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If an unconscious patient has fixed pupils at midposition, what does this suggest?

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Final answer:

If an unconscious patient has fixed pupils at midposition, it suggests damage to the oculomotor nerve or Edinger-Westphal nucleus. The direct and consensual reflexes can help determine the specific location of the damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

If an unconscious patient has fixed pupils at midposition, this suggests damage to the oculomotor nerve or Edinger-Westphal nucleus. When light is shined in one eye, a normal response would be for both pupils to constrict. However, if the direct reflex is lost and the consensual reflex is intact, it indicates damage to the right oculomotor nerve or Edinger-Westphal nucleus. On the other hand, if shining light in one eye elicits a response in only one eye, the problem lies with the oculomotor system.

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