A 21-year-old patient has a head injury resulting from trauma and is unconscious. There are no other injuries. During the assessment what would the nurse expect to find when testing the patient's deep tendon reflexes?
a. Reflexes will be normal.
b. Reflexes cannot be elicited.
c. All reflexes will be diminished but present.
d. Some reflexes will be present, depending on the area of injury.
ANS: A
A reflex is a defense mechanism of the nervous system. It operates below the level of conscious control and permits a quick reaction to potentially painful or damaging situations.
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