Anatomy
what is the CNS made up of?
what 2 branches is the PNS further divided into?
brain + spinal cord
somatic + autonomic NS
what is the medical term for stroke? what are the causes of ischemic vs hemorrhagic stroke?
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)= stroke
Ischemic (more common)
Occurs due to occlusion/blockage (caused by embolus, thrombosis, plaque/atherosclerosis) of CEREBRAL ARTERY
Hemorrhagic (more deadly)
Number 1 cause= HTN
ruptured aneurysm
define seizure and describe the 5 types of seizures
a surge of chaotic electrical activity in the brain
Generalized seizures (aka tonic clonic aka grand mal)
Involves the entire brain
Full body shaking for up to 5 mins
Postictal period= 5-30 mins
Partial seizures (aka focal seizures)= A part of the brain experiences chaotic electrical firing
Simple partial seizures:
Their LOC is normal
May have numbness/weakness/dizziness
May cause brief twitching or brief paralysis
Complex partial seizures
More obvious motor activity (lip smacking, eye fluttering)
Absence seizures
No abnormal motor activity
Characterized by a brief lapse of secs where pt stares + does not respond
Febrile seizures
Exclusively affects young kids + benign
SUDDEN RAPID fever
Status epilepticus
Last longer than 5 mins or multiple seizures w/o a period in between
what 3 parts is the brain divided into? what are each of their functions?
cerebrum = largest part of the brain- consists of the frontal, parietal, temporal + occipital lobes
brainstem = controls basic functions (ie. breathing, BP, swallowing, pupil constriction)
cerebellum= controls movement, balance + coordination
t/f: a TIA is a type of stroke
what characterizes a TIA
false!
NOT considered a stroke bc no permanent damage
Symptoms resolve within 24 hrs
Seen as a warning sign for a future stroke
what should you do after the pt's seizure is over?
need to provide high flow- O2 bc not breathing during the seizure (can lead to cyanosis due to hypoxia)
3 layers of the meninges in order from outer to inner layer
dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
what is Cushing's triad used for and what are its 3 components?
- used for brain herniation/increased ICP
Increasing BP
Dropping HR
Irregular respirations (Cheyne-Stokes + Biot's respirations)
list 3 metabolic causes of seizures
Usually due to hypoglycemia, Drug/alcohol/benzodiazepines intoxication or lack thereof (withdrawal), POISONING IS A METABOLIC CAUSE OF SEIZURES
the brain connects to the spinal cord through a large opening at the base of the skull known as the
foramen magnum
what are the parts of the Cincinnati stroke scale?
what is a condition that mimics stroke symptoms?
Arm drift test (they should be sitting, lift their arms in front of them with palms facing UP- tell them to hold them up + close their eyes)
Facial droop (have them smile)
Speech abnormalities (dysarthria, aphasia)
Have them repeat a sentence
Hypoglycemia (therefore, it's important to check blood glucose levels anyone for stroke symp)
You arrive on scene and find EMRs with a seizing pt. Which of these question should you ask first?
A. "How long has the patient been seizing?"
B. "What are the patient's vital signs?"
C. "Did the patient lose control of his bladder?"
D. "Do you know which medications the patient is taking?"
A
what are the 5 sections the spinal column is divided into? how many vertebrae are in each?
Spinal column: 33 bones
Divided into 5 sections
Cervical= 7 vertebrae
Thoracic = 12 vertebrae
Lumbar= 5
Sacrum= 5
Coccyx= 4
how should a pt having a stroke be positioned during transport?
Paralyzed side should be face down when placing a stroke pt on their side
if you weren't present while the pt was having a seizure, what 2 common signs could lead you to suspect that one occurred?
Urinary incontinence + oral trauma are common signs that a pt had a seizure