EMT Chapter 17 - Neurologic
Emergencies (Answered) 2025/2026.
aphasia
The inability to understand and/or produce speech.
aura
A sensation experienced prior to a seizure; serves as a warning sign that a seizure is about to occur.
What are the three components of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale?
Evaluates face, arms and speech.
Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale
Facial Droop: Ask patient to smile
Normal: Both sides of face move equally
Stroke: Unequal Movement
Arm Drift: Ask patient to close eyes and hold both arms out with palms up
Normal: Both arms move same, or neither move
Stroke: One arm drifts downward or one arm does not move
Speech: Ask patient to repeat a simple phrase
Normal: Patient restates without slurring
Stroke: Patient slurs, uses inappropriate words, or cannot speak at all
Glasgow Coma Scale
Assesses eye opening, verbal response, and motor response
cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
An interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in the loss of brain function. Also called a
stroke.
coma
,A state of profound unconsciousness from which one cannot be roused.
embolus
A blood clot or other substance in the circulatory system that travels to a blood vessel where it
causes a blockage.
hemiparesis
Weakness on one side of the body.
hypoglycemia
A condition characterized by a low blood glucose level.
incontinence
Loss of bowel and/or bladder control; may be the result of a generalized seizure.
ischemia
A lack of oxygen that deprives tissues of necessary nutrients, resulting from partial or complete
blockage of blood flow; potentially reversible because permanent injury has not yet occurred.
partial seizure
A seizure affecting a limited portion of the brain.
postictal state
A period following a seizure that lasts between 5 and 30 minutes; characterized by labored
respirations and some degree of altered mental status.
seizure
Generalized, uncoordinated muscular activity associated with loss of consciousness; a convulsion.
status epilepticus
A condition in which seizures recur every few minutes or last more than 30 minutes.
stroke
An interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in the loss of brain function; also called a
cerebrovascular accident (CVA).
thrombosis
A blood clot, either in the arterial or venous system.
tonic-clonic seizure
A type of seizure that features rhythmic back-and-forth motion of an extremity and body stiffness.
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
A disorder of the brain in which brain cells temporarily stop working because of insufficient oxygen,
causing strokelike symptoms that resolve completely within 24 hours of onset.
Men, women and ethnicity with strokes
, More men than women have strokes but it is more fatal in women. African Americans, Hispanics and
Asians are more at risk.
Cerebellum
Controls muscle and body coordination
Where is speech controlled?
Left cerebral hemisphere the middle
How many cranial nerves run from the brain to parts of the head?
12
Life threatening conditions that cause headaches
stroke, tumor, infection of the CNS, or hypertension
Most common types of headaches
Tension, migraine, sinus. They are not life threatening
Tension Headache
Most common, caused by muscle contractions in the head or neck and are attributed to stress.
Migraine Headaches
Thought to be caused by changes in the blood vessel size in the base of the brain
Sinus headaches
Caused by pressure as the result of fluid accumulation in the sinus cavities
Serious conditions that include headache as a symptom
hemorrhagic stroke, brain tumors, meningitis. You should be concerned if patient complains of
sudden ionset, severe headache, or sudden headache that has associated symptoms
Sign of hermorrhagic stroke
sudden severe headache, often described as worst pain patient has ever had. May initially be
localized then become more diffuse as irritation in the meninges spread.
When you should suspect stroke
severe headache, vomiting, seizures, AMS
Stroke
cerebrovascular accident (CVA), interruption of bloodflow to the brainthat results in loss of brain
function. Can be ischemic and hemorrhagic
Ischemic Stroke
Due to direct blockage of bloodflow through the cerebral arteries. Blockage is due to thrombosis
(clot forms at site of blockage), or due to embolus (where clot forms in a remote area). Most
common type (80%). Atherosclerosis is often the cause. In some cases, atherosclerotic plaque in the
Emergencies (Answered) 2025/2026.
aphasia
The inability to understand and/or produce speech.
aura
A sensation experienced prior to a seizure; serves as a warning sign that a seizure is about to occur.
What are the three components of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale?
Evaluates face, arms and speech.
Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale
Facial Droop: Ask patient to smile
Normal: Both sides of face move equally
Stroke: Unequal Movement
Arm Drift: Ask patient to close eyes and hold both arms out with palms up
Normal: Both arms move same, or neither move
Stroke: One arm drifts downward or one arm does not move
Speech: Ask patient to repeat a simple phrase
Normal: Patient restates without slurring
Stroke: Patient slurs, uses inappropriate words, or cannot speak at all
Glasgow Coma Scale
Assesses eye opening, verbal response, and motor response
cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
An interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in the loss of brain function. Also called a
stroke.
coma
,A state of profound unconsciousness from which one cannot be roused.
embolus
A blood clot or other substance in the circulatory system that travels to a blood vessel where it
causes a blockage.
hemiparesis
Weakness on one side of the body.
hypoglycemia
A condition characterized by a low blood glucose level.
incontinence
Loss of bowel and/or bladder control; may be the result of a generalized seizure.
ischemia
A lack of oxygen that deprives tissues of necessary nutrients, resulting from partial or complete
blockage of blood flow; potentially reversible because permanent injury has not yet occurred.
partial seizure
A seizure affecting a limited portion of the brain.
postictal state
A period following a seizure that lasts between 5 and 30 minutes; characterized by labored
respirations and some degree of altered mental status.
seizure
Generalized, uncoordinated muscular activity associated with loss of consciousness; a convulsion.
status epilepticus
A condition in which seizures recur every few minutes or last more than 30 minutes.
stroke
An interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in the loss of brain function; also called a
cerebrovascular accident (CVA).
thrombosis
A blood clot, either in the arterial or venous system.
tonic-clonic seizure
A type of seizure that features rhythmic back-and-forth motion of an extremity and body stiffness.
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
A disorder of the brain in which brain cells temporarily stop working because of insufficient oxygen,
causing strokelike symptoms that resolve completely within 24 hours of onset.
Men, women and ethnicity with strokes
, More men than women have strokes but it is more fatal in women. African Americans, Hispanics and
Asians are more at risk.
Cerebellum
Controls muscle and body coordination
Where is speech controlled?
Left cerebral hemisphere the middle
How many cranial nerves run from the brain to parts of the head?
12
Life threatening conditions that cause headaches
stroke, tumor, infection of the CNS, or hypertension
Most common types of headaches
Tension, migraine, sinus. They are not life threatening
Tension Headache
Most common, caused by muscle contractions in the head or neck and are attributed to stress.
Migraine Headaches
Thought to be caused by changes in the blood vessel size in the base of the brain
Sinus headaches
Caused by pressure as the result of fluid accumulation in the sinus cavities
Serious conditions that include headache as a symptom
hemorrhagic stroke, brain tumors, meningitis. You should be concerned if patient complains of
sudden ionset, severe headache, or sudden headache that has associated symptoms
Sign of hermorrhagic stroke
sudden severe headache, often described as worst pain patient has ever had. May initially be
localized then become more diffuse as irritation in the meninges spread.
When you should suspect stroke
severe headache, vomiting, seizures, AMS
Stroke
cerebrovascular accident (CVA), interruption of bloodflow to the brainthat results in loss of brain
function. Can be ischemic and hemorrhagic
Ischemic Stroke
Due to direct blockage of bloodflow through the cerebral arteries. Blockage is due to thrombosis
(clot forms at site of blockage), or due to embolus (where clot forms in a remote area). Most
common type (80%). Atherosclerosis is often the cause. In some cases, atherosclerotic plaque in the
