TBI Physiology of the Brain 5

Question 1

Which anterior pituitary hormone deficiency is most commonly reported after TBI?

Accepted Answer

Growth hormone

Answer

Growth hormone and gonadotropin deficiencies are the most frequent post-TBI pituitary abnormalities.

Question 2

Which findings suggest diabetes insipidus after TBI?

Accepted Answer

Polyuria with dilute urine and hypernatremia

Answer

Deficient ADH causes large volumes of dilute urine and rising serum sodium.

Question 3

SIADH after head injury is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

Hyponatremia with concentrated urine

Answer

Excess ADH retains water, causing dilutional hyponatremia with inappropriately concentrated urine.

Question 4

Loss of smell (anosmia) after head trauma most often results from injury to which structure?

Accepted Answer

Olfactory nerve fibers at the cribriform plate

Answer

Shearing of cranial nerve I fibers through the cribriform plate commonly causes post-traumatic anosmia.

Question 5

What is neuroplasticity?

Accepted Answer

The brain's ability to reorganize and form new connections

Answer

Neuroplasticity underlies recovery by allowing reorganization of neural pathways after injury.

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