ATLS MODULE 6 HEAD TRAUMA PRACTICE
TEST WITH SOLUTIONS 2025
◉ what is the most important way to limit secondary brain damage
and improve a patients outcome? Answer: ensure adequate
oxygenation and maintain blood pressure at a level sufficient enough
to perfuse the brain
◉ after managing ABCDEs in a pt with head trauma and
neurosurgical capabilities exist at your hospital, what do you do>
Answer: it is critical to identify any mass lesion requiring surgical
evacuation... this is best achieved via CT scan of head
◉ what is the risk of scalp lacerations? Answer: scalp has a generous
blood supply, so they can result in major blood loss, hemorrhagic
shock, and even death... esp pts who are subjected to long transport
times
◉ of the meninges, what is the tough fibrous membrane that
adheres to the internal surface of the skull & encloses the large
venous sinuses that provide the major venous drainage from the
brain? Answer: dura mata
*laceration of these sinuses can result in massive hemorrhage
,◉ meningeal arteries are between the dura and internal surface of
the skull within the epidural space... overlying skull fractures can
lacerate these and cause an epidural hematoma... what is the most
commonly injured meningeal vessel> Answer: middle meningeal
artery... located over the temporal fossa
*expanding hematoma from arterial injury can lead to rapid
deterioration and death
◉ the thin, transparent layer beneath the dura is the arachnoid
mater. dura and arachnoid are not connected, so there is a potential
space (subdural space). what may happen in this area due to brain
injury? Answer: bridging veins that travel from the surface of the
brain to venous sinuses within the dura mater may tear... leading to
formation of subdural hematoma
◉ the 3rd layer of the meninges, the pia mater, is firmly attached to
the surface of the brain. The subarachnoid space is the space
between the pia and arachnoid. what fills this space? Answer:
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fills the space between the watertight
arachnoid and pia... which cushions the brain and spinal cord
*hemorrhage in this space frequently accompanies brain contusion
and injuries to major blood vessels at base of brain
, ◉ what hemisphere of the cerebrum contains the language center in
virtually all right handed people & >85% left handed people?
Answer: left hemisphere
◉ what lobe of cerebrum controls executive fx, emotions, motor fx,
and (on the dominant side) expression of speech? Answer: frontal
lobe
◉ what lobe directs sensory fx and spacial orientation? Answer:
parietal lobe
◉ what lobe regulates certain memory functions? Answer: temporal
lobe
◉ what lobe is responsible for vision? Answer: occipital lobe
◉ the brainstem is composed of midbrain, pons, and medulla... what
region contains the reticular activating system which is responsible
for state of alertness? Answer: midbrain and upper pons
◉ what part of the brainstem contains the vital cardiorespiratory
centers which extend downward to connect with spinal cord?
Answer: medulla
TEST WITH SOLUTIONS 2025
◉ what is the most important way to limit secondary brain damage
and improve a patients outcome? Answer: ensure adequate
oxygenation and maintain blood pressure at a level sufficient enough
to perfuse the brain
◉ after managing ABCDEs in a pt with head trauma and
neurosurgical capabilities exist at your hospital, what do you do>
Answer: it is critical to identify any mass lesion requiring surgical
evacuation... this is best achieved via CT scan of head
◉ what is the risk of scalp lacerations? Answer: scalp has a generous
blood supply, so they can result in major blood loss, hemorrhagic
shock, and even death... esp pts who are subjected to long transport
times
◉ of the meninges, what is the tough fibrous membrane that
adheres to the internal surface of the skull & encloses the large
venous sinuses that provide the major venous drainage from the
brain? Answer: dura mata
*laceration of these sinuses can result in massive hemorrhage
,◉ meningeal arteries are between the dura and internal surface of
the skull within the epidural space... overlying skull fractures can
lacerate these and cause an epidural hematoma... what is the most
commonly injured meningeal vessel> Answer: middle meningeal
artery... located over the temporal fossa
*expanding hematoma from arterial injury can lead to rapid
deterioration and death
◉ the thin, transparent layer beneath the dura is the arachnoid
mater. dura and arachnoid are not connected, so there is a potential
space (subdural space). what may happen in this area due to brain
injury? Answer: bridging veins that travel from the surface of the
brain to venous sinuses within the dura mater may tear... leading to
formation of subdural hematoma
◉ the 3rd layer of the meninges, the pia mater, is firmly attached to
the surface of the brain. The subarachnoid space is the space
between the pia and arachnoid. what fills this space? Answer:
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fills the space between the watertight
arachnoid and pia... which cushions the brain and spinal cord
*hemorrhage in this space frequently accompanies brain contusion
and injuries to major blood vessels at base of brain
, ◉ what hemisphere of the cerebrum contains the language center in
virtually all right handed people & >85% left handed people?
Answer: left hemisphere
◉ what lobe of cerebrum controls executive fx, emotions, motor fx,
and (on the dominant side) expression of speech? Answer: frontal
lobe
◉ what lobe directs sensory fx and spacial orientation? Answer:
parietal lobe
◉ what lobe regulates certain memory functions? Answer: temporal
lobe
◉ what lobe is responsible for vision? Answer: occipital lobe
◉ the brainstem is composed of midbrain, pons, and medulla... what
region contains the reticular activating system which is responsible
for state of alertness? Answer: midbrain and upper pons
◉ what part of the brainstem contains the vital cardiorespiratory
centers which extend downward to connect with spinal cord?
Answer: medulla
