Standardized Field Sobriety Test Course Session 1 - Introduction Glossary of Terms REASONABLE SUSPICION

Standardized Field Sobriety Test Course

Session 1 - Introduction

Glossary of Terms

REASONABLE SUSPICION

Less than probable cause but more than mere suspicion; exists when an officer,

in light of his or her training and experience, reasonably believes and can

articulate that criminal activity is taking, has taken or is about to take place.

REBOUND DILATION

A period of pupillary constriction followed by a period of pupillary dilation where

the pupil steadily increases in size and does not return to its original constricted

size.

RESTING NYSTAGMUS

Jerking of the eyes as they look straight ahead.

SCLERA

A dense white fibrous membrane that, with the cornea, forms the external

covering of the eyeball (i.e., the white part of the eye).

SENSORY NERVES

Nerves that carry messages to the brain, from the various parts of the body,

including notably the sense organs(eyes, ears, etc.). Sensory nerves are also

known as afferent nerves.

SINSEMILLA

The unpollenated female cannabis plant, having a relatively high concentration of

THC.

STANDARDIZED FIELD SOBRIETY TESTING (SFST)

Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. There are three SFSTs, namely Horizontal

Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), Walk and Turn, and One Leg Stand. Based on a series

of controlled laboratory studies, scientifically validated clues of alcohol

impairment have been identified for each of these three tests. They are the only

Standardized Field Sobriety Tests for which validated clues have been identified.

SNORTING

One method of ingesting certain drugs. Snorting requires that the drug be in

powdered form. The user rapidly draws the drug up into the nostril, usually via a

paper or glass tube. Snorting is also known as insufflation.

SPHYGMOMANOMETER

A medical device used to measure blood pressure. It consists of an arm or leg

cuff with an air bag attached to a tube and a bulb for pumping air into the bag,

and a gauge for showing the amount of air pressure being pressed against the

artery.

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STETHOSCOPE

A medical instrument used, for drug evaluation and classification purposes, to

listen to the sounds produced by blood passing through an artery.

SYMPATHETIC NERVE

An autonomic nerve that commands the body to react in response to excitement,

stress, fear, etc. The brain uses sympathetic nerves to send "wake up calls" and

"fire alarms" to the muscles, tissues and organs.

SYMPATHOMIMETIC DRUGS

Drugs that mimic the neurotransmitter associated with the sympathetic nerves.

These drugs artificially cause the transmission of messages that produce

elevated blood pressure, dilated pupils, etc.

SYNAPSE (or Synaptic Gap)

The gap or space between two neurons (nerve cells).

SYNESTHESIA

A sensory perception disorder, in which an input via one sense is perceived by

the brain as an input via another sense. In its simplest terms, it is a transposition

of senses. For example, seeing a particular sight may cause the user to perceive

a sound.

SYSTOLIC

The highest value of blood pressure. The blood pressure reaches its systolic

value when the heart is fully contracted (systole), and blood is sent surging into

the arteries.