Brain/Spinal Injury

Question 1

ataxia

Answer 1

impaired motor coordination caused by injury to cerebellum

Question 2

concussion

Answer 2

• mild head injury caused by head coming to sudden stop as it hits an object (and damage from recoil against opposite side of skull)
• characterized by dizziness, brief LOC, etc
• transient symptoms, no permanent damage caused

Question 3

brain contusion

Answer 3

• severe head injury caused by head coming to sudden stop as it hits an object (and damage from recoil against opposite side of skull)
• causes significant tissue damage to brain & coma (can last for hours or lifetime)

Question 4

hemorrhage

Answer 4

ruptured blood vessel

Question 5

increased intracranial pressure

Answer 5

• caused by blood or other fluid accumulating within skull
• leads to compression of brain tissue,
• eventually, pressure forces brainstem down through foramen magnum, which is potentially fatal

Question 6

apraxia

Answer 6

impaired motor planning, such as from parkinson’s –> rigid movements, can’t execute motor plan

Question 7

CVA

Answer 7

• cerebrovascular accident aka stroke
• occurs when blood circulation is blocked in an area of the brain, causing tissue death
• severity will be based on size of vessel blocked
• use CT scan to identify

Question 8

ischemic stroke

Answer 8

• stroke caused by blood vessel blockage (from clot or fat deposit)

Question 9

TIA

Answer 9

• transient ischemic stroke
• very small clot temporarily blocks blood vessel
• once dissolves, stroke symptoms disappear

Question 10

hemorrhagic stroke

Answer 10

• caused by bleeding in brain (ruptured blood vessel)

Question 11

sciatica

Answer 11

• caused by increased pressure from surrounding muscles on sciatic nerve
• results in pain in lower pelvis + posterior thigh (along path of nerve)

Question 12

neural plasticity

Answer 12

when undamaged neurons nearby site of stroke sprout new branches, spread into the injured area to regain some of the lost function