| A | B |
|---|
| palmar | Ventral surface of the hand; the palm of the hand |
| palpation | Assessment by touch or feel |
| paradoxical motion | Chest movement during breathing in which one section of the chest moves in the opposite direction from the rest; indicates multiple rib fractures (flail chest) |
| paresthesia | Abnormal sensations of tingling, numbness, burning, coldness, pain, or tightness in the extremities |
| partial thickness burn | Burn involving both the epidermis and the dermis; but not involving underlying tissue; second degree burn |
| patella | The kneecap |
| patent | Open; accessible |
| pathogen | Microorganism that causes disease |
| pelvis | The massive cup-shaped ring of bone at the lower end of the trunk; formed by the hip bones |
| penetrating trauma | An injury caused by an object that pierces the skin or other body structure |
| perfusion | Microcirculation of blood withn the organs and tissues, when oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the cells and tehir waste products are removed |
| perineum | The area of skin between the vagina and anus in females and between the scrotum and anus in males |
| peripheral nervous system | The sensory and motor nerves that extend from the spinal cord throughout the body |
| personal protective equipment (PPE) | Equipment used by an emergency rescuer to protect aginst injury and infectious disease |
| phalanges | Small bones of the fingers and toes |
| pharynx | The throat |
| physiology | The study of the normal function of the human body |
| placenta | Organ that enables the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and metabolic wastes between the maternal and fetal circulatory systems |
| plantar | Pertaining to the sole of the foot |
| plasma | The serum, or fluid component, of blood |
| platelets | Component of blood essential for clotting |
| pneumothorax | Air in the chest cavity between the lungs and chest wall |
| poison | A food, plant, chemical, or drug that has an adverse effect on the body |
| portable stretcher | Light, collapsible stretcher useful in small spaces |
| posterior | Toward the back of the body; also called dorsal |
| postictal state | a patient's condition after a seizure, during which the patient may appear sleeply, confused, or unresponsive |
| power grip | Gripping items with palms and fingers in complete contact with the object; fingers bent at the same angle and hands 10 inches apart |
| power lift | a specialized lifting and moving technique that uses the large muscle of the legs to lift and carry the weight |
| prehospital care report (PRC) | Documentation of the assessment and treatment fo a patient in the field |
| preschooler | Child who is 3 to 6 years old |
| presenting part | The part of a newborn that comes out of the birth canal first |
| pressure point | A place where an artery passes near the surface of the body and over a bone; pressure here can stop or reduce bleeding |
| prolapsed cord | Presentation of the umbilical cord before the infant's head at delivery; may cause fetal death due to constriction of blood flow through the cord |
| prone (position) | Lying on the stomach, face down |
| protocols | Medical orders designed by a physican for a given list of procedures or medications; protocols will vary among localities |
| proximal | Nearer to the head, trunk, or point of origin |
| pubic | Bony structure forming anterior part of hip bone |
| pulmonary artery | Originates in the right ventricle and enters the lungs where it branches off and follows the bronchi of the lungs |
| pulse | Pressure caused by contraction of the heart; can be palpated where an artery lies close to an underlyng bone; an indication of cardiac output |
| pupil | Circular opening in the iris that allows passage of light into the eye |
