Brain Damage and Plasticity Flashcards
- A type of brain damage caused by an interruption of the blood supply to the brain.
Stroke
- hardening of the arteries
Arteriosclerosis
A condition caused by bleeding in the brain.
Cerebral hemorrhage
- A balloonlike bulge in the wall of an artery.
Aneurysm
- Blockages of blood vessels. Inadequate blood flow = low
oxygen.
Ischemia
A blockage that doesn’t move from its point of origin in a blood vessel.
Thrombosis
A blood vessel blockage that originated elsewhere and traveled to its current location.
Embolism
- penetration of the skull
Open Head Injuries
- closed head injuries (unconscious or coma). The severity of the consequences is highly dependent on the areas of the brain that are affected.
Concussions
- the site of a blow
Coup
- The force of the blow pushes the brain against the side of the skull opposite the coup producing a second area of damage.
Countercoup
bleeding because of a coup.
Subdural hematoma -
A type of brain damage caused by repeated concussions.
Chronic traumatic brain injury
(CTBI)
boxer’s syndrome. Slurred speech, memory impairment, personality changes, lack of coordination, and a Parkinson-like syndrome.
Dementia pugilistica
- An independent growth of tissue that lacks purpose.
Tumor
A type of abnormal cell growth that, lacking boundaries, invades the surrounding tissue and is very likely to recur following surgical removal.
Malignant tumor
- The migration of cancerous cells from one part of the body to another.
Metastasis
A tumor arising from the tissue of the meninges.
Meningioma
A tumor arising from the tissue of the meninges.
Meningioma
are uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain that are correlated with changes in consciousness.
Seizures
- A disorder characterized by repeated seizure activity in the brain. Experience repetitive, unprovoked seizures.
Epilepsy
- A disorder characterized by repeated seizure activity in the brain. Experience repetitive, unprovoked seizures.
Epilepsy
A seizure that has a clear area of origin, or focus. Some of it is preceded by an aura or premonition of the impending seizure.
Partial seizure
cause movements or sensations appropriate to the location. No change in consciousness.
Simple partial seizure
- confusion and change in consciousness
Complex partial seizure
- A seizure that affects the brain symmetrically without a clear point of origin.
Generalized seizure
A generalized seizure that results in violent convulsions; also known as a tonic-clonic seizure.
Grand mal seizure
10 seconds of loss of consciousness, cessation of breathing, and intense muscular contraction
Tonic phase
1 minute violent rhythmic contraction resulting in broken bones and physical injuries.
Clonic phase
A mild type of generalized seizure in which the patient experiences a brief period of unconsciousness.
Petit mal seizure
Cause: Pork tapeworm, Taenia solium
Symptoms: Sudden-onset partial seizures, Nausea, vomiting, headaches, Confusion, inattention, poor balance
Treatments: Antihelminthic (anti-worm) medication, Medication for seizure control, Surgery to remove encysted worms
Neurocysticercosis
Cause: Viruses
Symptoms: Brain inflammation,
Symptoms vary from mild to very severe, including death
Treatments: No treatments currently available. Preventive measures such as mosquito eradication
Encephalitis
A human TSE that results in a progressively degenerative condition characterized by movement and cognitive disorder.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)
- A human TSE identified among the Fore of New Guinea, related to their practice of cannibalism.
Kuru
- A protein particle that lacks nucleic acid and is believed to be responsible for TSEs.
Prion
