Download Traumatic Brain Injury and Parasympathetic vs

Decmber 5-8, 2014
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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Leading cause of accidental death among all
people in US
○ 1.7 million experience TBI each year…
… causing ~52,000 deaths each year

Leading cause of all
death and disability
among US children
○ ~500,000 children
visit ER with
TBI each year
Causes of Brain Injury
Falls & car accidents are
leading causes
 Sports-related are grouped in
the struck/by against


Important to understand that
the damage is caused not
just by the blow, but also by
the brain bouncing back and
forth against the skull
Types of Traumatic Brain Injury
Concussion –
Full recovery (??)
in a few days to a
few weeks

Mild injury (though still serious)

Widespread, microscopic damage (such as severing of
connections between neurons)

Symptoms
 Dizziness, nausea, inability to concentrate, memory
difficulties, sensitivity to light or
sound, mood changes, sleep
changes

Treatment
 Rest from physical and mental
activity
 VERY IMPORTANT TO
PREVENT SECONDARY
IMPACT!
Types of Traumatic Brain Injury
Contusion –
More likely to cause
permanent loss of
function or death

Localized tissue bruising / destruction

Often occurs with cerebral hematoma (extensive
bleeding in the brain)

Often causes cerebral edema
(brain swelling), which can be
fatal if the pressure isn’t relieved

Symptoms
 Same as concussion, but more often
include loss of conscioussness,
slurred speech, vomiting
 Can be seen on MRI / CT
CT scan – white areas are
contusions
Types of Traumatic Brain Injury
Misconception alert!
A contusion is not simply a more severe concussion.
You can have a concussion, or a contusion, or both.
Cerebrovascular Accident (aka stroke)

3rd leading cause of death in
US

Loss of blood flow to brain due
to clot or bleeding in the brain

Brain tissue dies due to lack of
oxygen

Treatment involves restoring
blood flow through
anticoagulants, blood thinners,
shunts, etc.

Long-term effects depend on
location, size/degree of
blockage, and speed of
treatment
Turn & talk
The scenario...
A semi-conscious young woman is brought to the hospital by
friends after falling from a roof. She did not lose
consciousness immediately, and she was initially lucid. After a
while, though, she became confused and then unresponsive.
Questions

What is a likely explanation for her condition?

What test(s) would you do?

What treatment(s) might be necessary?

What is her prognosis?
Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic
Divisions
The sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions are part of the
autonomic nervous system.
What is that?
The system that sends directions to the glands, smooth
muscles, and cardiac muscles
Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic
Divisions
The two divisions control the same organs but create opposite
effects.
Sympathetic
Prepares body to deal with
threatening situations
Parasympathetic
Occurs in the absence of
demanding situations
Allows maximal physical and mental
performance.
Conserves energy and maintains
body
“Fight or flight”
“Rest and Digest”
Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic
Divisions
Misconception alert!
We are not usually in “sympathetic mode” or “parasympathetic
mode” … rather, our body constantly uses the two types of
neurons to maintain homeostasis (e.g. raising or lowering
heartbeat, increasing or decreasing digestion, as needed).
Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic
Divisions
If SD and PD are both motor neurons, connecting in many
cases to the same organs, HOW do they create opposite
effects?
Through the release of different neurotransmitters.
 Sympathetic neurons release norepinephrine
 Parasympathetic neurons release acetylcholine
Closure

What were our objectives, and what did
you learn about them.

What was our learner profile trait and
how did we exemplify it?

How does what we did today address
our unit question?
Exit Ticket
1.
A bruise on the brain is called a
A. Concussion
B. Hematoma
2.
C. Contusion
D. Edema
Headache, difficulty concentrating, and
nausea are symptoms of
A.
B.
C.
D.
Concussion only
Contusion only
Stroke only
Both concussion and contusion
Exit Ticket
3.
Anticoagulants and blood thinners are
treatments for
A. Concussion only
B. Contusion only
C. Stroke only
D. Both concussion and contusion
Exit Ticket
Sympathetic (S) or Parasympathetic (P)?
4. Fight or flight
5. Dilation of bronchi
6. Release of norepinepherine
-1 = 95
-2 = 85
-3 = 75
-4 or more = 70