Responses of the Brain to Traumatic Injury

Question 1

Describe what the shape of an Extradural haemorrhage is on a brain scan?

Answer 1

Lens shaped (lemon)

Question 2

Describe what the shape of a Subdural haemorrhage is on a brain scan?

Answer 2

Biconcave shaped (banana)

Question 3

Why is a vomiting a marker for raised Intracranial pressure in a Brain Injury?

Answer 3

Because the vomiting centre is activated (can also be normal)

Question 4

What is the normal ICP in the brain?

Answer 4

10 mmHg

Question 5

Following a primary brain injury, describe what progressive damage could happen afterwards?

Answer 5

1. Mechanoportion (Lipid bilayer of Blood-Brain Barrier damage)
2. Calcium influx
3. Oxygen free radical formation
4. Cytokine mediated inflamation
5. Axotomy

Question 6

According to the Monroe-Kelly doctrine, what is the compensatory mechanism to reduce Intracranial Pressure if there is a mass i.e. blood introduced in the brain?

Answer 6

Venous blood will passage out of the brain, and CSF will migrate out of the spinal cord

Question 7

What is a consequence of exceeding beyond the Point of Decompensation to maintain ICP?

Answer 7

Uncal Herniation

Question 8

What is the Cushing’s reflex?

Answer 8

A physiological response to raised ICP. It is a triad of Hypertension, Irregular breathing, and Bradycardia