WEEK 5 - NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

Question 1

focus areas of a neurological assessment

Answer 1

headache, head injury, dizziness, seizures, muscle control, senses, speech, memory, cognition

Question 2

health history questions

Answer 2

when, what does it feel like, witnessed, how often, associated symptoms, medications, bowel and bladder control

Question 3

parts of the brain that regulate consciousness

Answer 3

reticular formation, thalamus, the cortex

Question 4

consciousness awareness tools

Answer 4

AVPU - FAST - Glasgow coma scale

Question 5

how to assess central pain (brain function)

Answer 5

supraorbital pressure (finger across eye) - trapezium squeeze (shoulder squeeze)

Question 6

how to assess peripheral pain (spinal nerve function)

Answer 6

nail bed pressure - interphalangeal joint pressure

Question 7

pupillary function

Answer 7

inspect pupils for shape, symmetry and reaction to light

Question 8

dilated pupils

Answer 8

caused by alcohol, some recreational drugs and extreme stress

Question 9

constricted pupils

Answer 9

caused by opioid overdose, lower brain stem compression or damage to the pons

Question 10

hypertension - neurological injury

Answer 10

commonly occurs with an intracranial injury

Question 11

dysrhyhmias

Answer 11

occurs as a result of changes in intracranial pressure

Question 12

tachypnoea

Answer 12

rapid respirations that are irregular in pattern

Question 13

hypoxia

Answer 13

reduced level of oxygen in tissue

Question 14

ischaemic stroke

Answer 14

an artery in the brain gets blocked by a clot

Question 15

hemorrhagic stroke

Answer 15

a wall of a blood vessel in the brain breaks

Question 16

transient ischaemic attack

Answer 16

mini-stroke - a clot in the brain is interrupted due to a clot or haemorrhage but only lasts for a short time

Question 17

FAST

Answer 17

face, arms, speech, time

Question 18

physiology of pain

Answer 18

transduction, transmission, perception, modulation

Question 19

transduction

Answer 19

the process by which a painful physical or chemical stimulus is transformed into a signal that can be carried (via transmission) to the central nervous system and perceived as pain.

Question 20

transmission

Answer 20

Movement of the impulse from the site of origin to the brain

Question 21

perception

Answer 21

developing conscious awareness of the brain

Question 22

modulation

Answer 22

activation of descending neural pathways that inhibit the transmission of pain to the brain.

Question 23

nociceptive pain

Answer 23

pain that is usually acute and transmitted after normal processing of noxious stimuli

Question 24

cutaneous pain

Answer 24

superficial pain which originates from nerves in the skin or subcutaneous tissue

Question 25

somatic pain

Answer 25

deep pain originating from tendons, ligaments, nerves, bones and blood vessels

Question 26

visceral pain

Answer 26

poorly localised pain arising from body organs in the thorax, cranium and abdomen

Question 27

acute pain

Answer 27

sudden onset pain varying in intensity has a short duration and is a normal response to noxious stimuli (surgical incisions, burns and fractures)

Question 28

chronic pain

Answer 28

constant daily pain that can be mild to severe, and can last for a period of 3-6 months (phantom limb pain, arthritis and stroke)

Question 29

components of pain assessment

Answer 29

onset, location, duration, characteristics, aggravating and alleviating factors, related symptoms, treatment, severity

Question 30

components of pain assessment

Answer 30

onset, location, duration, characteristics, aggravating and alleviating factors, related symptoms, treatment, severity

Question 31

physiological indicators - acute pain

Answer 31

elevated BP
increased PR
high RR
dilated pupils

Question 32

physiological indicators - chronic pain

Answer 32

normal BP, PP, RR and pupil size
depression and anxiety
loss of sleep and enjoyment in life