Glossary of Emergency Medical Terminology

Definition of a heart attack. Also known as an acute myocardial infarction.

A level of care provided by prehospital emergency medical services. Advanced life support consists of invasive life-saving procedures including the placement of advanced airway adjuncts, intravenous infusions, manual defibrillation, electrocardiogram interpretation, and much more.

Learn the definition of adverse effect

Irregular, gasping breaths often seen during cardiac arrest. In most cases, rescuers will see victims take these gasping breaths no more than 10 to 12 times per minute; that's one every five to six seconds. Agonal respirations do not provide adequate oxygen to the body and should be considered the same as no breathing at all (respiratory arrest).

Air ambulances are used when patients need to be transported over long distances more quickly than ground ambulances can accomplish, or when the use of ground ambulance is impossible. Air ambulance transportation can originate from the scene of a medical emergency or from one medical facility to another.

A single air sac is called an alveolus, but you can't do much with just one microscopic air sac.

A vehicle used to transport sick or injured people with medical needs. A prehospital emergency medical services provider tends to the sick or injured occupant during transportation. Ambulances can be cars, trucks, helicopters, boats, or airplanes.

Anaphylaxis resulting in a collapse of the circulatory system and a dangerous decrease in blood pressure. Anaphylactic shock is a life-threatening reaction that requires immediate treatment.

Severe, often life threatening, generalized allergic reaction. Unlike a typical allergic reaction, anaphylaxis affects more than one body system.

A basic position that all anatomical references assume. The subject is standing, looking straight ahead with arms hanging down at both sides and palms facing forward. In most cases, the toes are pointed down as well.

The study of the structure of the body.

Front of the body.

Inability to create or understand speech. Aphasia is a disorder of the brain's speech center rather than the anatomical structures that are used to create speech (mouth and vocal cords) or understand it (ears). Aphasia is usually caused by an injury to the brain or from a stroke.

From the Greek a- (no or none) and -pnea (breathing or air), meaning the absense of breathing. In many cases, victims of apnea are also suffering from cardiac arrest, and should receive CPR. Victims of apnea may have some gasping breaths known as agonal respirations.

The arachnoid layer acts as a cushion between the dura mater and the pia mater. Bleeding in the arachnoid layer is known as a subdural hematoma, a potentially life-threatening condition.

Aspiration is a term heard often in medical settings. It means different things depending on whether the patient is doing it or the doctor.

Asthma is a medical condition that causes narrowing of the small airways in the lungs. Typically, asthma patients develop wheezing and have increased mucous production in their lungs. Asthma patients can have episodes of increased shortness of breath, often triggered by allergic reactions. Asthma sufferers often have the disease for many years,...

Definition of asystole

Soft tissue injury where a flap of tissue has been removed or is barely attached. Avulsion also may refer to an injury of the bone where a tendon or ligament has been ripped away from its insertion point.

A level of medical care provided by prehospital emergency medical services. Basic life support consists of essential non-invasive life-saving procedures, such as CPR, bleeding control, splinting broken bones, artificial ventilation, and basic airway management.

Basic life support level providers include emergency medical technicians and certified first responders.

Behind-the-counter medications are not exactly over-the-counter or prescription medications.

Some lay terminology needs definition and broken bone is such a term.

Definition of sudden cardiac arrest.

Learn the definition of a cell.

Chest compressions are often used in conjunction with rescue breathing. Learn the full definition of chest compressions.

Choking is the blocking of an airway due to a foreign object lodged in the throat or windpipe. Choking victims who cannot speak or cough need to have the object removed immediately so they can breathe.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) consists of two primary conditions: pulmonary emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Both conditions interfere with the ability to move air in and out of the lungs.

Closed and open fractures are treated exactly the same way, other than bleeding control.

Closed head injury results in swelling or bleeding within the skull, which can lead to brain damage or death.

Collapsed lung is a condition that causes the lining of the lung to pull away from the wall of the chest. The space between the lung and the chest fills with air, pushing the injured lung against the heart and the other lung. Collapsed lung can occur as a result of chest injury, or spontaneously in patients with lung disease.

Oblique fractures and comminuted fractures are good examples of complete fractures.

Compound fractures, open fractures and closed fractures are treated exactly the same, except for bleeding control.

Concussions are common in combat operations, and more information about the consequences of concussions and multiple concussions is coming from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, combines compressions of the chest with rescue breathing to keep blood flowing through the body and brain while delivering oxygen to the bloodstream. CPR is the first step in treating cardiac arrest in hopes of providing time for first responders to arrive.

The way crepitus feels depends on how it's created.

Cyanosis is usually seen where blood flows close to the surface -- lips and fingernails are the most common.

When assessing potential injuries, paramedics look for deformities, as well as bruising and swelling.

Diaphoresis can come from pain, lack of oxygen or sugar in the bloodstream, or from fear.

Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine sold over-the-counter. Diphenhydramine is also sold as a sleep aid.

Direct pressure is used when trying to address a wound. Learn the full definition of direct pressure.

Cancer, diabetes, pneumonia, hepatitis, asthma and the flu are just some examples of diseases.

If the kneecap (patella) slides off the front of the knee, it is known as a patella dislocation.

Dura mater is latin for tough mother and refers to mom's protective duty.

Definition of E911. Learn the meaning and correct usage of E911.

Elastic bandages should only be used during the first two days following an injury along with rest, ice and elevation.

Any part of a system designed to respond to medical emergencies and provide prehospital or in-hospital treatment. Often refers to ambulances and first responders, though emergency medical services (EMS) include all services necessary to help ill or injured people return to the state of health they enjoyed before their emergencies.

A certified healthcare provider who is trained to treat and transport victims of emergencies. Emergency medical technicians (EMT) provide basic life support to victims. Emergency medical technicians may work in the emergency department, fire department, public gatherings and factories, but most importantly the certification is aimed at providing care in an ambulance.

Epidural hematomas may not show any signs of injury at first, then develop quickly into severe symptoms like coma.

Here, learn the definition of epiglottis.

Fight or flight refers to the two choices our ancestors had when facing a dangerous animal or enemy.

Simple emergency medical care procedures intended for lay rescuers to perform before emergency medical professionals are available. May refer to emergency medical providers, such as ambulance and other first responders.

Often, first responder is used as a general term for all emergency service personnel who are expected to respond to medical emergencies or large-scale disasters. A public safety official -- such as a police officer or firefighter -- certified to provide basic life support skills.

These segments of broken ribs got the name flail chest because the segments flail back and forth opposite from the rest of the chest wall.

What's the difference between a fracture and a break?

Kids commonly get incomplete fractures known as greenstick fractures.

Incomplete fractures are common in kids and are known as greenstick fractures.

Learn the definition of larynx.

What's the difference between a local and a systemic reaction? Learn the definition of a local reaction.

A low-speed fender-bender in a parking lot is much less likely to cause a life-threatening injury than a rollover accident on the freeway. A gunshot wound has more potential for serious injury than a fistfight.

Definition of a medical alert system, including the different types and other names for the same thing.

A condition may also be a disease or a sign of a disease.

An infection of the meninges is known as meningitis and can be life-threatening.

Multi-casualty incidents are declared to make treating several patients more efficient and to allocate resources to provide the best care to the most people.

Learn the definition of nasopharyngeal airway.

Necrosis is common in crush injuries, burns, frostbite, infections and envenomation. A severe skin infection known as necrotizing fasciitis got its name from necrosis.

When taking care of a patient in the field, paramedics must sometimes communicate with a physician.

Closed and open fractures are treated exactly the same except for bleeding control.

Understand how tissues, cells and organs work in the human body.

Definition of organ systems as well as a list of all organ systems in the human body.

An airway adjunct placed in the mouth to help keep the pharynx open.

What's the difference between a prescription and an over-the-counter medication?

Paramedics provide advanced life support to victims. Paramedics may work in the emergency department, fire department, public gatherings and factories.

Learn the definition of pharynx.

Study of the function of the body.

Pia mater is latin for little mother and refers to mom's protective duty.

Back of the body.

The type of medical care provided at the scene of a medical emergency. Assumes the ultimate goal of emergency medical services is to transport the victim to the hospital.

Prescription medications are not available without an order from the doctor.

Definition of PSAP. Learn the meaning and usage of PSAP.

Rescue breathing is often used as a compliment to chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Learn the full definition of rescue breathing.

The absense of breathing or presence of agonal respirations. In most cases, victims of respiratory arrest are also suffering from cardiac arrest, and should receive CPR.

It is in the paramedic scope of practice to give injections through muscle, under skin or directly into a vein. Paramedics are not usually licensed to suture wounds.

In first aid, the term "shock" has three distinct definitions.

Glossary definition of side effects with example.

When driving along the highway, we rely on signs to tell us where to go. When conducting a medical assessment, healthcare providers rely on signs to tell them what is wrong.

When someone has a fractured limb, they may be advised to wear a splint. Learn more about how a splint is useful in this definition.

Paramedics and EMTs need to know how to handle medical emergencies. Standing orders are one way to do it.

Subcutaneous emphysema can be a sign of collapsed lung (pneumothorax).

Subdural hematomas make take days or weeks to develop after an impact to the head.

Asking the patient about his or her symptoms is the subjective part of a healthcare provider's assessment.

What's the difference between a local reaction and a systemic reaction? Learn the definition of systemic reaction.

Understand the role of body tissues.

Here you'll learn the definition of trachea.

Definition of Triage -- a method of sorting by medical severity.

Victims are usually considered unconscious if they can't wake up enough to interact normally with the rescuer, but it's not that simple.

Definition of ventricular fibrillation.

Definition of ventricular tachycardia

Vertigo can be a sign of inner ear infection or a life-threatening loss of blood pressure.

Most of the time, wheezing is only heard with a stethoscope placed on the chest. In severe cases, wheezing can be heard without a stethoscope.