Head and Spine Injuries

Head and Spine Injuries

• The nervous system is a complex network of nerve cells that enables all parts of the body to function.
• It includes the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system.

Head Trauma

• Head trauma refers to both head injuries and traumatic brain injuries.
• Head injury: traumatic injury to the head that may result in injury to the scalp, head, or skull, but not including the face.
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI): injury to the brain caused by an external force.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

• Composed of the brain and spinal cord.
• Controls voluntary and involuntary actions.
• Brain connects to the spinal cord through the foramen magnum.

Scalp and Skull

• Scalp composed of multiple layers, including subcutaneous tissue with major vessels.
• Skull made up of cranium and facial bones, with the mandible being the only movable facial bone.
• Cranium occupied by 80% brain tissue, 10% blood supply, and 10% cerebral spinal fluid (CSF).
• Four major bones that make up the cranium: occipital, temporal, parietal, and frontal regions.

Face

• Composed of 14 bones, including maxilla, zygomas, mandible, orbit, and nose (made of flexible cartilage).

Spine

• Consists of 33 vertebrae, stabilized by ligaments, joint capsules, and muscle.
• Vertebrae identified according to location: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccyx.
• Vertebral body made of bone that provides support and stability, with the spinal canal encasing and protecting the spinal cord.

Brain

• Center of consciousness, most metabolically active and profusion-sensitive organ.
• Totally dependent on cerebral blood flow.
• Cerebrum responsible for higher functions, divided into left and right hemispheres.
• Different brain regions responsible for various functions:
  • Cerebral cortex: regulates voluntary skeleton movement and level of awareness.
  • Frontal lobe: responsible for voluntary motor action and personality traits.
  • Parietal lobe: controls motor functions for the opposite side of the body, as well as memory and emotions.
  • Occipital lobe: responsible for processing visual information.
  • Temporal lobe: responsible for speech, long-term memory, hearing, taste, and smell.
  • Cerebellum: coordinates body movements.
  • Brain stem: controls virtually all life functions.

Meninges and Peripheral Nervous System

• Meninges: protective layers surrounding the CNS, consisting of dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater.
• Peripheral nervous system has 31 pairs of spinal nerves and 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
• Somatic nervous system regulates voluntary activities.
• Autonomic nervous system controlled by the hypothalamus, with sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.
• Disruption of the autonomic nervous system can result in various physiological and functional impairments.

Head and Spine Injuries

Nervous System

• Composed of brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system
• Enables all parts of the body to function

Head Trauma

• Refers to both head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
• Head injury: traumatic injury to the head, excluding the face
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI): injury to the brain caused by an external force

Central Nervous System (CNS)

• Composed of brain and spinal cord
• Controls voluntary and involuntary actions
• Brain connects to spinal cord through foramen magnum

Scalp and Skull

• Scalp composed of multiple layers, including subcutaneous tissue with major vessels
• Skull made up of cranium and facial bones
• Mandible is the only movable facial bone
• Cranium occupied by 80% brain tissue, 10% blood supply, and 10% cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)
• Four major bones make up the cranium: occipital, temporal, parietal, and frontal regions

Face

• Composed of 14 bones, including maxilla, zygomas, mandible, orbit, and nose (made of flexible cartilage)

Spine

• Consists of 33 vertebrae, stabilized by ligaments, joint capsules, and muscle
• Vertebrae identified according to location: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccyx
• Vertebral body provides support and stability, with spinal canal encasing and protecting the spinal cord

Brain

• Center of consciousness and most metabolically active and profusion-sensitive organ
• Totally dependent on cerebral blood flow
• Cerebrum responsible for higher functions, divided into left and right hemispheres
• Different brain regions responsible for various functions:
  • Cerebral cortex: regulates voluntary skeleton movement and level of awareness
  • Frontal lobe: responsible for voluntary motor action and personality traits
  • Parietal lobe: controls motor functions for the opposite side of the body, as well as memory and emotions
  • Occipital lobe: responsible for processing visual information
  • Temporal lobe: responsible for speech, long-term memory, hearing, taste, and smell
  • Cerebellum: coordinates body movements
  • Brain stem: controls virtually all life functions

Meninges and Peripheral Nervous System

• Meninges: protective layers surrounding the CNS, consisting of dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater
• Peripheral nervous system has 31 pairs of spinal nerves and 12 pairs of cranial nerves
• Somatic nervous system regulates voluntary activities
• Autonomic nervous system controlled by the hypothalamus, with sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions
• Disruption of the autonomic nervous system can result in various physiological and functional impairments

Explore the concepts of head trauma, traumatic brain injuries, and their effects on the nervous system.