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EMT > Chapter 28- Head And Spine Injuries > Flashcards

Chapter 28- Head And Spine Injuries Flashcards

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1
Q

Central nervous system includes:

A

The brain and the spinal cord.

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2
Q

The brain

A

The organ that controls the body; it is also the center of consciousness.

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3
Q

The brain is divided into three major areas:

A

cerebrum
Cerebellum
Brainstem

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4
Q

The cerebrum contains

A

75% of the brain’s total volume
Controls a wide variety of activities, including most voluntary motor function and conscious thought.

Divided into two hemispheres with four lobes

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5
Q

The brainstem

A

Controls virtually all the functions that are necessary for life, including the cardiac and respiratory systems and nerve function transmissions

Best protected part of the CNS

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6
Q

The spinal cord

A

Mostly made up of fibers that extend from the brain’s nerve cells.

Carries messages between the brain and the body via gray and white matter of the spinal cord.

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7
Q

Gray matter

A

Composed of neural cell bodies and synapses which are connections between nerve cells.

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8
Q

White matter

A

Consists of fiber pathways.

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9
Q

Meninges

A

Three distinct layers of tissue that suspend the brain and the spina cord within the skull and spinal canal.

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10
Q

Dura mater

A

A tough, fibrous layer that closely resembles leather.

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11
Q

Inner two layers of the meninges

A

Arachnoid and pia mater

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12
Q

Cerebral spinal fluid is produced..

A

In a chamber inside the brain, called the third ventricle.

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13
Q

There is approximately how much CSF in the brain at any one time.

A

125-150 mL

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14
Q

If a patient with a head injury has what looks like a runny nose or reports a salty taste at the back of the throat, you should assume that the fluid is….

A

Cerebrospinal fluid

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15
Q

_____ pairs of spinal nerves conduct sensory impulses from the skin and other organs to the spinal cord

A

31

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16
Q

Cranial nerves are the _____ pairs of nerves that emerge from the brainstem and transmit information directly to or from the brain

A

12

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17
Q

If a sensory nerve in this arc detects an irritating stimulus, such as heat, it will…

A

Bypass the brain and send a message directly to a motor nerve, causing a response such as pulling away from heat.

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18
Q

Voluntary activities

A

Actions that we consciously perform, in which sensory input determines the specific muscular activity.

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19
Q

Involuntary activities

A

Actions that are not under our conscious control, such as breathing.

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20
Q

The skull is composed of two groups of bones:

A

The cranium, which protects the brain

And the facial bones.

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21
Q

The cranium is occupied by _____% brain tissue, ______% blood supply, and _____% CSF

A

80, 10, 10

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22
Q

Intervertebral disk

A

The cushion that lies between two vertebrae.

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23
Q

How may vertebrae in the cervical spine?

A

7

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24
Q

How many vertebrae in thoracic spine?

A

12

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25
Q

How many vertebrae in lumbar spine?

A

5

26
Q

How many vertebrae in sacrum?

A

5

27
Q

How many vertebrae in coccyx?

A

4

28
Q

The two general types of head injuries:

A

Closed head injuries

Open head injury

29
Q

Closed head injury

A

Those in which the brain has been injured but there is no opening into the brain

30
Q

Open head injury

A

One in which an opening from the brain to the outside world exists.

31
Q

Ecchymosis

A

Bruising

32
Q

Raccoon eyes

A

Bruising under the eyes that may indicate a skull fracture

33
Q

Battle sign

A

Bruising behind an ear over the mastoid process that may indicate a skull fracture.

34
Q

Linear skull fractures

A

Account for 80% of skull fractures; also referred to as a non displaced skull fractures; commonly occurs in the temporal-parietal region of the skull; not associated with deformities to the skull

35
Q

Depressed skull fractures

A

Result from high-energy direct trauma to the head with a blunt object

36
Q

Basilar skull fractures

A

Also associated with high energy trauma, but they usually occur following diffuse impact to the head.

37
Q

Open skull fractures

A

Is what the name implies; brain tissue may be exposed to the environment which significantly increases the risk of a bacterial infection.

38
Q

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

A

A traumatic insult to the brain capable of producing physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and vocational changes.

39
Q

Traumatic brain injuries are classified into two broad categories:

A

Primary (direct) injury

Secondary (indirect) injury

40
Q

Primary brain injury

A

Injury to the brain and its associated structures that result instantaneously from impact to the head.

41
Q

Secondary brain injury

A

Refers to a multitude of processes that increase the severity of a primary brain injury and, therefore, negatively impact the outcome.

42
Q

Coup-contrecoup injury

A

When the head falls back against the headrest and/or seat, and the brain slams into the rear of the skull.

43
Q

Cerebral edema

A

Swelling of the brain

44
Q

Intracranial pressure (ICP)

A

Pressure within the cranial vault.

45
Q

Cheyne stokes respiration’s

A

Respiration’s that are fast and then become slow, with intervening periods of apnea

46
Q

Ataxic (Biot) respiration’s

A

Characterized by irregular rate, pattern, and volume of breathing with intermittent periods of apnea

47
Q

Signs and symptoms of ICP

A 
Decreased pulse rate
headache
nausea
vomiting
decreased alertness
bradycardia
sluggish or non reactive pupils
decerebrate posturing 
increased or widened blood pressure
48
Q

The triad of _______ ________ ________ signifies increased ICP

A

Increased systolic BP
Decreased pulse rate
Irregular respirations

49
Q

Epidural hematoma

A

An accumulation of blood between the skull and dura mater

50
Q

Subdural hematoma

A

An accumulation of blood beneath the dura matter but outside the brain.

51
Q

Intracerebral hematoma

A

Bleeding within the brain tissue itself

52
Q

Subarachnoid hemorrhage

A

Bleeding occurs into the subarachnoid space, where the CSF circulates

53
Q

Concussion

A

A temporary loss or alteration of part or all of the brain’s abilities to function without actual physical damage to the brain.

54
Q

Retrograde amnesia

A

When the patient can remember everything but the events leading up to the injury

55
Q

Anterograde (posttraumatic) amnesia

A

Inability to remember events after the injury

56
Q

Contusion (of the head)

A

Bruise to the brain. Far more serious than a concussion

57
Q

Hyper-extension

A

When the spine is pulled along its length

Can cause fractures in the spine as well as ligament and muscle injuries.

58
Q

Axial loading injuries

A

Injuries where load is applied along the vertical or longitudinal axis of the spine;

Ex: falling from a height and landing on the feet in an upright position.

59
Q

PMS

A

Pulse
Motor
Sensation

60
Q

Cushing triad

A

Increased blood pressure (hypertension)
Decreased heart rate (bradycardia)
Irregular respirations (cheyne-stokes and bigots)

ICP indicators

61
Q

Eyes forward position

A

A head position in which the patient’s eyes are looking straight ahead and the head and torso are in line.

62
Q

Do not move the head any farther if the patient reports any of the following symptoms:

A
  • muscle spasms in the neck
  • substantial increased pain
  • numbest, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs
  • compromised airway or ventilations

EMT (26 decks)

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