Differential Medical Assessment EXAM 2 WASKO

Amy Wasko, College of Dupage, September 2026. (PS. She changes the course every semmester, only study this if the AMLS 4th Edition is outdated) (Update: Dude like she knows if you don't read, its scary but true do your work put in the time)

What is the pia mater? and where is it?

Inner most meninge layer closer to the brain surface; Highly vascular blood vessels supply the surface of the brain and spinal cord

Where is the epidural space?

In between the Skull bone and the dura mater.

What is the dura mater and where is it?

Outermost meninge that’s closer to the skull bone;
Contains arteries that supply the skull.

Tender Mother VS. Tough Mother

The tender mother is the pia mater, its the softest layer.

The tough mother is the dura mater, its the toughest layer.

Where is the subarachnoid space?

It’s the space below the arachnoid layer and above the pia mater; contains cerebrospinal Fluid.

What is the Blood Brain Barrier?

It prevents certain particles from flowing into the brain, while still letting O2, glucose and water through.

What is the tasks of the right hemisphere?

It’s the creative side of the brain; It interprets sensory and process spatial awareness.

What are the tasks of the left hemisphere?

It’s the logical part of the brain; Reading, writing, math, sequential analytical.

What and where is the cerebrum?

The cerebrum is the biggest component of the brain. It’s inside the skull that keeps it protected, its divided of left and right hemispheres (Left- Logical Brain) (Right-Creative brain) and subdivided by 4 lobes (Frontal-Motor function, personality and thought/Speech) (Parietal-Body sensation) (Temporal-Longterm memory, sound) (Occipital-Sight)

What and where is the cerebellum?

Cerebellum is the second biggest part of the brain (Coordinates Movement, balance and posture), Its above the brainstem and posterior of the cerebrum

What is Limbic system?

It controls survival instincts, intense feelings and behavioral responses.

Amygdala- Response, emotions

Hippocampus- memory and emotional responses.

What and where is the Diencephalon?

The diencephalon is in the center of the brain, it has the thalamus(sensation, sleep-wake transitions) and the hypothalamus(Maintains homeostasis)

What happens during Intracranial Hypertension (ICP)?

mass effect due to hemorrhage, edema, or malfunction of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Brain herniates into the lower skull

What is a ischemic stroke?

Occurs when a thrombus or embolus obstructs a vessel diminishing blood flow to the brain.

What is a Hemorrhagic stroke?

Small arteries spontaneously rupture and bleed directly into the tissues of the brain itself or subarachnoid space

What is Thrombus?

A blood clot, or cholesterol plaque, that occludes blood flow

What is Embolus?

Clot, plaque, air or a foreign body

What is a Transient ischemic attack (TIA)?

a type of stroke that has a sudden onset of neurologic impairment, it goes away within 24 hours but the patient is at risk of a stroke in the near future

What is the Cincinnati stroke scale/FAST?

They are a quick on-site stroke assessments that help providers or even civilians figure out if someone is having a stroke

What is Cushing triad?

Systolic Hypertension, bradycardia, irregular respirations.

What is subarachnoid hemorrhage? Where does this happen?

Bleeding between the arachnoid space and the pia mater.

What is a Generalized Seizure? Triggers?

It involves both hemispheres, and it causes loss of consciousness

What is a focal Seizure?

patient is awake, it involves only 1 hemisphere of the brain causing delays in responsiveness and changes in behavior.

What is Bell’s palsy? Compare to Stroke

Unilateral weakness or paralysis of the facial nerve.

What is Subdural Hematoma? Where does it happen?

buildup of blood in between the Dura mater and the arachnoid mater

What is epidural hematoma? Where does it happen?

It’s a buildup of blood between the skull and dura mater

Where is the liver & Functions?

The liver is in the right upper quadrant

Where is the Gall Bladder & Function?

Its below the liver; assist in digestion and absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins

Where is the pancreas & Function?

Posterior to the stomach between the first part of the duodenum and the spleen; It works in digestion as well as an exocrine/endocrine organ, secretes water and electrolytes, and secretes glucagon and insulin.

what is visceral Pain? how does it relate to specific abdominal regions?

Pain that vague and hard to localize

What is somatic/parietal pain?

Pain that can be precisely located because it goes as deep; known to be sharp or stabbing

What is referred pain?

Pain that comes from another location other than the original place

What makes up the upper GI tract?

It starts from the mouth, and moves all the down into the stomach

What is peptic Ulcer Disease"?

The stomach is normally acidic for protein digestion, if that balance is off it creates peptic ulcers that cause bleeding.

What is pancreatitis?

Its inflammation of the pancreas, and it starts digests itself.

What is cullen’s sign?

ecchymotic discoloration of the umbilicus

What is Grey-Turner’s Sign?

a ecchymotic discoloration around the flanks

What is Kehr sign?

pain in the left shoulder

What is appendicitis?

Inflammation of the appendix caused by an infection or buildup of fluid.

What is cholecystitis?

It means that there is gallstones in the bladder.

What is placenta Abruptio?

During the second half of the pregnancy the placenta separates prematurely causing emergent vaginal bleeding

What is Placenta previa?

When the placenta becomes implanted in the cervical opening

What is preeclampsia?

Its a life threatening complication of a pregnancy where hypertension happens and also protein in the urine

What is an etopic pregnancy?

Implantation of the fertilized egg outside the ovum

What is acute renal failure?

Its where the kidneys are failing, mainly caused by autoimmune disease, diabetes and uncontrolled hypertension

What is Chronic Renal failure?

Permanent lost of renal function, dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed at this point.

What are kidney stones?

calcium buildup stones from a metabolic abnormality.

What is the pituitary gland?

its the master gland, it tells the other endocrine glands what to do

What is the hypothalamus?

Its superior to the pituitary gland and it monitors body conditions and homeostasis

What is the thyroid?

Lies anterior part of the neck below larynx; it maintains homeostasis as well and secretes T3 and T4 that affects tissue and organs

What is Glucagon?

It helps produce more glucose

What is insulin?

It drives glucose into the cells

What is glucose?

a vital fuel for metabolic process in organs

What does polyuria mean?

Excessive urination

What does polyphagia?

Excessive eating

What does polydipsia mean?

Excessive thirst

What is rhabdomyolysis?

A breakdown of muscle tissue that causes myoglobin to be released into the bloodstream causing kidney damage

What is hyperthyroidism?

Hyper activity in the thyroid gland; hyper metabolic rate

What is hypothyroidism?

Endocrine dysfunction, absent secretion of thyroid hormones

What is diabetes mellitus?

a common condition caused by a defect in insulin production, action or both.

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Not able to make insulin at all and needs daily insulin administration

What is Type 2 diabetes?

insulin resistance and failing of the pancreas making insulin.

What is gestational diabetes?

Glucose intolerance in pregnant, similar to type 2

What is hypoglycemia?

It refers to low blood sugar

What is the dose for IV administration of glucose?

50ML through IV

What is dextrose?

What is Normal sailine?

What is DKA (Diabetes Ketoacidosis)

What are buffers?

What are the kidneys? how do they relate to bicarbonate and hydrogen?

What is respiratory acidosis?

What is respiratory alkalosis?

What is metabolic acidosis?

What is metabolic alkalosis?

What is an infectious disease?

What is a communicable disease?

What are the routes of transmission?

What are infectious agents?

What are the stages of the infectious process?

What is CDC?

What is OSHA?

What is FDA?

what is a epidemic?

What is a pandemic?

What is an endemic?

What is the chain of infection?

what are antibodies?

what are antigens?

what is covid-19?

What is Influenza?

What is pneumonia?

What is RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)?

What is tuberculosis?

What is meningitis?

What is hepatitis B?

What is hepatitis C?

What is hepatitis A?

What is norovirus?

What is E. Coli?

What is C-Diff?