Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) Practice Test

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Prepare for the PHTLS Test with comprehensive flashcards and multiple choice questions, enhanced with insightful hints and explanations. Ace your test with confidence!

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A patient struck in the back of the head with a baseball bat may sustain a cerebral contusion to which area of the brain?

Frontal and occipital
Occipital
Parietal
Frontal

The correct answer is: Occipital

A cerebral contusion typically occurs at the site of impact as well as the opposite side due to the brain moving within the skull during a traumatic event. When a patient is struck in the back of the head, the occipital area is directly impacted, making it a prime location for a contusion due to the force of the blow. The occipital lobe is responsible for processing visual information, and any injury in this area can lead to visual disturbances or other neurological deficits. While contusions can occur in other areas of the brain depending on the specifics of the trauma, the direct impact to the occipital region makes it the most likely site for a contusion in this scenario. Therefore, the correct answer identifies the most relevant area of the brain likely affected by the described injury.