What is the most sensitive indicator of a patient's neurological condition?
- ANSWER LOC
What are the first signs of neurological deterioration? - ANSWER
Changes in responses can indicate increasing degrees of confusion and
disorientation
How do VS change in response to neuroinjury? - ANSWER Temp: high
levels of head trauma due to damage of central neurogenic temp control
in the hypothalamus
BP: Increased SBP w/widened pulse w/increased ICP in advanced
stages
Pulse: bradycardia w/advanced ICP
Describe decorticate and decerebrate posturing. - ANSWER
Decorticate: turning inward
Decerebrate: turning outward
Describe grey and white matter. - ANSWER Grey matter: cell bodies and
dendrites
White matter: myelinated nerve fibers
Describe afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) nuerons - ANSWER
afferent (sensory) neurons: receptors in skin, muscles, other impulses
and relay impulses to CNS
efferent (motor) nuerons: transmit impulses from CNS to cause action
Which electrolytes are the chief regulator of membrane potential? -
ANSWER Sodium and Potassium
Describe cholinergic and adrenergic nerves? Where are the receptors
for each one? - ANSWER Cholinergic: nerves that transmit impulses
through release of Acetylcholine
,Receptors found in viscera, skeletal muscle cells, adrenal medulla
Adrenergic: nerves that transmit impulses through release of
Norepinephrine
Receptors found in heart, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels, all target organs
stimulated by sympathetic division except heart
Alpha-adrenergic receptors cause what?
Beta-adrenergic receptors cause what? - ANSWER Alpha-adrenergic
receptors bind to alpha receptors > arterial vasoconstriction
Beta-adrenergic receptors bid to beta-1 receptors in heart, regulate rate
and force of contraction, Beta-2 receptors in lungs, arteries, liver, uterus
(regulate bronchial diameter, arterial diameter, glycogenesis)
Describe how GABA, dopamine, and serotonin work? - ANSWER
GABA: inhibits CNS function
Dopamine: controls fine movement and emotions
Serotonin: controls sleep, hunger, behavior, affects consciousness
Describe what the following parts of the brain are responsible for?
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Epithalamus
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla Oblongata
Cerebellum
Ventricles
Meninges
Circle of Willis
Limbic system - ANSWER Thalamus: sorting, processing, relaying
station for input into cortical region
Hypothalamus: regulation of temp, water metabolism, appetite,
emotional expression, sleep-wake cycle, thirst
Epithalamus: growth and development + pineal body
Midbrain: auditory and visual reflexes
Pons: controls respiration
Medulla Oblongata: controls HR, BP, respiration, swallowing
Cerebellum: coordination and balance, fine movements
, Ventricles: chamber filled with CSF fluid
Meninges: covering of CNS composed of 3 connective tissue
membranes
Circle of Willis: circle of connected blood vessels that provides
alternative routes for circulation to brain
Limbic system: emotional and behavioral responses to environmental
stimuli
if the posterior (sensory) part of the spinal nerve is damaged, what
happens?
if the anterior (motor) part of the spinal nerve is damaged, what
happens? - ANSWER loss of sensation
flaccid paralysis
ascending (sensory) pathways detect what sensations?
descending (motor) pathways detect what sensations? - ANSWER pain,
temp, crude touch
fine touch, position, vibration, muscle tone, gross movements
if upper motor nuerons are damaged, what happens?
if lower motor nuerons are damaged, what happens? - ANSWER UMN:
increased muscle tone, decreased muscle strength, decreased
coordination and hyperactive reflexes
LMN: decreased muscle tone, loss of reflexes
Somatic reflexes result in what?
Autonomic reflexes result in what? - ANSWER skeletal muscle
contraction
activate cardiac and smooth muscle and glands
Describe a reflex arc - ANSWER Reflex conducted over a pathway
composed of:
receptor
sensory neuron to carry afferent impulses to CNS
integration center in spinal cord or brain
Motor neuron to carry efferent impulses
Effector (tissue responding by contracting or secreting)