Head and Spine Injuries

Study Notes

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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: 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.

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

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

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

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: 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