Wilderness and Rescue Medicine 8th Edition

Glossary 268

mid-range position Position in a joint’s range of motion between full extension and full flexion. Also called neutral position. myocardial ischemia Loss of perfusion to heart muscle, usually due to a clot or plaque in a coro- nary artery. myocardial infarction (MI) Loss of perfusion to heart muscle resulting in death of muscle tissue. neurotoxins Toxins that interfere with the func- tion of the nervous system, capable of causing muscle spasm, paralysis, altered sensation, and respiratory distress. neurovascular bundle An artery, vein, and nerve combination routed though the body together. neutral position The position approximately half way between flexion and extension. Also called the mid-range position. normal saline (NS) A fluid used for volume replacement or wound irrigation having the same percentage of salt as the blood and body tissues. Objective (O) The part of the SOAP note describ- ing physical exam findings, including Vital Signs. open fracture Fracture with an associated break in the skin. Also called a compound fracture. oxygenation To saturate blood with oxygen in the lungs. Also describes the transfer of oxygen from the blood to body cells (cellular oxygenation). pain out of proportion Pain that is significantly greater than would be expected from a particular injury or illness. Sometimes a sign of an unde- tected serious problem such as compartment syndrome. paresthesia Neurological deficit usually described as numbness and tingling.

patella An isolated bone imbedded as a fulcrum in the quadriceps tendon. pathologic Harmful to the body. Usually used to describe bacteria, fungus, or virus. patient assessment system A system of surveys including scene size-up, primary assessment, and secondary assessment designed to gather infor- mation about an injured or ill patient and the environment in which the patient is found. percussion Examination technique using tapping to elicit tenderness or sounds. For example, tap- ping teeth gently with a stick to elicit tenderness or percussing the abdomen to evaluate distention. perfusion The passage of blood through capillary beds in body tissues. peripheral nerves The nerves running between body tissues and the spinal cord. peristalsis The wave of muscular contraction in the stomach and intestine used to move food and fluid. peritoneal signs Signs and symptoms associ- ated with irritation of the peritoneal lining of the abdomen. photophobia Eye pain or headache caused by bright lights. Plan (P) A succinct list of actions to be taken to treat problems and prevent anticipated problems. Can include protection and evacuation. plasma The liquid portion of the blood consisting of water, proteins, and other compounds. pneumonia Infection of lung tissue resulting in the accumulation of fluid in the alveoli. pneumothorax Free air in the chest cavity, usu- ally from a punctured lung or chest wall.