Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Block 3 > Conciousness > Flashcards

Conciousness Flashcards

1
Q

Give examples of roles that will have different views on the definition of consciousness.

A

Philosopher
Psychologist
Neuroscientist
Neurosurgeon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is consciousness?

A

‘Awareness of Awareness’ - some suggest it is fundamentally a function of the brain with neural mechanisms involved whereas others resist reducing consciousness believing that it cannot be explained in reductionalist physical terms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Damage to what structures change a patient’s level of consciousness?

A
  • Reticular formation
  • Intralaminar thalamic nuclei (bilateral lesion)
  • Cerebral hemispheres (bilateral involvement)
  • Dominant hemisphere (major involvement)
  • NS (generalised depression)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the reticular formation?

A

Network of reticular fibres synapsing with ascending and descending tracts beginning in medulla and extending to mid-brain with long dendrites radiating to brainstem occupying a significant portion of dorsal brainstem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the major role of the reticular formation?

A

Sleep/wake cycle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the reticular activating system?

A

A network of structures including brainstem, thalamus and neural pathways that function together to produce and maintain arousal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the medical perspective of consciousness?

A

A state of being aware of (or responsive) to the environment with the ability to perceive, physically or mentally, what is happening

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the role of the reticular activating system?

A

The part of reticular formation in brainstem playing a central role in bodily and behavioural alertness (arousal)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are causes of a decrease in conscious level?

A 
Trauma
Infection
Tumour 
Metabolic 
Intoxication
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What types of trauma can cause a decrease in consciousness?

A

Minor concussion
Cerebral contusion
Intracranial/intraparaenchymal aemorrhage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What types of infection can cause a decrease in consciousness?

A

Meningitis
Encephalitis
Brain abscess
Subdural empyema

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What types of tumour can cause a decrease in consciousness?

A

Benign (e.g. meningioma and malignant (e.g. glioma) all of which can be complicated by development of surrounding oedema due to raised ICP

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What types of metabolic problems can cause a decrease in consciousness?

A 
Hypoperfusion/hypoxaemia
Hypoglycaemia
Hyperglycaemia/DKA
Hyper/hypo-natraemia
Hypercalcaemia
Renal/liver failure
Hypothermia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What different ways can a person become hypoperfused/hypoxaemic?

A

Syncope
Stroke
TIA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What types of intoxication can cause a decrease in consciousness?

A 
Medication
Illegal drugs
Toxins 
Alcohol
Narcotics
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What did the old assessment of consciousness include?

A

Scales of different levels:

  1. Normal
  2. Obtundation (confusion)
  3. Stupor
  4. Coma (unconsciousness)
17
Q

What is obtundation?

A

Awareness impaired but may become normal or nearly so on arousal, speech slow, voluntary movements diminished + slow, EECG mildly abnormal with some sleep pattern (GCS = 11-12/15)

18
Q

What is stupor?

A

No real awareness, speech only in response to pain, voluntary movements minimal or there may be mass movements in response to pain, EEG abnormal but distinguishable from normal sleep pattern (GCS = 8-10/15)

19
Q

What is coma?

A

No awareness, speech absent, movements absent or only reflex in response to pain, EEG grossly abnormal or absent (GCS 0-8/15)

20
Q

What does the modern assessment of consciousness use?

A

Glasgow Coma Score (GCS)

21
Q

What does the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) test?

A

Best eye (E), verbal (V) and motor (M)response

22
Q

How is best eye response (E) ranked in the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS)?

A

4 - eyes open spontaneously
3 - eyes open to speech
2 - eyes open to painful stimulus
1 - no eye opening

23
Q

How is best verbal response (V) ranked in the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS)?

A 
5 - fully orientated in time, place + person
4 - confused (disorientated)
3 - inappropriate words
2 - incomprehensible sounds
1 - none
24
Q

How is best motor response (M) ranked in the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS)?

A 
6 - obeys commands
5 - localises to painful stimulus
4 - withdrawal from pain
3 - abnormal flexes to pain
2 - extends to pain
1 - no motor response
25
Q

What painful stimuli do you utilise when testing best motor response (M) in the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS)?

A

Squeeze supraoptic area

26
Q

What does a score of 3 and 2 mean on the best motor response (M) scale of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)?

A

3 = abnormal flexes to pain means the cerebral cortex is not functioning properly

2 = extends to pain so anything above the brainstem is not functioning

27
Q

How do you interpret the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)?

A 
15 = best possible i.e. normal
3 = worst possible

E.G. GCS 7 (E1, V2, M4)

28
Q

What scores will different severity of head injury show on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)?

A 
Minor = More than 13
Moderate = GCS 9-12
Severe = GCS less than 8
29
Q

What is a persistent vegetative state?

A

Reticular formation intact but connection with cerebral cortex non-functional so person is awake (eyes open, move around but dont fix on anything + sleep/wake cycles present) but awareness is absent along with meaningful response to verbal command or pain

30
Q

What would an electroencephalography (EEG) show on a patient in a persistent vegetative state?

A

Contains rhythmic activity resembling sleep cycles

31
Q

What is locked-in syndrome?

A

Sensation, reticular formation and cortical function intact so person is fully awake and aware but motor function is absent although vertical eye movements and eyelid elevation may be spared usually due to infarct in ventral pons involving CBT/CST

32
Q

What is the pneumonic for cranial nerves (CNs)?

A 
Oh 
Oh 
Oh 
To
Touch 
A 
Fair
Virgin 
Girls
Vagina
And 
Hymen
33
Q

What are the 12 cranial nerves (CNs)?

A 
Olfactory (I)
Optic (II)
Occulomotor (III)
Trochlear (IV)
Trigeminal (V)
Abducens (VI)
Facial (VII)
Vestibulocochlear (VIII)
Glossopharyngeal (IX)
Vagus (X)
Accessory (XI)
Hypoglossal (XII)
34
Q

What does a peripheral neurological evaluation test?

A 
Tone (normal/hypo/hyper)
Power (scoring system)
Reflexes
Co-ordination
Sensation (dermatomes/myotomes)
35
Q

What is the scoring system for tone?

A 
1 = none
2 = move but not against gravity
3 = able to move against gravity
4 = less than normal power
5 = normal
36
Q

Why do a peripheral neurological examination?

A

To check for UMN and/or LMN lesions

Block 3 (40 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions