1.1 Clinical: Intro to Neuro Flashcards
Encephalopathy. what does it affect?
- “disease of the brain” generally in its entirety (both cerebral hemispheres).
- affects the function or structure of the brain
Huntington Disease
- genetic encephalopathy
- begins at age 30-40
- progressive autosomal dominant disease;
- personality changes, movement disorder, gait disturbances –> bedridden and death ~ 15 years after symptoms begin
Rett Syndrome: what is it? cause? progression?
- genetic disorder (Genetic but not inherited) almost exclusive to females: (XX vs. male XY)
- progressive symptoms start ~ age 12-18 months: deterioration of memory, movements, coordination, communication, seizures
Frontal lobe
organizing, planning, problem solving, behavioral/impulse control, personality
Frontal Cortex
personality, problem solving, spontaneity, initiation, judgment, impulse control, social and sexual behavior
Temporal Lobes
processing auditory information, comprehension of meaningful speech (mainly left hemispheric); memory, visual object recognition and long term storage of sensory input.
Parietal lobe
processing of sensory information of touch (right side of brain affects sensation on left side of body, and vice versa) also, taste, temperature, language processing/integration;
Hemispatial Neglect
usually involves the Right Parietal Cortex with neglect usually to the contralateral side.
Apraxia
Usually involves the left parietal lobe;
An inability to carry out a task despite understanding the command, having the motor function and the will to do so.
Occipital Lobes
Primary visual cortex (visual perception). Also Association areas with other lobes (frontal, parietal and temporal)
Limbic System
“primitive” brain; produces emotional/instinctual responses
Hippocampus
essential to formation of lasting memories.
Thalamus
relays sensory information (vision, hearing taste, touch)
Hypothalamus
control center for emotions, organizes behaviors, hormone release
Cerebellum
at base of brain; regulates muscular coordination, tone, posture, balance, sensory perception. Has greatest concentration of neurons of any brain structure.
Midbrain
upper cranial nerves nuclei, relay station for auditory and visual information, finer motor function (red nucleus, substantia nigra)
Brown- Sequard Syndrome:
- Unique spinal cord pathology
- Presentation: motor loss opposite sensory loss
temporal lobe: left side
perception of words, processing details, memory, auditory learning, complex memories, visual and auditory processing
temporal lobe: right side
perception of melodies, reading facial expressions, visual learning.
temporal lobe: left side
perception of words, processing details, memory, auditory learning, complex memories, visual and auditory processing
temporal lobe: right side
perception of melodies, reading facial expressions, visual learning.
parietal lobe dysfunction, generally
inability to write, lack of recognition, spatial dysfunction (right/left confusion), difficulties with self perception (hemi-neglect)
occipital lobe lesions:
Lesions can cause color agnosia, movement agnosia, agraphia. visual disturbances
Sensory pathways
- from the peripheral nerves thru the spinal cord to the thalamus then brain
- Pain/temperature (anteriolaeral aka spinothalamic tract) crosses right away in spinal cord
- vibration/position/deep touch (dorsal column) crosses higher up (low Medulla).
