Brain Damage Flashcards
What is an open head injury?
When the brain is penetrated from the outside e.g. bullet wound
What is a closed head injury?
When there is trauma to the brain however does not puncture e.g. car accident
What are 4 other causes of brain damage?
- Bacterial infections (meningitis)
- Brain tumors
- Degenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s)
- Cerebrovascular incidents (stroke)
What is stroke?
Stroke is the loss of normal blood flow to an area of the brain
What are the 2 types of stroke?
Hemorrhagic and ischemic
What is ischemia?
Reduced/no blood flow to an area as a result of blood clotting or so obstruction
What is Hemorrhaging?
Reduced blood flow due to ruptured blood vessel
What happens after stroke?
- Disrupted blood-brain barrier
- Edema formation
- Na+/K+ pump slows
- Ions accumulate in neuron - neurons release more glutamate
- Cell death
What is an immediate treatment for ischemic stroke?
Tissue Plasminogen Activator
When does TPA need to be administered by?
Within at least 4.5 hours
What is the immediate treatment for hemorrhaging?
STOP BLOOD FLOW - reduce pressure on brain
What are the signs of stroke/what to do?
F- face drooping
A- arm weakness
S- speech impairment
T- time to call 111
What are the steps to recover from brain damage?
- removal of dead/dying tissue
- removal of toxic substances
- reduce swelling
What is diaschisis?
Decreased activity of surviving neurons after damage to others
What is neural plasticity?
The ability for surviving neurons to create new connections to replace lost or damaged ones
