Neurology System Flashcards
What score of the Glasgow coma scale is most likely to indicate airway compromise?
10, 13, 7, 11?
7
True or False?
Accurate and consistent use of the GCS can detect early changes in neuro status
True
Mrs brain has suffered a stoke and has a right hemiplegia. The damage is most likely in what area?
Right motor cortex
Left somatosensory cortex
Right somatosensory cortex
Left motor cortex
Left motor cortex
The area responsible for language comprehension located mainly in the left temporal lobe is what?
Broca’s area
Wernicke’s area
Organ of corti
Bundle of his
Wernickes area
Reflex activities related to the heart rate and blood pressure control are governed mainly by the?
Pons
Mid brain
Medulla oblongata
Cerebellum
Medulla oblongata
These 3 components make up the cranial contents
Brain tissue, parenchyma, and CSF
Blood, CSF and serous fluid
Brain tissue, blood and CSF
CSF, blood and circle of Willis
Brain tissue, blood, and CSF
The brain receives approximately what percentage of oxygen with cardiac output?
20%, 10%, 35%, 50%
20%
Disorientation, restlessness, and confusion in a patient with rising intracranial pressure is related to what?
Altered cerebral blood flow
HTN, bradycardia, severe headache and blurred vision in above T6 spinal cord injury is called what?
Autonomic dysreflexia
Fixed and dilated pupils can be caused by what?
Brain stem hypoxia
An explosive disorderly discharge of cerebral neurons is referred to as what?
A seizure
Acute severe headache, nausea, photophobia and unchallenged rigidity are symptomatic of what?
Meningitis
What are the components of the Neurological assessment?
GCS and PERRLA and Limb Strength
What does the monro kellie hypothesis state?
The sum of volumes of brain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and intracerebral blood is constant and that an increase in one should cause a reciprocal decrease in either one or both remaining two
What is a localised/focal brain injury?
A coup - direct impact injury
Can also be a Contrecoup - secondary damage away from injury site
What is a widespread/diffuse brain injury?
A shearing/tearing injury of axons in the brain with high mortality rates and risk for coma
What is cushings triad?
An indicator in nursing assessment to be concerned regarding raised ICP and pressure on the brain stem (i.e imminent death) with the following obs: Increased BP, Decreased HR, and Irregular RR
What causes increased intra-cranial pressure?
An imbalance inside the cranium, typically following a brain injury or other medical condition that increases pressure inside the skull
What is cerebral perfusion pressure?
The pressure required to perfuse oxygen through capillaries in the brain in order for it to preform essential function.
A rise in ICP (intracranial pressure) greater than CPP (cerebral perfusion pressure) results in what?
Reduced blood flow to the brain as vessels are compressed from this pressure. Reduced blood flow will = reduced oxygen and glucose deliver = cerebral ischaemia
What is cerebral ischaemia?
Reduced blood flow in the brain causing reduced oxygen and glucose to brain tissue
How does the body react to cerebral ischaemia?
The sympathetic nervous system activates
Increasing BP and HR to try to increase cerebral perfusion Thus increase oxygen and glucose delivery
Baroreceptors detect the increased BP and activate the parasympathetic nervous system to lower BP by lowering HR.
Without intervention this cycle will continue.
What is the result of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system cycle as a result of untreated cerebral ischaemia?
Continued increasing BP will cause a further increase in ICP (intracranial pressure) therefore an increase in cerebral ischaemia
This increasing pressure in the cranuim will eventually lead to compression of the brainstem - following this death is imminent
What is a symptom of compression on the brainstem due to increased ICP?
Irregular breathing
