ATLS Written Review Questions & Answers
1.What is the primary goal of treating TBI? How is this done?
ANS preventing secondary brain injury. This is done by maintaining
blood pressure and providing adequate profusion.
2.After managing ABCDEs of TBI what MUST be identified if present? How
is this done?
ANS mass lesion that requires surgical evacuation is critical! this is done
with CT. NOTE
obtaining a CT should not delay patient transfer to trauma center.
3.Which brain lobes do the following hold
1. anterior fossa
2. middle fossa
3. posterior fossa
ANS 1. anterior fossa
frontal lobes
2.middle fossa
temporal lobes
3.posterior fossa
lower brainstem and cerebellum
,4.What are the 3 layers of the meninges?
ANS dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
5.What does the dura mater adhere firmly to?
ANS the skull. it is tough and fibrous
6.What layer of the meninges splits into two leaves as specific sites to
enclose large venous sinuses? What do these sinuses do?
ANS dura mater.
these sinuses provide major venous drainage from the brain.
7.What is the midline sinus of the brain that splits into two sinuses
bilateral transverse and sigmoid sinus? What side are these bigger on?
ANS The main sinus enclosed by the dura major is the midline superior
sagital sinus. This splits into the sigmoid and bilateral transverse
sinuses which are larger on the right side.
8.What are the arteries that lie between the skull and the dura mater
(epidural space)?
ANS meningeal arteries.
9.What is the most commonly injured meningeal artery and where is it
located?
ANS middle meningeal artery.
Located over the temporal fossa
, 10.T/F
the arachnoid mater is fused to the dura mater?
ANS FALSE
not attached. This produces a potential space for a subdural hematoma
11.In a subdural hematoma, what is the cause?
ANS injury to bridging veins that extend from brain surface to the
sinuses within the dura.
12. fills the space between the arachnoid and pia mater?
ANS CSF. this cushions the brain and spinal cord.
13.What location of brain hemorrhage is frequently seen in brain
contusion or injury to major blood vessels at base of brain?
ANS subarachnoid.
14.The and contain the reticular activating system which is
re- sponsible for .
ANS midbrain and upper pons
state of alertness
15.What important function resides in the medulla?
ANS cardiorespiratory centers.
1.What is the primary goal of treating TBI? How is this done?
ANS preventing secondary brain injury. This is done by maintaining
blood pressure and providing adequate profusion.
2.After managing ABCDEs of TBI what MUST be identified if present? How
is this done?
ANS mass lesion that requires surgical evacuation is critical! this is done
with CT. NOTE
obtaining a CT should not delay patient transfer to trauma center.
3.Which brain lobes do the following hold
1. anterior fossa
2. middle fossa
3. posterior fossa
ANS 1. anterior fossa
frontal lobes
2.middle fossa
temporal lobes
3.posterior fossa
lower brainstem and cerebellum
,4.What are the 3 layers of the meninges?
ANS dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
5.What does the dura mater adhere firmly to?
ANS the skull. it is tough and fibrous
6.What layer of the meninges splits into two leaves as specific sites to
enclose large venous sinuses? What do these sinuses do?
ANS dura mater.
these sinuses provide major venous drainage from the brain.
7.What is the midline sinus of the brain that splits into two sinuses
bilateral transverse and sigmoid sinus? What side are these bigger on?
ANS The main sinus enclosed by the dura major is the midline superior
sagital sinus. This splits into the sigmoid and bilateral transverse
sinuses which are larger on the right side.
8.What are the arteries that lie between the skull and the dura mater
(epidural space)?
ANS meningeal arteries.
9.What is the most commonly injured meningeal artery and where is it
located?
ANS middle meningeal artery.
Located over the temporal fossa
, 10.T/F
the arachnoid mater is fused to the dura mater?
ANS FALSE
not attached. This produces a potential space for a subdural hematoma
11.In a subdural hematoma, what is the cause?
ANS injury to bridging veins that extend from brain surface to the
sinuses within the dura.
12. fills the space between the arachnoid and pia mater?
ANS CSF. this cushions the brain and spinal cord.
13.What location of brain hemorrhage is frequently seen in brain
contusion or injury to major blood vessels at base of brain?
ANS subarachnoid.
14.The and contain the reticular activating system which is
re- sponsible for .
ANS midbrain and upper pons
state of alertness
15.What important function resides in the medulla?
ANS cardiorespiratory centers.
