Final Study Guide

Cyanosis

A blue or gray color resulting from lack of oxygen in the body

Laceration

A cut. (I.E. razor blade, broken glass, or jagged piece)

Advanced directive/DNR

A legal document, usually signed by the patients and physician, which states that the patient has a terminal illness and does not wish to prolong life through resuscitative efforts; instructions written inadvance

Status epilepticus

A prolonged seizure or situation when a person suffers two or more convulsive seizures without regaining full consciousness.

Tachycardia

A rapid pulse; any pulse rate above 100 beats per minute.

Abrasion

A scrape or scratch; soft tissue trauma; outer layer of skin is damaged (I.E. road rash, skinned elbows)

Anaphylaxis

A severe or life threatening allergic reaction in which the blood vessels dilate, causing a drop in blood pressure and the tissues lining the respiratory system swell, interfering with the airway

Bradycardia

A slow pulse; any pulse rate below 60 beats per minute.

Hypoxia

An insufficiency of oxygen in the body's tissues; low levels of oxygen

Puncture

An open wound that tears through the skin and destroys underlying tissues. A penetrating puncture wound can be shallow or deep. A perforating puncture wound has both an entrance and an exit wound. (I.E. gun shot, shrapnel, ice picks, knives)

Arterial bleeding

Bleeding from a artery, which is characterized by a bright red blood that is rapid, profuse, and difficult to control; high pressure; spurting blood; pulsating flow

Venous bleeding

Bleeding from a vein, which is characterized by dark red or maroon blood and a steady, easy to control flow

Capillary bleeding

Bleeding from the capillaries, which is characterized by a slow, oozing, flow of blood; very low pressure

Bariatrics

Branch of medicine that deals with the causes of obesity as well as its prevention and treatment

Path of blood

Deoxygenated blood to superior/inferior vena cavae to right atrium to tricuspid valve to right ventricle to pulmonic valve to pulmonary artery to lungs to pulmonary vein to left atrium to mitral (bicuspid) valve to left ventricle to aortic valve to aorta to oxygenated blood

Anatomical position

Facing forward, arms down at the sides with palms of the hands forward

Dilation

Get larger to allow more light into the eye

Construction

Get smaller when light is shined into the patient's pupils; look for 3 things: size, equality, and reactivity

Hyoerglycemia

High blood sugar; causes: decrease in insulin, infection, stress, diet

Mid-Axillary line

Line drawn vertically from the middle of armpit to the ankle

Mid-Clavicle line

Line through the center of each clavicle

Ascultation

Listening

Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar; causes: too much insulin, reduce sugar intake by not eating, over exercising, vomits a meal, increases metabolic rate by shivering or fever

Six P's

Pain, pallor, paresthesia, paralysis, pulse, and pressure

Hypertension

Pressure inside the vessels that the heart has to pump against; high blood pressure; according to AHA, high blood pressure is 140/90 or above.

Avulsion

The tearing away or tearing off of a piece or flap of skin or other soft tissue. This term also may be used for an eye pulled from the socket or a tooth pulled from the socket. (I.E. degloving)

Palpation

Touching or feeling

Carina

Where the trachea branches and forms two main stem bronchi

PERRL

pupils equal round reactive to light