West Coast EMT Final Exam Study Guide, All Answers
Correct, A+ Guide
AMI (Heart Attack) (Acute Myocardial Infarction) - Blockage in the coronary
artery. Death occurs in the myocardial muscle due to lack of oxygenated blood
flow through the coronary arteries.
S/S Chest pain, Pressure, nausea, weakness, fatigue, Dyspnea (SOB), Diaphoresis
(excessive Sweat), Abnormal signs, sudden cardiac arrest.
Angina pectoris - A period experienced in a patient where heart tissue is not
getting enough oxygen. much like spasm of an artery, symptoms as
atherosclerostic aretery disease. usually periods of physical or emotional stress
when the heart is working hard, and typically goes away.
Oxygenation - Oxygenated blood to the tissues is known as perfusion. When
oxygen is delivered to the blood. Ventilation is required for oxygenation.
Patient Care Report (PCR) - The legal document used to record all patient care
activities. This report has direct patient care functions but also administrative and
quality control functions. PCRs are also known as prehospital care reports.
Respiration - The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
The heart and the brain are affected if there is no oxygen.
Brain damage begins within 4 - 6 minutes
Supraventricular tachycardia (STV): - fast heart rate above the heart's two lower
chambers.
S/S chest pain, SOB, Diaphoretic
Ventilation - The moving of air in and out of the lungs, ventilation is required for
effective oxygenation and respiration. Inhalation is the active part of ventilation.
Energy is required to ventilate. During inhalation the diaphragm and intercostal
muscles contract, intrathoracic pressure decreases. As the thorax enlages/ expands
the air passess through the upper and lower airways in to the alveoli.
,Perfusion - Passage of blood, a blood substitute or other fluid through the blood
vessels or other natural channels in an organ or tissue.
Aspiration - Fluid or tissue or other substances that go into the lungs that can cause
pneumonia or other lung problems.
Intracerebral pressure (ICP) - Accumulations of blood within the skull or swelling
of the brain(cause). ICP squeezes the brain against bony prominences within the
cranium. cheyne stokes or ataxic.
S/S decreased pulse, headache, nausea, vomit, decreased alertness, bradycardia,
sluggish or nonreactive pupils, decerebrate posturing, and increased or widened
blood pressure. Cushing reflex(increased systolic bp, irregular respirations, and
decreased pulse rate)
Automated external defibrillator (AED) - Device that detects treatable life
threatening cardiac arrhythmias(ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia)
and delivers the appropriate electrical shock to the patient.
Apnea - Absence of spontaneous breathing
Thrombus: - A blood clot, either in the arterial or venous system. when the clot
occurs in a cerebral artery it may result in the interruption of cerebral blood flow
and subsequent stroke.
Aneurysm - An abnormal enlargement of the wall of a blood vessel that results
from weakening of the vessel wall
Embolism - A blood clot or other substance in the circulatory system that travels to
a blood vessel where it causes a blockage
Atherosclerosis - A disease that causes the arteries to thicken, harden and calcify.
Hypoglycemia - Low blood sugar
Can be caused when a diabetic patient takes too much insulin or when they take the
same amount of insulin but skips a meal
,Hyperglycemia - high blood sugar
Functional behavioral disorder - A disorder in which there is no known
physiological reason for the abnormal functioning of an organ or organ system
Organic brain disorder - Temp or perm dysfunction of the brain caused by
disturbance in the physical or physiologic functioning of brain tissue
Contusion - bruise, injury
BSA - Body surface area
Ecchymosis - A buildup of blood beneath the skin that produces a characteristic
blue or black discoloration as the result of an injury
Hemoptysis - coughing up blood
Hematemesis - throwing up blood
Recovery position - A side-lying position used to maintain a clear airway in
unconscious patients without injuries who are breathing adequately.
Defibrillation - to shock a fibrillation(chaotically beating) heart with specialized
electric current in an attempt to restore a normal, rhythmic beat
Medical director - The physician who authorizes or delegates to the EMT THE
AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE IN THE FIELD
Flammable liquids - Are liquids having flash points below thirty seven and
eight tenths degrees Celsius (37.8°C) except any mixture having components
Water-reactive solids: - Vehicles transporting them have to have a placard on no
matter the weight carried.
Cardiac output(CO) - A measure of the volume of blood circulated by the heart in
1 min., calculated by multiplying the stroke volume by the heart rate
, Sepsis - infection in the blood
Ventricular fibrillation - disorganized, ineffective quivering of the ventricles,
resulting in inadequate blood flow and eventually deteriorate to cardiac arrest
Pulseless ventricular tachycardia - a rapid heart rhythm in which the electrical
impulse begins in the ventricles instead of atrium) which may result in inadequate
blood flow and eventually deteriorate into cardiac arrest
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - an infection of the fallopian tubes and the
surrounding tissues of the pelvis
Ovarian Cyst - Is a fluid-filled sac or pocket that forms within or on the surface of
a woman's ovary, typically in tandem with her monthly menstrual cycle. Some
ovarian cysts are functional, meaning they present at the time of ovulation and are
filled with fluid and natural hormones.
ovary - produces eggs, estrogen, and progesterone
Gonorrhea - A sexually transmitted disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Usually in the moist reproductive tract of women, but can affect both men and
women. It can also appear at the throat
S/S: Painful urination (men/women), bloody vaginal discharge, foul odor,
burning/itching, cramping, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting
Bacterial vaginosis - a condition in women in which there is an abnormal
overgrowth of certain bacteria in the vagina
Chlamydia - Caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. It is the most commonly reported
sexually transmitted disease and S/S are usually mild or absent.
S/S: lower abdominal pain, painful intercourse, lower back pain, nausea, fever,
bleeding between menstrual periods
Uterine rupture - Is spontaneous tearing of the uterus that may result in the fetus
being expelled into the peritoneal cavity. Uterine rupture is rare. It can occur
