Anatomy
Bony structure ecases and protect the brain
What is the Skull?
When there is bleeding between the dura mater and brain
What is epidural hematoma?
The standardized tool used to assess consciousness in TBI patients, scored from 3 to 15.
What is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)?
Condition where air bubbles form under the skin and create a crackling sound
What is subcutaneous emphysema?
This triad of signs—bradycardia, hypertension, and irregular respirations—suggests rising intracranial pressure.
What is Cushing’s triad?
You arrive at the scene of a motorcycle crash. The patient is unconscious with a helmet on. Your next step is this.
What is leave the helmet in place unless it obstructs the airway or is improperly fitted?
The three layers of protective membranes cover the brain and spinal cord.
What are the meninges?
When a patient cannot remember events after a head injury
What is anterograde amnesia?
The preferred manual stabilization technique for suspected cervical spine injuries.
What is inline stabilization?
Whenever there is a face or neck injury, the EMT must have a high index of suspicion for
What is spinal injury — airway compromise?
This condition, characterized by hypotension and bradycardia, occurs in spinal injuries above T6.
What is neurogenic shock?
A patient with head trauma suddenly becomes bradycardic and hypertensive with irregular respirations. Your next step is this.
What is recognize Cushing’s triad and prepare for rapid transport while elevating the head of the stretcher?
This part of the brain controls balance and coordination.
What is the cerebellum?
This structure extends from the conus medullaris and contains nerve roots.
What is the cauda equina?
This maneuver is used to open the airway in a suspected spinal injury.
What is the jaw thrust maneuver?
A cerebrospinal fluid leak from the nose or ears may be identified using this simple field test. when the sympathetic nervous system is activated, a person’s pupils
What is the halo test?
This term describes abnormal flexion or extension posturing in a patient with severe brain injury.
What is decerebrate or decorticate posturing?
A pedestrian hit by a car has a large scalp laceration with significant bleeding. Your first priority is this.
What is applying direct pressure to control bleeding while maintaining C-spine precautions?
This flexible structure is made up of vertebrae and protects the spinal cord.
What is the spinal column?
The medical term for cheek bones
What are the zygomatics?
This test, when positive, suggests meningeal irritation and involves passive neck flexion.
What is Brudzinski’s sign?
the type of nerves that carry information from the body to the patient’s brain via the spinal cord
What is are afferent motor nerves?
Football player takes a blunt blow to the head, says he sees stars and is confused but does not lose consciousness - he MOST likely sustained a
What is a concussion?
A patient has a foreign object impaled in their cheek and is bleeding into their mouth. Your protocol directs you to do this.
What is remove the object only if it compromises the airway, then control bleeding with direct pressure and prepare to suction?
The total number of vertebrae in the cervical spine.
What is seven?
7 12 5 5 4
This part of the limbic system is essential for memory formation.
What is the hippocampus?
Unequal pupil size following head trauma may indicate this type of injury.
What is increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
Hoarseness, subcutaneous emphysema, and stridor are signs of this life-threatening neck injury.
What is laryngeal trauma?
Paralysis of all four limbs due to a spinal cord injury in the cervical spine.
What is quadriplegia (tetraplegia)?
A patient in a motor vehicle collision is found unconscious with no obvious external injuries. Your first priority is this.
What is assume a spinal injury and maintain manual stabilization?
This sign, characterized by bilateral periorbital ecchymosis, suggests a basilar skull fracture.
What are raccoon eyes?
A blow to the side of the head that results in an arterial brain bleed.
What is an epidural hematoma?
The recommended method to control external bleeding from a neck wound while minimizing risk of airway compromise.
What is direct pressure without circumferential bandaging?
A patient with a suspected mandible fracture should be transported in this position to prevent airway obstruction.
What is upright and leaning forward?
The medical term for bruising behind the ears, a sign of a basilar skull fracture.
What is Battle’s sign?
A high-speed rollover crash results in a patient with paradoxical diaphragm movement and loss of sensation from the chest down. The highest priority intervention is this.
What is airway management and ventilatory support due to a high spinal cord injury?
This part of the brain controls vital functions such as breathing and heart rate.
What is the brainstem?
These paired bones are found at the bridge of the nose and are frequently fractured in facial trauma.
What are the nasal bones?
A patient with facial trauma and severe swelling has noisy, labored breathing. The highest priority intervention is this.
What is securing the airway with suctioning and advanced airway management if necessary?
A patient presents with difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, and subcutaneous emphysema after a front-end car crash. Your protocol prioritizes this action.
What is preparing for airway compromise due to laryngeal injury and immediate transport?
A patient was punched in the jaw and has severe pain with difficulty speaking. Your assessment should focus on this potential injury.
What is a mandibular fracture?
A fall victim is alert and has no neurological deficits but complains of neck pain. Per protocol, this should be done before transport.
What is apply a cervical collar and place the patient on a stretcher with motion restriction?
This U-shaped bone in the neck does not articulate with any other bone.
What is the hyoid bone?
This major artery supplies oxygenated blood to the brain and can be damaged in neck trauma.
What is the carotid artery?
The sternocleidomastoid muscle, which allows for head rotation, originates from these two bony structures.
What are the sternum and clavicle?
This large vein in the neck drains blood from the brain and is at risk for air embolism if injured.
What is the jugular vein?
This structure is a bundle of nerves extending from the lower end of the spinal cord and is involved in lower body function.
What is the cauda equina?
A 24-year-old diver hit his head in shallow water. He is alert but has no movement in his legs. Your protocol dictates this intervention.
What is full spinal motion restriction and rapid transport to a trauma center?