Head, Neck and Face Injuries. Flashcards
What is the anatomy of the head and neck?
- Skull: encloses the brain providing it protection, the only major opening is for the foramen magnum (for the spinal cord).
- Mandible: the lower jaw, the only major moveable bone in the skull.
- Cervical spine: made up of the first 7 spinal vertebrae.
What are the first 2 cervical vertebrae?
- Atlas: forms the joint at the base of the skull (atlanto-occipital), ‘yes’ motion occurs here.
- Axis: is distinguishable by the odontoid process (fits into the atlas), ‘no’ motion occurs here.
What is the sternocleidomastoid?
A muscle that runs from the manubrium of the sternum and the clavicle up to the mastoid process.
When both sides contract at the same time flexion occurs, but when only one side contracts at a time lateral flexion occurs.
What are the scalenes?
Composed of 3 muscles on the lateral side of the neck originating from C2-C7. The anterior and medial one attach on the first rib while the posterior one attaches on the second rib.
Function to elevate the first 2 ribs during inhalation.
What is the levator scapulae?
A muscles that lies on the posterior side of the neck originating from the transverse process of C1-C4 and attaches on the superior border of the scapula.
Elevates the scapula.
What is the trapezius?
A muscle the originates on the medial third of the superior nuchal line, external occipital protuberance, nuchal ligament and the spinous processes of C7-T12.
Attaches on the lateral third of the clavicle, acromion and spine of scapula.
The upper fibres shrug the shoulders, the middle fibres retract the scapula and the inferior fibres depress the shoulders.
What is the brachial plexus?
Is the major nerve group that emanates from the cervical spine (C5-T1).
What are the terminal branches of the brachial plexus?
- Musculocutaneous nerve.
- Radial nerve.
- Median nerve.
- Ulnar nerve.
What is the phrenic nerve?
Emanates from C3, C4 and C5.
Controles the function of the diaphragm.
What supplies blood to the cervical and cranium?
- Carotid artery: supply to the head and neck.
- Jugular vein: returns supply from the head.
- Subclavian artery: supply to the head, neck and upper arm.
- Meningeal artery: adjacent to the inner surface of the temporal bones.
What movements occur at the neck?
- Flexion.
- Extension.
- Lateral flexion.
- Rotation.
What protects the brain?
- Hair and scalp
- Skull
- Meninges: three layers of tissue that surround the brain and spinal cord (dura mater-closest to skull, arachnoid-crossed over by cerebral veins, pia mater-closest to brain).
- Subarachnoid space: between arachnoid and pia mater that contains cerebrospinal fluid.
What is the function of the frontal lobe?
- Problem solving.
- Judgement.
- Planning.
- Personality.
- Emotions.
- Organization.
- Attention.
- Concentration.
- Smell.
- Movement.
What is the function of the temporal lobe?
- Memory.
- Hearing.
- Understanding language.
- Organization.
- Sequencing.
What is the function of the parietal lobe?
- Sense of touch.
- Spatial & visual perception.
- Sensation.
What is the function of the occipital lobe?
- Vision.
- Speech.
- Abstract concepts.
What is the function of the cerebellum?
- Balance.
- Coordination.
- Skilled motor activity.
What is the function of the brain stem?
- Breathing.
- Heart rate.
- Arousal & consciousness.
- Sleep & wake cycles.
- Attention & concentration.
What is a concussion?
A complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain, induced by traumatic biomechanical forces.
What are some of the common constructs of a concussion?
- A direct blow to the head, face, neck or elsewhere in the body with a twisting or shearing force transmitted to the head.
- Rapid onset of short lived impairment of neurological function resolves spontaneously.
- May result in neuropathological changes but the symptoms largely reflect a functional disturbance rather than a structural injury.
- May not involve the loss of consciousness.
- Typically associated with grossly normal structural neuro-imaging studies.
What are the methods of injury for a concussion?
- Direct blow: causes focal brain damage (ex. injury localized to the area hit by an object. AKA coup.
- Indirect blow: the outside force causes the mobile brain to accelerate then decelerates with impact on the opposite side of the skull. AKA contra-coupe.