CBIS Brain Injury Pathophysiology and Neuroscience Flashcards

What is cerebral autoregulation?

Answer: The automatic adjustment of cerebral blood flow to maintain stable perfusion despite changes in systemic blood pressure

Cerebral autoregulation is the mechanism by which cerebral blood vessels dilate or constrict to maintain relatively constant cerebral blood flow across a range of systemic blood pressures.

Which imaging modality is most sensitive for detecting diffuse axonal injury in TBI?

Answer: MRI with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)

MRI with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is the most sensitive tool for identifying white matter tract damage and axonal shearing characteristic of DAI.

What is the normal range of intracranial pressure (ICP) in adults?

Answer: 5–15 mmHg

Normal ICP in adults ranges from approximately 5 to 15 mmHg; values consistently above 20 mmHg are considered elevated and require intervention.

Which of the following best describes secondary brain injury?

Answer: Physiological cascades such as hypoxia, hypotension, and cerebral edema that worsen injury after the initial event

Secondary brain injury encompasses the biochemical and physiological processes — including inflammation, excitotoxicity, and ischemia — that develop hours to days after the primary impact and compound neural damage.

What is the primary function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) relevant to TBI?

Answer: To selectively restrict passage of substances from the bloodstream into the brain, protecting neural tissue

The BBB is formed by specialized tight junctions in cerebral endothelial cells that limit which molecules can enter the brain, protecting it from toxins and pathogens; TBI often disrupts this barrier, worsening edema and inflammation.

What is post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) and why is it clinically significant for CBIS professionals?

Answer: A period of confusion and inability to form new memories after TBI; its duration predicts injury severity and outcome

PTA is a state of confusion and anterograde amnesia following TBI where the person cannot form continuous new memories, and its duration is a key predictor of overall injury severity and rehabilitation prognosis.