The Neurological System Flashcards
Describe the nervous system tree diagram?
- The nervous system consists of the Central Nervous System and the Peripheral Nervous System.
- The Peripheral Nervous System contains the Autonomic Nervous System and the Somatic Nervous System.
- The Autonomic Nervous System consists of the Sympathetic Division and the Parasympathetic Division.
- The Somatic Nervous System consists of the Sensory Nervous System (afferent) and the Motor Nervous System (efferent).
What are the different lobes of the brain?
- Frontal Lobe
- Temporal Lobe
- Parietal Lobe
- Occipital Lobe
- Cerebellum
- Brainstem
What are the functions of the Frontal Lobe?
- Problem solving
- Judgement
-Inhibition - Motor planning
- Personality
- Emotional traits
- Language production
What are the functions of the Temporal Lobe?
- Understanding language
- Organisation and sequencing
- Information retrieval
- Musical awareness
- Memory
- Hearing
- Learning
Feelings
What are the functions of the Parietal Lobe?
- Sense of touch, taste; smell
- Spatial awareness
- Visual perception
- Academic skills
- Math calculations
- Reading
- Writing
What are the functions of the Occipital Lobe?
- Visual perception
- Visual interpretation
- Reading
What are the functions of the Cerebellum?
- Coordination
- Balance and equilibrium
What are the functions of the Brainstem?
- Sense of balance
- Reflexes
- Breathing
- Digestion
- Swallowing
- Consciousness
- Temperature
- Alertness
What is the brainstem comprised of?
- Midbrain
- Medulla
- Pons
What are some primary causes of Altered Level of Consciousness (ALOC)?
- Tumor
- Abscess
- Seizures
- Haemorrhage/thrombosis
- Infection
What are some management strategies of primary causes of ALOC?
- Surgical intervention
- Antibiotics
- Medical management
- Thrombolysis/evacuation
- Anaesthesia
What are some secondary causes of Altered Level of Consciousness (ALOC)?
- Hypotension
- Drugs
- Alcohol
- Hypoglycaemia/hyperglycaemia
- Hypoxia
- Metabolic state
What are some management strategies of secondary causes of ALOC?
- Fluids
- Medication
- Protective measures and reversal
- Glucose/insulin
- Supplemental oxygen
- Medical management
How do you work out cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)?
CPP = MAP - ICP
What makes up the percentage of the head and skull?
- The skull is a box, very rigid and flexible.
- The brain sits in the box and takes up 80% of space.
- There is 10% of space taken up with blood.
- There is 10% of space taken up with intracranial fluid.
What is intracranial pressure?
- Intracranial pressure is the pressure exerted by fluids.
- Intracranial pressure is measured in millimetres.
- It is normally between 7-15mm for an adult.
What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
- It is made by tissue that line the ventricles in the brain.
- It flows in and around the brain and spinal cord to help cushion them from injury and provide nutrients.
What would a patient with an increased ICP (intracranial pressure) present as?
- Reduced GCS
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Papilledema
- Cushings reflex/triad
What is cushings reflex/triad?
- Cushings is a physiological response to acute increase in ICP.
- Cushings is usually a sign of late stages of brainstem dysfunction.
- Observations to watch out for include: high systolic blood pressure, bradycardia, irregular respiratory rate.
What are some procedures used in the Neurological System?
- ICP bolts
- Craniotomy
- Craniectomy
- EVD
- Shunts
What is an ICP bolt?
- We can monitor a patient’s intracranial pressure by inserting a monitoring device called an ICP bolt.
- Small hole is drilled into the skull and a probe is inserted past the dura.
- This is for monitoring purposes only.
What is a craniotomy?
- Craniotomies are used for the following:
- Diagnose/treat brain tumors
- Clip or repair aneurysm
- Remove clots
- Repair skull fractures/membrane
- Relieve pressure
What is a craniectomy used for?
- Relieve pressure caused by traumatic head injury.
What is an external ventricular drain (EVD)?
- EVD’s are inserted via a burr hole to drain fluid from the brain.
What is a ventriculoperitoneal shunt?
- If there is an obstruction of CSF flowing out of the ventricles a shunt may be inserted.
- This is usually for hydrocephalus.
- CSF is then drained into the abdomen.
