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Paramedic Glossary

Terms in this set (1866)

10-code
radio communications system using codes that begin with the word ten.
2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG)
chemical in the red blood cells that affects hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen.
abandonment
termination of the paramedic-patient relationship without assurance that an equal or greater level of care will continue.
ABCs
airway, breathing, and circulation.
abduction
movement of a body part away from the midline.
aberrant conduction
conduction of the electrical impulse through the heart's conductive system in an abnormal fashion.
ABO blood groups
four blood groups formed by the presence or absence of two antigens known as A and B. A person may have either (type A or type B), both (type AB), or neither (type O). An immune response will be activated whenever a person receives blood containing A or B antigen if this antigen is not already present in his own blood.
abortion
termination of pregnancy before the 20th week of gestation. The term "abortion" refers to both miscarriage and induced abortion. Commonly, "abortion" is used for elective termination of pregnancy and "miscarriage" for the loss of a fetus by natural means. A miscarriage is sometimes called a "spontaneous abortion."
abrasion
scraping or abrading away of the superficial layers of the skin; an open soft-tissue injury.
abruptio placentae
a condition in which the placenta separates from the uterine wall.
absence seizure
type of generalized seizure with sudden onset, characterized by a brief loss of awareness and rapid recovery.
absolute refractory period
the period of the cardiac cycle when stimulation will not produce any depolarization whatever.
acceleration
the rate at which speed or velocity increases.
acclimatization
the reversible changes in body structure and function by which the body becomes adjusted to a change in environment.
acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
enzyme that stops the action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter.
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