PARAMEDIC TRAUMA STUDY GUIDE 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔the spine - ✔✔33 vertebrae
cervical 7
thoracic 12
lumbar 5
sacrum 5
coccyx 4
✔✔C1-C2 - ✔✔C1: atlas C2: axis
injury can and will cause death most of the time
✔✔L2 - ✔✔spinal cord ends at...
✔✔cauda equine - ✔✔collection of individual nerves below the end of the spinal cord
(below L2)
✔✔spinal nerves - ✔✔31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord-named from region
and level
✔✔cervical plexus - ✔✔C1-C5 innervates the diaphragm
"C5 alive"
C3-C5 diaphragm
✔✔brachial plexus - ✔✔C5-T1 controls the upper extremities
if C5 is is intact, but there is an injury to a T nerve, you will see diaphragmatic breathing
✔✔lumbar plexus - ✔✔L1-L4 suppplies the skin and muscles of the abdominal wall,
external genitalia, and part of the lower limbs
✔✔sacral plexus - ✔✔L4-S4, sciatic nerve
supplies the buttocks, perineum, and most of the lower limbs
✔✔T2 - ✔✔an injury below (usually) _____, will cause complete dysfunction of the
sympathetic nervous system
✔✔the brain, brain stem, and above T2 - ✔✔an injury to the _____, _____ _______,
and ________ ___ will cause dysfunction of the parasympathetic nervous system
✔✔therapeutic ventilation - ✔✔only indicated for ICP, use ETCO2
*not hyperventilation*
, ✔✔Cushing's triad - ✔✔Signs of increased intracranial pressure:
1. hypertension
2. bradycardia
3. irregular respirations
✔✔90/90/2 - ✔✔signs of cerebral herniation
sat above 90%
systolic at 90
drop of "2" in GCS
unequal pupils and decerebrate posturing
✔✔significant sensory loss - ✔✔in the case of ________ ________ _______, the
patient will have the same temperature as the environment
✔✔warm, dry, and flushed - ✔✔neurogenic shock skin presentation
✔✔severe closed head injury - ✔✔restrict use of IV fluids for patients with a severe
closed head injury
patients in neurogenic shock may need pressors
✔✔hypotension, tachycardia, cool/clammy - ✔✔hypovolemic
✔✔hypertension, normal or bradycardic, warm/dry - ✔✔increased ICP (Cushings)
✔✔change in mental status - ✔✔single most important sign you can detect with trauma
patients
then transport-appropriate time and facility
✔✔Cheyne-Stokes breathing - ✔✔a distinct pattern of breathing characterized by
quickening and deepening respirations followed by a period of apnea; result of mild ICP
✔✔Biot (ataxic) respirations - ✔✔Irregular pattern, rate, and depth of respirations with
intermittent periods of apnea; result from a marked increased of intracranial pressure
✔✔T2-T7 - ✔✔injury would affect intercostal muscles, if C5 is intact, you will see
diaphragmatic breathing
✔✔myotomes - ✔✔Regions where motor components of spinal nerves innervate tissues
and muscles
✔✔dermatomes - ✔✔regions where sensory components of spinal nerves innervate
✔✔C2 dermatome - ✔✔occipital protuberance
AND ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔the spine - ✔✔33 vertebrae
cervical 7
thoracic 12
lumbar 5
sacrum 5
coccyx 4
✔✔C1-C2 - ✔✔C1: atlas C2: axis
injury can and will cause death most of the time
✔✔L2 - ✔✔spinal cord ends at...
✔✔cauda equine - ✔✔collection of individual nerves below the end of the spinal cord
(below L2)
✔✔spinal nerves - ✔✔31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord-named from region
and level
✔✔cervical plexus - ✔✔C1-C5 innervates the diaphragm
"C5 alive"
C3-C5 diaphragm
✔✔brachial plexus - ✔✔C5-T1 controls the upper extremities
if C5 is is intact, but there is an injury to a T nerve, you will see diaphragmatic breathing
✔✔lumbar plexus - ✔✔L1-L4 suppplies the skin and muscles of the abdominal wall,
external genitalia, and part of the lower limbs
✔✔sacral plexus - ✔✔L4-S4, sciatic nerve
supplies the buttocks, perineum, and most of the lower limbs
✔✔T2 - ✔✔an injury below (usually) _____, will cause complete dysfunction of the
sympathetic nervous system
✔✔the brain, brain stem, and above T2 - ✔✔an injury to the _____, _____ _______,
and ________ ___ will cause dysfunction of the parasympathetic nervous system
✔✔therapeutic ventilation - ✔✔only indicated for ICP, use ETCO2
*not hyperventilation*
, ✔✔Cushing's triad - ✔✔Signs of increased intracranial pressure:
1. hypertension
2. bradycardia
3. irregular respirations
✔✔90/90/2 - ✔✔signs of cerebral herniation
sat above 90%
systolic at 90
drop of "2" in GCS
unequal pupils and decerebrate posturing
✔✔significant sensory loss - ✔✔in the case of ________ ________ _______, the
patient will have the same temperature as the environment
✔✔warm, dry, and flushed - ✔✔neurogenic shock skin presentation
✔✔severe closed head injury - ✔✔restrict use of IV fluids for patients with a severe
closed head injury
patients in neurogenic shock may need pressors
✔✔hypotension, tachycardia, cool/clammy - ✔✔hypovolemic
✔✔hypertension, normal or bradycardic, warm/dry - ✔✔increased ICP (Cushings)
✔✔change in mental status - ✔✔single most important sign you can detect with trauma
patients
then transport-appropriate time and facility
✔✔Cheyne-Stokes breathing - ✔✔a distinct pattern of breathing characterized by
quickening and deepening respirations followed by a period of apnea; result of mild ICP
✔✔Biot (ataxic) respirations - ✔✔Irregular pattern, rate, and depth of respirations with
intermittent periods of apnea; result from a marked increased of intracranial pressure
✔✔T2-T7 - ✔✔injury would affect intercostal muscles, if C5 is intact, you will see
diaphragmatic breathing
✔✔myotomes - ✔✔Regions where motor components of spinal nerves innervate tissues
and muscles
✔✔dermatomes - ✔✔regions where sensory components of spinal nerves innervate
✔✔C2 dermatome - ✔✔occipital protuberance
