Mr. Brown was admitted from the emergency department, and you are completing his physical examination. His pupils are 2 mm bilaterally, and you notice that they fail to dilate when the penlight is moved away. This is characteristic in patients who are or have been:
A) in a coma.
B) taking sympathomimetic drugs (cocaine).
C) taking opioid drugs (morphine).
D) treated for head trauma.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pupil constriction to less than 2 mm is called miosis. With miosis, the pupils fail to dilate in the dark, a common result of opioid ingestion or the use of drops for glaucoma. Pupils are usually dilated greater than 6 mm in a patient described in the other choices.

Mr Brown Was Admitted from the Emergency Department, and You