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gas exchange The process in which oxygen in the alveoli is taken up by circulating blood cells and carbon dioxide from the bloodstream is released to air in the alveoli. gastrointestinal (GI) Pertaining to the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. The GI tract links the organs involved in consumption, processing, and absorption. intoxication The state of being poisoned by a drug or other toxic substance; the state of being inebriated because of excessive alcohol consumption. intracranial pressure (ICP) A measure of the hydrostatic pressure of the intracranial CSF fluid. Swelling (cerebral edema), increased volume of CSF (hydrocephalus), tumor, and intracranial hemorrhage can increase the ICP. If ICP is increased significantly, perfusion to the brain can be impaired and brain structures can herniate, causing severe neurologic impairment and death.
intussusception Prolapse of one segment of the bowel into the lumen of adjacent bowel. This kind of intestinal obstruction may involve segments of the small intestine, colon, or terminal ileum and cecum. ischemia Insufficient oxygen and nutrient delivery to an organ or tissue caused by decreased blood flow, severe anemia or hypoxia, or an increased metabolic demand, which leads to damage or dysfunction of the tissue. ischemic stroke A stroke that occurs when a thrombus or embolus obstructs a blood vessel, diminishing blood flow to and causing injury to the affected area of the brain. Korsakoff syndrome Chronic and irreversible condition involving cognitive dysfunction, especially memory loss, due to prolonged thiamine deficiency. Ludwig angina A deep-space infection of the floor of the mouth and anterior neck just below the mandible.
menarche Onset of menstruation and fertility. menopause End of menstruation and fertility. metabolism The process by which a drug is broken down (degraded) into inactive components or to active metabolites causing an effect on the body. metabolites Breakdown products of a drug, Inactive metabolites no longer exert a pharmacologic effect; active metabolites continue to exert a metabolic effect (which may be the same or different from the parent drug's effect). methemoglobinemia The presence of methemoglobin in the blood, which prevents the ability of hemoglobin to carry and transport oxygen to the tissues. Hemoglobin is converted to methemoglobin by nitrogen oxides and sulfa drugs.
monocytes White blood cells that can differentiate into macrophages or dendritic cells. They play a key role in the innate immune response. myxedema coma Severe hypothyroidism associated with cold intolerance, weight gain, weakness, and declining mental status. necrosis Unregulated cell death caused by factors external to the cell, such as bacterial toxins or injury. neurotransmitters Chemical substances that are released at the end of a nerve fiber by the arrival of a nerve impulse (action potential) and, by diffusing across the synapse or junction, cause the transfer of the impulse to another nerve fiber, a muscle fiber, or some other structure. neutrophils Cells containing secretory granules and comprising greater than 50% granulocytes. They play a key role in the innate immune response by enveloping invading pathogens and releasing enzymes and cytokines to destroy the invading microbe and alert the host immune response.
A dependable framework to support the reduction of morbidity and mortality by using an assessment-based approach to determine a differential diagnosis and effectively manage a broad range of medical emergencies. aerobic metabolism The normal metabolism that utilizes oxygen. afterload In the intact heart, the pressure against which the ventricle ejects blood. It is impacted by the transmural pressure, peripheral vascular resistance, and the physical characteristics and volume of blood in the arterial system. altered mental status Any decrease in normal level of wakefulness, change in mentation, or behavior that is not normal for a particular patient. anaerobic metabolism The metabolism that takes place in the absence of oxygen; the principal by-product is lactic acid. angioedema
A vascular reaction that may have an allergic, hereditary, drug-induced, or other non- allergic cause and may result in profound swelling of the face, upper airway, and other regions of the body. anosognosia Lack of insight caused by a neurologic condition such as a psychiatric disorder. antibodies Immunoglobulins produced by lymphocytes in response to bacteria, viruses, or other antigenic substances. antibodies Proteins produced by plasma cells/B cells in response to a specific antigen. Also known as immunoglobulins, they are the key component of the adaptive immune response. anticholinergic The effects of substances that block the effect of acetylcholine. These can be used to treat conditions such as urinary incontinence. Anticholinergic symptoms include flushed skin, dry mouth/eyes/skin, dilated pupils, delirium/confusion, fever, and urinary retention.
Fertility treatments that help women become pregnant. ataxia Loss of coordination of muscle control, which can lead to gait disturbance or extremity clumsiness. May be due to many causes, including peripheral nerve, spinal cord, or brain dysfunction, often of the cerebellum, which controls coordination. atelectasis The collapse of the alveolar air spaces of the lungs. complement cascade Complement can be triggered to be activated indirectly by exposure to a pathogen in the innate immune response, causing opsonization of the invading microbe, sending additional signals in the area to cause inflammation and phagocytosis. It can also be triggered directly by exposure to specific antibodies to the invading pathogen. This leads to formation of the membrane attack complex under the classic complement cascade in the adaptive immunity response. complement Inactive proteins produced by the liver that play a key role in the innate and adaptive immune responses.
contaminated A condition of being soiled, stained, touched, or otherwise exposed to harmful agents, making an object potentially unsafe for use as intended or without barrier techniques; for example, entry of infectious or toxic materials into a previously clean or sterile environment. culture of safety An organizational culture in which leaders, directors, and staff emphasize safety over opposing goals. Cushing triad Hypertension; bradycardia; and rapid, deep, or irregular respirations. cytokines Signaling proteins released by cells that initiate further response by the surrounding cells. decision-making capacity The ability to understand choices, the risks and rewards of choices, and alternatives available so as to make an informed decision for oneself.
differential diagnoses The possible causes of the patient's clinical condition. distribution The distribution of a medication throughout the body (between the plasma and the other body components). drowning The process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion or immersion in liquid. dysarthria Garbled speech (but of one's intended words) due to cranial nerve motor dysfunction (distinguish from expressive and receptive aphasia). elimination The process by which a drug is excreted from the body. In humans, this is typically via the kidneys or the liver. Physiologic effects on these organs can affect how fast or how much of a medication is removed from the body.
embolus A particle that travels in the circulatory system and obstructs blood flow when it becomes lodged in a smaller artery. A blood clot is the most common type of embolus, but fat (after long bone fracture), atherosclerotic, and air (diving) emboli can also occur. endemic A disease that is present in the community at a given baseline level over time, such as herpes or chickenpox. end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO₂) The CO₂ level in the expired air at the end of expiration. eosinophils Cells containing secretory granules that release histamine and cytokines. They play a key role in parasitic infections and allergic reactions. epidemic A disease that affects a significantly large number of people at the same time and spreads rapidly through a demographic segment of the human population.
Localized damage to tissues resulting from prolonged exposure to extreme cold. frostnip Early frostbite, characterized by numbness and pallor without significant tissue damage. absorption How the body takes in a specific drug. acidosis An abnormal increase in the hydrogen ion concentration in the blood resulting from an accumulation of an acid or the loss of a base; indicated by a blood pH below the normal range. acute coronary syndrome (ACS) An umbrella term that refers to a group of conditions caused by myocardial ischemia (insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle that results from coronary artery disease), including unstable angina, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS)
Syndrome that typically occurs in ill patients, characterized by alveolar and pulmonary capillary breakdown leading to edema and alveolar collapse; this leads to severe hypoxemia and difficult ventilation. acute mountain sickness (AMS) Illness from exposure to a high-altitude environment that presents with a variety of mild to moderate symptoms, including headache, weakness, fatigue, and body aches. acute myocardial infarction (AMI) Commonly known as a 'heart attack'; occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart is interrupted, causing heart cells to die. This is most commonly due to blockage of a coronary artery following the rupture of plaque within the wall of an artery. The resulting ischemia and decreased supply of oxygen, if left untreated, can cause damage and/or death of heart muscle tissue. noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) A procedure in which positive pressure is provided through the upper airway by some type of mask or other noninvasive device. non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
packers Persons who ingest a large quantity of well-packed drugs for smuggling. These carefully prepared packages are less likely to rupture than those ingested by stuffers, but toxicity can be severe if they do because of the large amount of drug present. shock index (SI) A measure of hemodynamic status particularly useful in patients with compensated shock. It is calculated by dividing the heart rate by the systolic blood pressure, with a normal range of 0.5 to 0.7. Increasing values, particularly > 0.9, indicate worsening hemodynamic status. shock A condition of profound hemodynamic and metabolic disturbance characterized by failure of the circulatory system to maintain adequate perfusion to vital organs. It may result from inadequate blood volume, cardiac function, or vasomotor tone or from obstruction to blood flow. side effects Unexpected or untoward effects caused by a drug that occur in addition to the desired therapeutic effect of a medication. signs
Objective evidence that a health care professional observes, feels, sees, hears, touches, or smells. social determinants of health Nonclinical factors that impact a person's health outcomes, including income, education, age, health literacy, racism, environment, housing, and social mobility, as well as access to health care, transportation, safe food and water. somatic (parietal) pain Generally well-localized pain caused by an irritation of the nerve fibers in the parietal peritoneum or other tissues (e.g., musculoskeletal system). Physical findings include sharp, discrete, localized pain accompanied by tenderness to palpation, guarding of the affected area, and rebound tenderness. stable angina Symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, or other equivalent symptoms that occur predictably with exertion, then resolve with rest, suggesting the presence of a fixed coronary lesion that prevents adequate perfusion with increased demand. standard precautions Guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for reducing the risk of transmission of bloodborne and other pathogens in hospitals.
