AAC: American Alpine Club
abduction: movement away from the torso
acidemia: acidity of blood
ACL: anterior cruciate ligament
acromion: the point of the shoulder, a portion of the scapula (shoulder blade) where it articulates with the clavicle (collarbone)
acromioclavicular: the joint connecting the acromion (point of the shoulder)
ACS: acute coronary syndrome, or heart attack
adduction: movement towards the torso
ad libitum hydration: drinking based on thirst or desire to drink
amenorrhea: absence of menstruation
AMGA: American Mountain Guide Association
analgesia: pain control
anaphylactic shock (see also shock): low blood pressure due to anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reaction)
angina: chest pain caused by insufficient oxygen supply to heart
anisocoria: unequal pupils; present in about 15% of the population
anterior: front of the body
appendectomy: surgical removal of the appendix
ataxia: absence of coordination, especially when walking
atherosclerosis: deposits in arterial walls
auscultation: listening for internal sounds within the body
avulsion, avulsed: tissue torn away from its base; in dental terms, a tooth completely displaced from its socket
axial: related to or along an axis
axilla, axillary: underarm region
bradycardia: low heart rate (in adults, generally defined as less than 60 beats per minute)
bursa: sac filled with fluid (synovial fluid) within connective tissue of joints
bursitis: inflammation of the bursa
calcaneus: heel bone
capillary: tiniest of blood vessels connecting the smallest veins (venules) with the smallest arteries (arterioles)
capillary refill: the speed at which color returns to a fingernail or toenail after pressure is applied and then quickly released, a measure of blood flow to extremities; in normal capillary refill, color returns within 2 seconds or less
cardiac arrest: complete termination of heart function
CAT: Combat Application Tourniquet
cerebral edema: brain swelling or excess fluid in the brain
cerebrospinal fluid: fluid around the brain and spinal cord
clavicle: “collar bone”; the long bone connecting the sternum (breast bone) with the shoulder
clinical diagnosis: a diagnosis made solely based on exam without any testing
coccyx: “tail bone”; the bone at the base of the spinal column
concussion: a clinical syndrome marked by immediate and time-limited alteration in brain function resulting from mechanical trauma
contracture: connective tissue constriction preventing normal mobility
COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
coronary: heart-related
crepitus: crackling or rattling sound of a specific body part
CT: computed tomography
degloving: large section of skin pulled off from its underlying tissue
deltoid: muscle forming the rounded side of the shoulder
DIC: disseminated intravascular coagulation; a syndrome where excessive clotting results in small blood clots throughout the body, ultimately causing organ damage and severe bleeding
dislocation: displacement of a bone from its normal position in a joint
distal: further from the trunk on an extremity
diverticulitis: inflammation or infection of diverticula
diverticulum: pouches within the intestinal wall; plural is diverticula
dorsal: anatomically related to the back side of a two-sided body part, such as back of the hand
dysentery: bloody diarrhea
dysrhythmia: abnormal heart rate or rhythm
eccentric strengthening exercises: slow release of lengthening muscles while under load ecchymosis: “bruising”; bleeding underneath the skin
ECG: electrocardiogram; measurement of the electrical pattern of the heart
ED: emergency department
epiphyseal: growth plate of a bone
EPOC: excess post-exercise oxygen consumption
ER: extended release (note that “ER” contracted to mean “emergency room” is outdated terminology; more modern terminology is “ED,” meaning “emergency department”)
erythema: red color to the skin; adjective is erythematous
evacuation: movement of a patient out of a field environment into the front country or to a medical center
extrication: movement of a patient from a dangerous, confined or restraining situation
extension: movement pulling ends of a joint into or towards a straight position
external rotation: rotation away from the midline
fartlek: Swedish for “speed play”; blend of continuous training with interval training
fecal: adjective of feces (body waste discharged from the anus or “stool”)
femur: “thigh bone”; long bone connecting hip and knee
fibula: the outer, smaller bone of the two long bones connecting the knee to the ankle
flapper: a piece of loose skin due to injury; a climbing-specific term
flatulence: rectal gas; “fart”
flexion: movement pulling a joint into or towards a bent position
FTF: fast twitch fibers in muscles used for rapid movements
GERD: gastroesophageal reflux disease
glenohumeral joint: shoulder joint
hamstring: three muscles in the posterior thigh responsible for flexing the leg
hemostasis: bleeding control
herniation: bulging of tissue inappropriately out of the space it should normally occupy, usually through a hole not meant to allow such movement
HIIT: high-intensity interval training
histotoxic: poisonous to tissue
HIV: human immunodeficiency virus
humerus: the bone of the upper arm
hyperlipidemia: increased fat levels in the blood
hypertension: high blood pressure
hyponatremia: low levels of sodium (salt) in the blood
hypotension: low blood pressure
hypovolemic shock (see also shock): shock due to reduced blood volume, usually due to either dehydration or blood lost from bleeding
ICAR: International Commission for Alpine Rescue
ICH: intracranial hemorrhage; bleeding in brain
iliac crest: highest and widest part of the hip
IM: intramuscular (into a muscle)
incarcerated: imprisoned or confined
inferior: lower position
inspection: visual examination
internal rotation: rotating towards the midline
intertrochanteric: between the greater and lesser trochanters (bulges) in the superior femur
intra-abdominal hemorrhage: bleeding in the abdominal cavity
IUD: intrauterine contraceptive device, also known as IUCD
IV: intravenous (into a vein)
keraunoparalysis: transient weakness in the limbs after a lightning strike
labrum: rim around the margin of the shoulder joint
lateral malleolus (ankle): the bulging portion of bone on the lateral (outside) portion of the ankle
LCL: lateral cruciate ligament in the knee
ligament, ligamentous: fibrous tissue connecting bone to bone
malaise: sense of weakness or fatigue
MCL: medial cruciate ligament in the knee
medial malleolus (ankle): the bulging portion of bone on the medial (inside) portion of the ankle
metatarsal: bones in the midfoot connecting proximal foot bones with toe (5th metatarsal is the one used in the Ottawa Ankle Rules)
MHR: maximum heart rate
MRI: magnetic resonance imaging
MTBI: mild traumatic brain injury (see TBI)
myocardial infarction: cell death in the heart due to insufficient oxygen; “heart attack”
myocardial ischemia: cell stress in the heart due to insufficient oxygen
navicular: a bone in the wrist and the ankle
neurological deficit: problems with nerve conduction, i.e., numbness or paralysis or weakness in one body part
neuromuscular: related to both nerves and muscles
normothermia: normal body temperature
NSAID: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen (Advil®)
occult: hidden
ODT: oral dissolving tablet
opioid: medications that act on receptors to produce morphine-like effects
ORS: oral rehydration solution
orthopedic: related to bones
ossification: formation of bone tissue
palmar: on the palm side of the hand
palpation, palpable: examination by touch or appreciable by touch
patella: “knee cap”
pathognomonic: a finding that is characteristic, defining, or exclusive to a certain disease
PCL: posterior cruciate ligament, a ligament in the knee
PCP: primary care provider
periodization: breaking training into segments, altering intensity, volume, rest, and frequency over weeks, months, and year
peritonitis: inflammation of the thin surrounding layer of the abdominal cavity
photophobia: pain on exposure to light
PID: pelvic inflammatory disease
pneumothorax: an inappropriate collection of air or gas in the chest cavity outside the lungs
postconcussive syndrome: collection of symptoms following a concussion
posterior: back of the body or a body part
pronation: turning the hand so the palm faces downward
proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): drugs that inhibit the enzyme producing hydrogen ions and gastric acids
proximal: closer to the trunk on an extremity
radial: related to the radius bone (the long bone connecting the elbow to the thumb side of the hand) or the radial nerve in the arm
regimental patch area: side of shoulder over deltoid muscle
reduce, reduction: realigning a dislocation or a deviated, displaced fracture
RHR: resting heart rate
sacrum: a large triangular bone that intersects with the hip bones to form the pelvis
SBP: systolic blood pressure, the measure of the blood pressure when the heart is contracting
SCD (sudden cardiac death): sudden cessation of heart activity
sepsis: a system-wide inflammatory reaction to an infection with evidence of inadequate blood flow to body tissues
sesamoid (foot): a bone in the foot
shock (see also hypovolemic shock, anaphylactic shock): systemically, a low blood pressure, and specifically, inadequate oxygen supply to a particular body tissue or region
SOF-T: Special Operations Forces Tourniquet
SPI: Single Pitch Instructor: certification from AMGA
spinal immobilization: the restriction of any movement of the spine; especially the use of a commercial or improvised cervical collar and/or backboard to immobilize the spinal column; recently being challenged in favor of spinal motion restriction (see Chaps 5 and 18)
spinal motion restriction: reducing motion, usually using pain as a threshold, in a body part that may be injured, without specific or complete attempt at immobilization; contrast with spinal immobilization (see Chaps 5 and 18)
STBI: Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (see TBI)
sternum: breastbone
STF: slow twitch fibers in muscles that can function for a long time; used for endurance
stratum corneum: outer layer of epidermis
subluxation: partial or incomplete dislocation
substernal: midline in the chest, under the sternum (breastbone)
subtrochanteric: distal to the lesser trochanter (a bone bulge) on the femur
subungual hematoma: pooled blood beneath a toenail or fingernail, often dark red or black in color
superior: above or higher
supination: in the hand, turning the hand so the palm is facing upward
supraspinatus: a muscle in the upper back
systolic blood pressure: see SBP
tachycardia: rapid heart rate (in adults, generally defined as more than 100 beats per minute)
talus: the large bone at the top portion of the ankle connecting to the tibia and fibula
TBI (traumatic brain injury): “closed head injury”; condition when a head blow results in injury to the brain; see also divisions into MTBI and STBI
TBSA: total body surface area of a burn
tendon: fibrous tissue connecting muscle to bone
tibia: the larger, medial bone of the two long bones connecting the knee to the ankle; “shin” bone
toe box: part of a shoe covering the toes
trachea: breathing tube in the neck connecting the mouth with the lungs
tympanic membrane: eardrum
UIAA: Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme, or the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation
ulnar: related to the ulna (the long bone connecting the elbow to the little finger) or the ulnar nerve in the arm
UTI: urinary tract infection; “bladder infection”
valgus: outward movement or pressure
vascular: blood vessel-related
vasoconstriction: constriction (narrowing) of blood vessels
ventricular fibrillation: a heart condition consisting of uncontrolled muscular activity (“fibrillation”) of the bottom part of the heart responsible for pumping blood to the body or lungs (“ventricle”)
vertebra, vertebrae: cube-like bones making up the spine; “backbones”
virus: a small infectious organism that only replicates inside other organisms’ cells, responsible for many infections in human beings
WBGT: wet bulb globe temperature
WMS: Wilderness Medical Society
AVPU: Alert, Verbal, Painful, Unresponsive
CAMS: Chest, Abdomen, Meat, Skin/Slab/Snow
CSM: Circulation, Sensation, Motor
IPA: Inspection, Palpation, Auscultation
MARCH: Massive Hemorrhage, Airway, Respiratory, Circulation, Hypothermia/Hyperthermia/Hanging, Helo/Hike/Hunker Down
PAWS: Prevention/Procedures, Analgesics/Antibiotics/Anaphylaxis, Wound Care, Survival
RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
STOP: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan