Exam 16: Alterations in Cognitive Systems, Cerebral Hemodynamics, and Motor Function

A patient experiences a severe head injury hitting a tree while riding a motorcycle.Breathing becomes deep and rapid but with normal pattern.What term should the nurse use for this condition?

For legal purposes, brain death is defined as:

A neurologist explains that arousal is mediated by the:

The progress notes read: the cerebellar tonsil has shifted through the foramen magnum due to increased pressure within the posterior fossa.The nurse would identify this note as a description of _____ herniation.

A patient has excessive movement.What disorder will the nurse see documented on the chart?

Spinal shock is characterized by:

A compensatory alteration in the diameter of cerebral blood vessels in response to increased intracranial pressure is called:

A patient has memory loss of events that occurred before a head injury.What cognitive disorder does the nurse suspect the patient is experiencing?

A patient is admitted to the neurologic critical care unit with a severe closed head injury.All four extremities are in rigid extension, the forearms are hyperpronated, and the legs are in plantar extension.How should the nurse chart this condition?

A patient presents to the emergency room (ER) reporting excessive vomiting.A CT scan of the brain reveals a mass in the:

An infant is diagnosed with noncommunicating hydrocephalus.What is an immediate priority concern for this patient?

What term is used to describe an explosive, disorderly discharge of cortical neurons?