AAOS – Emergency Care and Transportation of
the Sick and Injured, 12th Edition (2025/2026
Latest Exam Prep) | Complete Study Guide &
Verified Q&A
Abandonment - correct answerUnilateral termination of care by the EMT without the
patient's consent and without making provisions for transferring care to another medical
professional with the skills and training necessary to meet the needs of the patient.
abdomen - correct answerThe body cavity that contains the major organs of digestion
and excretion. It is located below the diaphragm and above the pelvis.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) - correct answerA rapidly fatal condition in which the
walls of the aorta in the abdomen weaken and blood leaks into the layers of the vessel,
causing it to bulge.
abdominal-thrust maneuver - correct answerThe preferred method to dislodge a severe
airway obstruction in adults and children; also called the Heimlich maneuver.
Abduction - correct answerMotion of a limb away from the midline.
Abrasion - correct answerLoss or damage of the superficial layer of skin as a result of a
body part rubbing or scraping across a rough or hard surface.
abruptio placentae - correct answerpremature separation of the placenta from the
uterine wall
absorption - correct answerthe process by which medications travel through body
tissues until they reach the bloodstream.
access - correct answerGaining entry to an enclosed area and reaching a patient.
accessory muscles - correct answerThe secondary muscles of respiration. They include
the neck muscles (sternocleidomastoids), the chest pectoralis major muscles, and the
abdominal muscles.
Acetabulum - correct answerThe depression on the lateral pelvis where its three
component bones join, in which the femoral head fits snugly.
Acidosis - correct answerthe buildup of excess acid in the blood or body tissues that
results from a primary illness
,acromioclavicular joint (AC) - correct answerA simple joint where the bony projections of
the scapula and the clavicle meet at the top of the shoulder.
action - correct answerThe therapeutic effect of a medication on the body.
active compression-decompression CPR - correct answerA technique that involves
compressing the chest and then actively pulling it back up to its neutral position or
beyond (decompression); may increase the amount of blood that returns to the heart,
and thus, the amount of blood ejected from the heart during the compression phase.
active shooter event - correct answerAn act of terror in which firearms are used in an
ongoing assault of multiple people.
activities of daily living - correct answerThe basic activities a person usually
accomplishes during a normal day, such as eating, dressing, and bathing.
acute abdomen - correct answerA condition of sudden onset of pain within the
abdomen, usually indicating peritonitis; immediate medical or surgical treatment is
necessary.
acute coronary syndrome (ACS) - correct answerA group of symptoms caused by
myocardial ischemia; includes angina and myocardial infarction.
acute myocardial infarction (AMI) - correct answerA heart attack; death of heart muscle
following obstruction of blood flow to it. Acute in this context means "new" or "happening
right now."
acute stress reactions - correct answerreaction to stress that occurs during a traumatic
situation
addiction - correct answerA state of overwhelming obsession or physical need to
continue the use of a substance.
Adduction - correct answerMovement toward the midline of the body
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) - correct answerThe nucleotide involved in energy
metabolism; used to store energy.
adolescent - correct answera young person age 12 to 18 years
adrenal glands - correct answerEndocrine glands located on top of the kidneys that
release adrenaline when stimulated by the sympathetic nervous system.
, Adrenergic - correct answerPertaining to nerves that release the neurotransmitter
norepinephrine, or noradrenaline (such as adrenergic nerves, adrenergic response).
The term also pertains to the receptors acted on by norepinephrine.
Advance EMT (AEMT) - correct answerAn Individual who has training in specific
aspects of advance life support, such as intravenous therapy, and administration of
certain emergency medications.
advance directive - correct answerWritten documentation that specifies medical
treatment for a competent patient should the patient become unable to make decisions;
also called a living will or health care directive.
Advance Life Support (ALS) - correct answerAdvanced lifesaving procedures, some of
which are now being provided by the EMT.
adventitious breath sounds - correct answerAbnormal breath sounds such as wheezing,
stridor, rhonchi, and crackles.
Adverse effects - correct answerAny unwanted clinical results of a medication
aerobic metabolism - correct answerMetabolism that can proceed only in the presence
of oxygen.
aerosol-generating procedure - correct answerAny airway manipulation that induces the
production of aerosols that may present a risk for airborne transmission of pathogens,
such as CPR.
Afterload - correct answerThe force or resistance against which the heart pumps.
aging - correct answerthe process by which the temporary bond between an
organophosphate and acetylcholinesterase undergoes hydrolysis, resulting in a
permanent covalent bond
agonal gasps - correct answerabnormal breathing pattern characterized by slow,
gasping breaths, sometimes seen in patients in cardiac arrest
Agonist - correct answerA medication that causes stimulation of receptors.
air ambulances - correct answerFixed-wing and rotary-wing (known as helicopters)
aircrafts that have been modified for medical care; used to evacuate and transport
patients with life-threatening injuries to treatment facilities.
airborne transmission - correct answerThe spread of an organism via droplets or dust
air embolism - correct answerThe presence of air in the veins, which can lead to cardiac
arrest if it enters the heart.
the Sick and Injured, 12th Edition (2025/2026
Latest Exam Prep) | Complete Study Guide &
Verified Q&A
Abandonment - correct answerUnilateral termination of care by the EMT without the
patient's consent and without making provisions for transferring care to another medical
professional with the skills and training necessary to meet the needs of the patient.
abdomen - correct answerThe body cavity that contains the major organs of digestion
and excretion. It is located below the diaphragm and above the pelvis.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) - correct answerA rapidly fatal condition in which the
walls of the aorta in the abdomen weaken and blood leaks into the layers of the vessel,
causing it to bulge.
abdominal-thrust maneuver - correct answerThe preferred method to dislodge a severe
airway obstruction in adults and children; also called the Heimlich maneuver.
Abduction - correct answerMotion of a limb away from the midline.
Abrasion - correct answerLoss or damage of the superficial layer of skin as a result of a
body part rubbing or scraping across a rough or hard surface.
abruptio placentae - correct answerpremature separation of the placenta from the
uterine wall
absorption - correct answerthe process by which medications travel through body
tissues until they reach the bloodstream.
access - correct answerGaining entry to an enclosed area and reaching a patient.
accessory muscles - correct answerThe secondary muscles of respiration. They include
the neck muscles (sternocleidomastoids), the chest pectoralis major muscles, and the
abdominal muscles.
Acetabulum - correct answerThe depression on the lateral pelvis where its three
component bones join, in which the femoral head fits snugly.
Acidosis - correct answerthe buildup of excess acid in the blood or body tissues that
results from a primary illness
,acromioclavicular joint (AC) - correct answerA simple joint where the bony projections of
the scapula and the clavicle meet at the top of the shoulder.
action - correct answerThe therapeutic effect of a medication on the body.
active compression-decompression CPR - correct answerA technique that involves
compressing the chest and then actively pulling it back up to its neutral position or
beyond (decompression); may increase the amount of blood that returns to the heart,
and thus, the amount of blood ejected from the heart during the compression phase.
active shooter event - correct answerAn act of terror in which firearms are used in an
ongoing assault of multiple people.
activities of daily living - correct answerThe basic activities a person usually
accomplishes during a normal day, such as eating, dressing, and bathing.
acute abdomen - correct answerA condition of sudden onset of pain within the
abdomen, usually indicating peritonitis; immediate medical or surgical treatment is
necessary.
acute coronary syndrome (ACS) - correct answerA group of symptoms caused by
myocardial ischemia; includes angina and myocardial infarction.
acute myocardial infarction (AMI) - correct answerA heart attack; death of heart muscle
following obstruction of blood flow to it. Acute in this context means "new" or "happening
right now."
acute stress reactions - correct answerreaction to stress that occurs during a traumatic
situation
addiction - correct answerA state of overwhelming obsession or physical need to
continue the use of a substance.
Adduction - correct answerMovement toward the midline of the body
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) - correct answerThe nucleotide involved in energy
metabolism; used to store energy.
adolescent - correct answera young person age 12 to 18 years
adrenal glands - correct answerEndocrine glands located on top of the kidneys that
release adrenaline when stimulated by the sympathetic nervous system.
, Adrenergic - correct answerPertaining to nerves that release the neurotransmitter
norepinephrine, or noradrenaline (such as adrenergic nerves, adrenergic response).
The term also pertains to the receptors acted on by norepinephrine.
Advance EMT (AEMT) - correct answerAn Individual who has training in specific
aspects of advance life support, such as intravenous therapy, and administration of
certain emergency medications.
advance directive - correct answerWritten documentation that specifies medical
treatment for a competent patient should the patient become unable to make decisions;
also called a living will or health care directive.
Advance Life Support (ALS) - correct answerAdvanced lifesaving procedures, some of
which are now being provided by the EMT.
adventitious breath sounds - correct answerAbnormal breath sounds such as wheezing,
stridor, rhonchi, and crackles.
Adverse effects - correct answerAny unwanted clinical results of a medication
aerobic metabolism - correct answerMetabolism that can proceed only in the presence
of oxygen.
aerosol-generating procedure - correct answerAny airway manipulation that induces the
production of aerosols that may present a risk for airborne transmission of pathogens,
such as CPR.
Afterload - correct answerThe force or resistance against which the heart pumps.
aging - correct answerthe process by which the temporary bond between an
organophosphate and acetylcholinesterase undergoes hydrolysis, resulting in a
permanent covalent bond
agonal gasps - correct answerabnormal breathing pattern characterized by slow,
gasping breaths, sometimes seen in patients in cardiac arrest
Agonist - correct answerA medication that causes stimulation of receptors.
air ambulances - correct answerFixed-wing and rotary-wing (known as helicopters)
aircrafts that have been modified for medical care; used to evacuate and transport
patients with life-threatening injuries to treatment facilities.
airborne transmission - correct answerThe spread of an organism via droplets or dust
air embolism - correct answerThe presence of air in the veins, which can lead to cardiac
arrest if it enters the heart.
