The Physiology of Trauma

Question 1

What is the Central Nervous System made of?

Answer 1

1. Spinal Cord
2. Brain

Question 2

What is the Peripheral Nervous System made of?

Answer 2

1. Somatic Nervous System
2. Autonomic Nervous Fit

Question 3

What does the SNS do?

Answer 3

1. Controls voluntary muscle movements
2. Responsible for muscle contraction
3. Conveys information from sensory receptors in the skin, muscles, and joints to the CNS

Question 4

What does the ANS do?

Answer 4

Regulated involuntary physiological functions such as heartbeat, digestion, and respiratory rate

Question 5

What is the difference between the parasympathetic division and the sympathetic division?

Answer 5

Parasympathetic promotes “rest and digest” activities that occur when the body is at rest.
Sympathetic prepares the body for “fight or flight” during potential danger

Question 6

What is the brain stem responsible for?

Answer 6

Basic life-sustaining functions
Think “Lizard Brain”

Question 7

What is the limbic system responsible for?

Answer 7

Emotions
Think “Mammalian Brain”

Question 8

What is the cerebral cortex responsible for?

Answer 8

Thinking, Human Brain

Question 9

What does the Limbic System consist of?

Answer 9

1. Thalamus
2. Hypothalamus
3. Amygdala
4. Hippocampus

Question 10

What are the key components of the Thalamus?

Answer 10

1. Serves as the “relay station” for sensory information
2. Sensory processing
3. Arousal and alertness
4. Integration of sensory experiences

Question 11

What are the key components of the Hypothalamus?

Answer 11

1. Maintaining the body’s internal balance (homeostasis)
2. Produces and releases various hormones that regulate the pituitary gland
3. Regulated the response to stress via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
4. Overall regulation

Question 12

How does the HPA axis work?

Answer 12

1. Exposure to traumatic event causes the hypothalamus to release corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
2. CRH then signs the pituitary gland to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
3. ACTH travels through the bloodstream to the adrenal glands, stimulating them to produce and release cortisol

Question 13

What are the key components of the Amygdala?

Answer 13

1. Emotional processing center
2. Receives sensory information from the thalamus
3. Determined the significance of the stimulus and how to respond
4. Determines how the memory is stored
5. Triggers fight or flight

Question 14

What are the key components of the Hippocampus?

Answer 14

1. Consolidation of memories from short-term to long-term