ATLS WRITTEN REVIEW 2024/2025(DETAILED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS)2021/2022/2023 & 2024/2025 LATEST UPDATE
COMPILATION
What is the primary goal of treating TBI? How is this done? (correct answer)preventing secondary brain
injury. This is done by maintaining blood pressure and providing adequate profusion.
After managing ABCDEs of TBI what MUST be identified if present? How is this done? (correct
answer)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.
Which brain lobes do the following hold:
1. anterior fossa:
2. middle fossa:
3. posterior fossa: (correct answer)1. anterior fossa: frontal lobes
2. middle fossa: temporal lobes
3. posterior fossa: lower brainstem and cerebellum
What are the 3 layers of the meninges? (correct answer)dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
What does the dura mater adhere firmly to? (correct answer)the skull. it is tough and fibrous
What layer of the meninges splits into two leaves as specific sites to enclose large venous sinuses? What
do these sinuses do? (correct answer)dura mater.
these sinuses provide major venous drainage from the brain.
What is the midline sinus of of the brain that splits into two sinuses: bilateral transverse and sigmoid
sinus? What side are these bigger on? (correct answer)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.
,What are the arteries that lie between the skull and the dura mater (epidural space)? (correct
answer)meningeal arteries.
What is the most commonly injured meningeal artery and where is it located? (correct answer)middle
meningeal artery.
Located over the temporal fossa
T/F: the arachnoid mater is fused to the dura mater? (correct answer)FALSE: not attached. This produces
a potential space for a subdural hematoma
In a subdural hematoma, what is the cause? (correct answer)injury to bridging veins that extend from
brain surface to the sinuses within the dura.
_______ fills the space between the arachnoid and pia mater? (correct answer)CSF. this cushions the
brain and spinal cord.
What location of brain hemorrhage is frequently seen in brain contusion or injury to major blood vessels
at base of brain? (correct answer)subarachnoid.
The ____ and _____ contain the reticular activating system which is responsible for ____. (correct
answer)midbrain and upper pons
state of alertness
What important function resides in the medulla? (correct answer)cardiorespiratory centers.
What important functions are in the following brain segments:
1. left hemisphere:
2. frontal lobe:
3. parietal lobe:
4. temporal: (correct answer)1. left hemisphere: language center
2. frontal lobe: executive function, emotions, motor
, 3. parietal lobe: sensory function/spatial orientation
4. temporal: memory functions
What divides the brain into supratentorial and infratentorial compartments? (correct answer)tentorium
cerebelli. (tent over cerebellum)
What is the physiology behind a blown pupil? (correct answer)blown pupil: dilation of pupil
-CN III runs along the tentorium cerebelli. parasympathetic fibers that constrict the pupil run along CN III
(oculomotor). When temporal lobe is herniated, it can compress these fibers. Unapposed sympathetic
activity causes pupillary dilation.
What is the tentorial notch/hiatus (correct answer)this is where the midbrain passes through into the
infratentorial compartment.
what part of the brain most commonly herniates through the tentorial notch? (correct answer)Uncus
(medial part of temporal lobe)
does weakness occur on the same or opposite side of the uncal herniation? (correct answer)OPPOSITE.
the corticospinal tract of the midbrain is compressed and then crosses at the foramen magnum.
state: Ipsilateral/contralateral
____ pupillary dilation associated with _____ hemiparesis is the classic sign of uncial herniation. (correct
answer)ipsi
contra
average ICP is _____ mmHg. (correct answer)10
The monro-kellie doctrine states that the total volume of intracranial contents must remain constant,
because the cranium is ___ (correct answer)a rigid, non expandable container.
ANSWERS)2021/2022/2023 & 2024/2025 LATEST UPDATE
COMPILATION
What is the primary goal of treating TBI? How is this done? (correct answer)preventing secondary brain
injury. This is done by maintaining blood pressure and providing adequate profusion.
After managing ABCDEs of TBI what MUST be identified if present? How is this done? (correct
answer)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.
Which brain lobes do the following hold:
1. anterior fossa:
2. middle fossa:
3. posterior fossa: (correct answer)1. anterior fossa: frontal lobes
2. middle fossa: temporal lobes
3. posterior fossa: lower brainstem and cerebellum
What are the 3 layers of the meninges? (correct answer)dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
What does the dura mater adhere firmly to? (correct answer)the skull. it is tough and fibrous
What layer of the meninges splits into two leaves as specific sites to enclose large venous sinuses? What
do these sinuses do? (correct answer)dura mater.
these sinuses provide major venous drainage from the brain.
What is the midline sinus of of the brain that splits into two sinuses: bilateral transverse and sigmoid
sinus? What side are these bigger on? (correct answer)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.
,What are the arteries that lie between the skull and the dura mater (epidural space)? (correct
answer)meningeal arteries.
What is the most commonly injured meningeal artery and where is it located? (correct answer)middle
meningeal artery.
Located over the temporal fossa
T/F: the arachnoid mater is fused to the dura mater? (correct answer)FALSE: not attached. This produces
a potential space for a subdural hematoma
In a subdural hematoma, what is the cause? (correct answer)injury to bridging veins that extend from
brain surface to the sinuses within the dura.
_______ fills the space between the arachnoid and pia mater? (correct answer)CSF. this cushions the
brain and spinal cord.
What location of brain hemorrhage is frequently seen in brain contusion or injury to major blood vessels
at base of brain? (correct answer)subarachnoid.
The ____ and _____ contain the reticular activating system which is responsible for ____. (correct
answer)midbrain and upper pons
state of alertness
What important function resides in the medulla? (correct answer)cardiorespiratory centers.
What important functions are in the following brain segments:
1. left hemisphere:
2. frontal lobe:
3. parietal lobe:
4. temporal: (correct answer)1. left hemisphere: language center
2. frontal lobe: executive function, emotions, motor
, 3. parietal lobe: sensory function/spatial orientation
4. temporal: memory functions
What divides the brain into supratentorial and infratentorial compartments? (correct answer)tentorium
cerebelli. (tent over cerebellum)
What is the physiology behind a blown pupil? (correct answer)blown pupil: dilation of pupil
-CN III runs along the tentorium cerebelli. parasympathetic fibers that constrict the pupil run along CN III
(oculomotor). When temporal lobe is herniated, it can compress these fibers. Unapposed sympathetic
activity causes pupillary dilation.
What is the tentorial notch/hiatus (correct answer)this is where the midbrain passes through into the
infratentorial compartment.
what part of the brain most commonly herniates through the tentorial notch? (correct answer)Uncus
(medial part of temporal lobe)
does weakness occur on the same or opposite side of the uncal herniation? (correct answer)OPPOSITE.
the corticospinal tract of the midbrain is compressed and then crosses at the foramen magnum.
state: Ipsilateral/contralateral
____ pupillary dilation associated with _____ hemiparesis is the classic sign of uncial herniation. (correct
answer)ipsi
contra
average ICP is _____ mmHg. (correct answer)10
The monro-kellie doctrine states that the total volume of intracranial contents must remain constant,
because the cranium is ___ (correct answer)a rigid, non expandable container.
