Mod 5 Trauma to the Head, Neck, and Spine Flashcards
Nervous system
-Provides overall control of thought, sensation, and the body’s voluntary and involuntary motor functions. Components are brain and spinal cord as well as the nerves that enter and exit the brain and spinal cord and extend to various parts of body.
The central nervous system
-The brain and the spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
-The nerves that enter and exit the spinal cord between the vertebrae and the twelve pairs of cranial nerves that travel between the brain and organs without passing through the spinal cord and all of the body’s other motor and sensory nerves
Neurons
-Specialized nerve cells that transmit nervous system impulses throughout the body
Autonomic nervous system
- Controls involuntary functions
Cranium
-The bony structure making up the forehead, top, back, and upper sides of the skull
Mandible
-The lower jawbone
Temporal bone
-Bone that forms part of the side of the skull and floor of the cranial cavity. There are right and left temporal bones.
Temporomandibular joint
-The movable joint formed between the mandible and the temporal bone also called the TMJ
Maxillae
-The two fused bones forming the upper jaw.
Nasal bone
-The bones that form the upper third or bridge of nose
Malar
-The cheekbone. Also called the zygomatic bone
Orbits
-The bony structures around the eyes AKA the eye sockets
Foramen magnum
-The opening at the base of the skull through which the spinal cord passes from the brain
Cerebrospinal fluid
-The fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord
Cauda equina
-A fan of nerves that resembles a horse tail at the lower end of spinal cord
Meninges
-Fibrous membranes
Vertebrae
- The bones of the spinal column (singular vertebra)
- There are 33 linked together by ligaments
- Divided into 5 areas: Seven cervical (In neck), twelve thoratic (ribs attach), five lumbar (mid-back), five sacral (lower back), and four coccygeal (in the coccyx, or tail bone).
Spinous process
- The bony part on a vertebra
- Can feel along center of persons back
Scalp injuries
- May cause profuse bleeding.
- Apply direct pressure dress and bandage as you would other soft tissue injuries
Brain injuries
- Classified as direct or indirect injuries
- Direct injuries to brain can occur in open head injuries with brain being lacerated, punctured, or bruised by the broken bones or by a foreign objects such as a bullet
- Indirect injuries to brain may occur with either closed or open head injuries. Include concussions and contusions
Traumatic brain injury
-An injury that disrupts the normal functioning of the brain.