Head And Spine Injuries Flashcards
How many pairs of cranial nerves are there?
12
Which motor/sensory nerve controls the arms?
Brachial plexus
Which motor/sensory nerve controls the legs?
Lumbosacral plexus
What are three major types of peripheral nerves?
Sensory nerves
Motor nerves
Connecting nerves
What two places are connecting nerves found only?
Brain
Spinal cord
Which peripheral nerves carry info from body to brain via spinal cord?
Sensory nerves
Which peripheral nerves sends info fro CNS to muscles?
Motor nerves
What do connecting nerves do?
Connect sensory and motor nerves with short fibers, which allows cells on either end to exchange messages
What connects the mandible to the cranium?
The temporomandibular joint
What two large structures make up the skull?
Cranium
Face
How many vertebrae are in the spinal column?
33
What are the five sections of the spinal column?
Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacrum Coccyx
How many vertebrae are in the cervical spinal column?
7
How many vertebrae are in the thoracic spinal column?
12
How many vertebrae are in the lumbar spinal column?
5
How many vertebrae are in the sacrum spinal column?
5
How many vertebrae are in the coccyx spinal column?
4
What are intervertebral disks?
Cushions that lie between vertebraes
What is distracted regarding the spine?
Action of pulling the spine along its length
Hangings
What is retrograde amnesia?
Can remember everything but events leading up to injury
What is antegrade amnesia?
Inability to remember events after an injury
Where do subdural hematoma’s occur?
Beneath the dura but outside the brain
Where do intracerebral hematoma’s occur?
Within the parenchyma of the brain
Where do epidural hematomas occur?
Outside the dura and under the skull
What is a sign of intracranial pressure following a head injury?
Rapid deterioration of neurologic signs
What is the only indication for hyperventilating a patient with a head injury?
Evidence of cerebral herniation such as abnormal pupils and only after hypotension and hypoexemia have been addressed
What three signs make make up the Cushing triad?
Increased blood pressure
Decreased pulse
Irregular respirations
What two things is Cushing triad a sign of?
Cerebral edema
Increased intracranial pressure
What is a common response to head injuries especially in children?
Vomiting because of increased intracranial pressure
What is cranial nerve 3?
Oculomotor nerve
Ah what gcs score should you consider intubation?
Less than 9
What is brain herniation?
Brain pushing out from where it belongs
What are two signs of brain herniation?
Change in pupils Abnormal posturing (decorticate/decerebrate)
What is the freely movable sheet of connective tissue that helps deflect a blow to the head called?
Gales aponerotica
What causes diffuse axonal injury? (DAI)
Effect of rapid acceleration/deceleration
What occurs during a complete cord transection?
All tracts of the spinal cord are completely disrupted
What function do you lose with anterior cord syndrome?
Loss of motor function
What function do you lose with posterior cord syndrome?
Loss of sensory function
What occurs with central cord syndrome?
Weakness in upper extremities
Normal strength in lower
What is brown-sequard syndrome?
Hemisection of spinal cord on one side
What two things does brown-sequard syndrome cause?
Motor and sensory loss on same side of injury
Some sensation loss on opposite side
What is spinal shock?
Temporary loss of all spinal cord function distal to injury
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31
