AAOS EMT (Chapter 10) Patient Assessment
Accessory Muscles - correct answer The secondary muscles of respiration. They include the neck muscles
(sternocleidomastoids), the chest pectorals major muscles, and the abdominal muscles.
Altered Mental Status - correct answer A change in the way a person thinks and behaves that may signal disease in the central nervous system or elsewhere in the body.
Auscultate - correct answer To listen to sounds within an organ with a stethoscope.
AVPU Scale - correct answer A method of assessing the level of consciousness by determining whether the patient is awake and alert, responsive to verbal stimuli or pain, or unresponsive; used principally early in the assessment process.
Blood Pressure - correct answer The pressure that the blood exerts against the walls of the arteries as it passes through them.
Bradycardia - correct answer A slow heart rate, less than 60 beats per minute.
Breath Sounds - correct answer An indication of air movement in the lungs, usually assessed with a stethoscope.
Capillary Refill - correct answer A test that evaluates distal circulatory system function by squeezing (blanching) blood from an area such as a nail bed and watching the speed of its return after releasing the
pressure.
Capnography - correct answer A noninvasive method to quickly and efficiently provide information on a patient's ventilatory status, circulation, and metabolism; effectively measures the concentration of carbon dioxide in expired air over time. Carbon Dioxide - correct answer A component of air that typically makes up 0.03% of air at sea level; also
a waste product exhaled during expiration by the respiratory system.
Chief Complaint - correct answer The reason a patient called for help; also, the patient's response to questions such as "What's wrong?" or "What happened?"
Conjunctiva - correct answer The delicate membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the exposed surface of the eye.
Crackles - correct answer A crackling, rattling breath sound that signals fluid in the air spaces of the lungs.
Crepitus - correct answer A grating or grinding sensation caused by fractured bone ends or joints rubbing
together.
Cyanosis - correct answer A blue skin discoloration that is caused by a reduced level of oxygen in the blood.
DCAP-BTLS - correct answer A mnemonic for assessment in which each area of the body is evaluated for Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Punctures/Penetrations, Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations, and Swelling.
Diaphoretic - correct answer Characterized by light or profuse sweating.
Diastolic Pressure - correct answer The pressure that remains in the arteries during the relaxing phase of the hearts cycle (diastole) when the left ventricle is at rest.
Distracting Injury - correct answer Any injury that prevents the patient from noticing other injuries he or she may have, even severe injuries; for example, a painful femur or tibia fracture that prevents the patient from noticing back pain associated with a spinal fracture.
Field Impression - correct answer The conclusion about the cause of the patient's condition after considering the situation, history, and examination findings.
Accessory Muscles - correct answer The secondary muscles of respiration. They include the neck muscles
(sternocleidomastoids), the chest pectorals major muscles, and the abdominal muscles.
Altered Mental Status - correct answer A change in the way a person thinks and behaves that may signal disease in the central nervous system or elsewhere in the body.
Auscultate - correct answer To listen to sounds within an organ with a stethoscope.
AVPU Scale - correct answer A method of assessing the level of consciousness by determining whether the patient is awake and alert, responsive to verbal stimuli or pain, or unresponsive; used principally early in the assessment process.
Blood Pressure - correct answer The pressure that the blood exerts against the walls of the arteries as it passes through them.
Bradycardia - correct answer A slow heart rate, less than 60 beats per minute.
Breath Sounds - correct answer An indication of air movement in the lungs, usually assessed with a stethoscope.
Capillary Refill - correct answer A test that evaluates distal circulatory system function by squeezing (blanching) blood from an area such as a nail bed and watching the speed of its return after releasing the
pressure.
Capnography - correct answer A noninvasive method to quickly and efficiently provide information on a patient's ventilatory status, circulation, and metabolism; effectively measures the concentration of carbon dioxide in expired air over time. Carbon Dioxide - correct answer A component of air that typically makes up 0.03% of air at sea level; also
a waste product exhaled during expiration by the respiratory system.
Chief Complaint - correct answer The reason a patient called for help; also, the patient's response to questions such as "What's wrong?" or "What happened?"
Conjunctiva - correct answer The delicate membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the exposed surface of the eye.
Crackles - correct answer A crackling, rattling breath sound that signals fluid in the air spaces of the lungs.
Crepitus - correct answer A grating or grinding sensation caused by fractured bone ends or joints rubbing
together.
Cyanosis - correct answer A blue skin discoloration that is caused by a reduced level of oxygen in the blood.
DCAP-BTLS - correct answer A mnemonic for assessment in which each area of the body is evaluated for Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Punctures/Penetrations, Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations, and Swelling.
Diaphoretic - correct answer Characterized by light or profuse sweating.
Diastolic Pressure - correct answer The pressure that remains in the arteries during the relaxing phase of the hearts cycle (diastole) when the left ventricle is at rest.
Distracting Injury - correct answer Any injury that prevents the patient from noticing other injuries he or she may have, even severe injuries; for example, a painful femur or tibia fracture that prevents the patient from noticing back pain associated with a spinal fracture.
Field Impression - correct answer The conclusion about the cause of the patient's condition after considering the situation, history, and examination findings.
