number of electrons (unpaired electrons) that can be formed through interaction with oxygen and can cause damage to body cells | Free Radicals |
| oxygen-bearing molecule in red blood cells | Hemoglobin |
| expectoration of blood from the respiratory system | Hemoptysis |
| a collection of blood in the pleural space | Hemothorax |
| higher that normal levels of oxygen | Hyperoxia |
| state in which insufficient oxygen is available to meet the oxygen requirements of the cells | Hypoxia |
| excessive widening of the nares with respiration | Nasal Flaring |
| normal levels of oxygen | Normoxia |
| difficulty breathing while laying supine | Orthopnea |
| damage to body cells and tissues caused by the presence of free radicals, which may form when molecules, atoms, or ions interact with oxygen | Oxidative Stress |
| hemoglobin bound with oxygen | Oxyhemoglobin |
| paleness | Pallor |
| a sudden episode of difficult breathing that occurs after laying down; most commonly caused by left-heart failure | Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea |
| the circulation of blood through the capillaries | Perfusion |
| potential of hydrogen | pH |
| sharp or tearing pain, as a description of pain | Pleuritic |
| a collection of air in the pleural space, causing a loss of the negative pressure that binds the lung to the chest wall | Pneumothorax |
| an excess of red blood cells | Polycythemia |
| a method of holding the alveoli open by increasing expiratory pressure | Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) |
| the exchange of gases between a living organism and its environment | Respiration |
| presence of air in the subcutaneous tissue | Subcutaneous Emphysema |
| a compound secreted by the lungs that contributes to the elastic properties of the pulmonary tissues | Surfactant |
| rapid respiration | Tachypnea |
| retraction of the tissues of the neck due to airway obstruction or dyspnea | Tracheal Tugging |
| the mechanical process of moving air in and out of the lungs | Ventilation |
| a type of generalized seizure with sudden onset, characterized by a brief loss of awareness and rapid recovery | Absence Seizure |
| to carry impulses towards the central nervous system | Afferent |
| a degenerative brain disorder that is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly | Alzheimer's Disease |
| a progressive degeneration of specific nerve cells that control voluntary movement characterized by weakness, loss of motor control, difficult speaking, and cramping. (aka Lou Gehrig's Disease) | Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) |
| breathing characterized by a prolonged inspiration unrelieved by expiration attempts, seen in patients with damage to the upper part of the pons | Apneustic Respiration |
| the middle layer of the meninges | Arachnoid Membrane |
| poor respirations due to CNS damage, causing ineffective thoracic muscular coordination | Ataxic Respiration |
| a subjective sensation that may precede a seizure | Aura |
| the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions and can be divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems | Autonomic Nervous System |
| one-sided facial paralysis with an unknown cause characterized by the inability to close the eye, pain, tearing of the eyes, drooling, hypersensitivity to sound, and impairment of taste | Bell's Palsy |
| a collection of pus localized in an area of the brain | Brain Abscess |
| the part of the brain that connects the cerebral hemispheres with the spinal cord and consists of the mesencephalon (midbrain), pons, and medulla oblongata | Brainstem |
| a condition caused by significant narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses the nerve roots below the level of the spinal cord | Cauda Equina Syndrome |
| the part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord | Central Nervous System (CNS) |
| tachypnea caused by a lesion in the CNS that is often characterized by rapid, deep, noisy respirations | Central Neurogenic Hyperventilation |
| a condition resulting from damage or injury to the brain, brainstem, or spinal cord characterized by intense, steady pain described as burning, aching, tingling, or a "pins and needles" sensation | Central Pain Syndrome |
| the portion of the brain located dorsally to the pons and medulla oblongata that plays an important role in fine motor movement, posture, equilibrium, and muscle tone | Cerebellum |
| watery, clear fluid that acts as a cushion, protecting the brain and spinal cord from physical impact, as well as an accessory circulatory system for the CNS | Cerebrospinal Fluid |
| the largest part of the brain that consists of two hemispheres and is responsible for consciousness and higher mental functions such as memory, learning, reasoning, judgement, intelligence, and emotions | Cerebrum |
| a breathing pattern characterized by a period of apnea lasting 10-60 seconds, followed by a gradually increasing depth and frequency of respirations | Cheyne-Stokes Resprations |
| the phase of a seizure that is characterized by alternating contractions and relaxation of muscles | Clonic Phase |
| a state of unconsciousness from which the patient cannot be aroused | Coma |
| a type of partial seizure usually originating in the temporal lobe and is characterized by an aura and focal findings such as alterations in mental status or mood | Complex Partial Seizures |
| twelve pairs of nerves that extend from the lower surface of the brain | Cranial Nerves |
| a rare form of brain damage that leads to a rapid decrease in mental function and movement characterized by dementia, ataxia, hallucinations, jerking, and general decline | Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease |
| a collective change in vitals signs that is associated with increased ICP and is characterized by an increase in blood pressure, a decrease in pulse rate, and irregular respirations | Cushing's Triad |
| a posture characterized by stiff, extended extremities and a retracted head that is associated with a lesion in the brainstem | Decerebrate Posturing |
| a posture characterized by flexed arms, clenched fists, and extended legs that is associated with a lesion at or above the upper brainstem | Decorticate Posturing |
| a collection of diseases that selectively affects one or more functional systems of the CNS | Degenerative Neurologic Disorders |
| area of the skin innervated by spinal nerves | Dermatomes |
| the portion of the brain lying beneath the cerebrum and above the brainstem that contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, and limbic system | Diencephalon |
| the tough outermost layer of the meninges | Dura Mater |
| a group of disorders characterized by muscle contractions that cause twisting and repetitive movements, abnormal postures, or freezing in the middle of an action | Dystonias |
| to carry impulses away from the brain and spinal cord to the periphery | Efferent |
| seizures that begin as an electrical discharge in a small area of the brain but spread to involve the entire cerebral cortex, causing widespread malfunction | Generalized Seizures |
| tool used in evaluating and quantifying the degree of coma by determining the best motor, verbal, and eye-opening response to standardized stimuli | Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) |
| a disease caused by a genetic defect and characterized by rigidity, slow movements, tremor, behavioral changes, unusual movements, and dementia | Huntington's Disease |
| psychosis characterized by disorientation, muttering delirium, insomnia, delusions, and hallucinations. Symptoms include painful extremeties, bilateral wrist drop (rarely), bilateral foot drop (frequently), and pain on pressure over the long nerves. | Korsakoff's Psychosis |
| rapid deep respirations caused by severe metabolic and CNS problems | Kussmaul's Respirations |
| lower portion of the brainstem, connecting the pons and the spinal cord. It contains major centers for control of respiratory, cardiac, and vasomotor activity. | Medulla Oblongata |
| membranes covering and protecting the brain and spinal cord. They consist of the pia mater, arachnoid membrane, and dura mater | Meninges |
| portion of the brain connecting the pons and cerebellum with the cerebral hemispheres; also called the midbrain. It controls motor coordination and eye movement | Mesencephalon |
| temporary, involuntary twitching or spasm of a muscle or group of muscles | Myoclonus |
| nerve cell ; The fundamental component of the nervous system | Neuron |
| a substance that is released from the Axon terminal of a presynaptic neuron an excitation and that travels across the synaptic cleft to either excite or inhibit the target cell. Examples include acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. | Neurotransmitter |
| Division of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for controlling vegetative function; causes decreased heart rate and constriction of the bronchioles and pupils. Its actions are mediated by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine | Parasympathetic Nervous System |
| chronic and progressive motor system disorder characterized by trimmers, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability | Parkinson's Disease |
| Seizures that remain confined to a limited portion of the brain, causing localized malfunction; may spread and become generalized | Partial Seizures |
| part of the nervous system that extends throughout the body and is composed of the cranial nerves arising from the brain and the peripheral nerves arising from the spinal cord. It's subdivisions are the somatic and the autonomic nervous systems. | Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) |
| Any malfunction or damage of the peripheral nerves. Results may include muscle weakness, loss of sensation, impaired reflexes, and internal organ malfunctions. | Peripheral Neuropathy |
| Delicate innermost layer of the meninges | Pia Mater |
| A rare, permanent form of dementia similar to Alzheimer's disease but affecting only certain areas of the brain; characterized by incorrect behavior in social settings and difficulty with decision making, complex tasks, and language. | Pick's Disease |
| Process of tissue connecting the medulla oblongota and cerebellum with upper portions of the brain. | Pons |
| The system responsible for consciousness. A series of nervous tissues keeping the human system in a state of consciousness. | Reticular Activating System |
| A temporary alteration in behavior due to the massive electrical discharge of one or more groups of neurons in the brain; can be clinically classified as generalized or partial. | Seizure |
| Type of partial seizure that involves local motor motor , sensory, or autonomic dysfunction of one area of the body. There is no loss of consciousness. | Simple Partial Seizure |
| Part of the nervous system controlling voluntary bodily functions | Somatic Nervous System |
| Series of two or more generalized motor seizures without any intervening periods of consciousness | Status Epilepticus |
| Neurological deficit caused by either ischemic or hemorrhagic lesions to a portion of the brain, resulting in damage or destruction of brain tissue | Stroke |
| division of the automatic nervous system that prepares the body for stressful situations; causes increased heart rate and dilation of the bronchioles and pupils. Its actions are mediated by the neurotransmitters epinephrine and norepinephrine. | Sympathetic Nervous System |
| Transient loss of consciousness due to inadequate flow of blood to the brain with rapid recovery of consciousness on becoming supine; Fainting | Syncope |
| Phase of a seizure characterized by tension or contraction of muscles. | Tonic Phase |
| Type of generalized seizure characterized by rapid loss of consciousness in motor coordination, muscle spasms, and jerking motions. | Tonic-Clonic Seizure |
| Temporary interruption of blood supply to the brain | Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) |
| Visible indications of mood | Affect |
| Part of the nervous system controlling involuntary bodily functions; divided into the sympathetic and the parasympathetic systems. | Autonomic Nervous System |
| Related to disease processes or structural changes | Biological/organic |
| State of being unclear or unable to make a decision easily. | Confusion |
| Characterized by excessive excitement or activity; also referred to as mania | Manic |
| the state of a person's cerebral functioning. | Mental status |
| A structured exam designed to quickly evaluate patient’s level of mental functioning. | Mental Status Examination (MSE) |
| Death from positioning that prevents sufficient intake of oxygen | Positional asphyxia |
| position, attitude, or bearing of the body | Posture |
| failure to recall, as opposed to inability to recall | Psychogenic amnesia |
Created by:
sarah.thomas32
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