Final answer:
False. Isolated intracranial injuries themselves do not cause shock. Neurogenic shock can occur with cranial or high spinal injuries and is characterized by decreased arterial vascular tone.
Step-by-step explanation:
False. Isolated intracranial injuries themselves do not cause shock, regardless of whether the brainstem is injured. Shock can occur as a result of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) if there is significant blood loss or other systemic complications, but it is not directly caused by the injury to the brain itself.
Neurogenic shock, on the other hand, is a type of shock that can occur with cranial or high spinal injuries that damage the cardiovascular centers in the medulla oblongata or the nervous fibers originating from this region. It is characterized by decreased arterial vascular tone and results in hypotension and bradycardia.
A narrowed pulse pressure is not typically seen in neurogenic shock because arterial vascular tone is decreased, resulting in a decreased systolic pressure and diastolic pressure, maintaining a relatively narrow pulse pressure.