Chapter 22 - TBI

Question 1

What type of imaging is primarily used to diagnose head trauma?

Answer 1

CT scan
- Shows hemorrhage, swelling, or infarction

Question 2

Coup injury

Answer 2

The initial blow to the brain that occurs directly under the external point of contact.

Question 3

Countercoup injury

Answer 3

Injury to the part of the brain on the side opposite the initial blow. Frequently worse than the initial injury.

Question 4

What are the 3 sections of the Glasgow Coma Scale? What is the lowest score possible?

Answer 4

Eye opening, verbal, and motor.
Lowest possible score is a 3 (1 point in each section).

Question 5

Decerebrate posturing

Question 6

Decorticate posturing

Question 7

Compression of the midbrain secondary to intracranial hypertension leads to _________.

Answer 7

Decerebrate posturing, coma, and miosis.

Question 8

Compression of the midbrain tegmentum causes _______.

Answer 8

Pupillary dilation

Question 9

Stretching of the sixth cranial nerves causes ________.

Answer 9

Lateral gaze palsy

Question 10

Compression of the medulla leads to __________.

Answer 10

Bradycardia

Question 11

Damage to the medulla causes _________.

Answer 11

Inappropriate gag reflex

Question 12

Damage to the vestibular nucleus and pons leads to ___________.

Answer 12

Altered oculocephalic reflex, vestibulo-oculocephalic reflex, or corneal reflex.