Chapter 10 (Vocabulary) Flashcards
Pain in the head.
cephalalgia
A headache characterized by throbbing pain on one side of the head & may be preceded by a warning aura (a visual disturbance perceived by the patient)
migraine headache [Primarily affect women & are sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting & sensitivity to light and sound.]
Intensely painful headaches that affect one side of the head and often occur in groups or clusters.
cluster headaches [Primarily affect men & are associated with tearing of the eyes & nasal congestion. Named for their repeated occurrence in groups or clusters.]
A congenial herniation of brain substances (tissue) through a gap in the skull.
encephalocele [aka craniocele]
Protrusion of a structure from its normal position.
herniation
The congenial herniation of the meninges through a defect in the skull or spinal column.
meningocele
A condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates within the ventricles of the brain. This condition can occur at birth or develop later on in life from obstructions related to meningitis, brain tumors, or other causes.
hydrocephalus
A common, slow growing and usually benign tumor of the meninges.
meningioma
Inflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord. This condition, which can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection elsewhere in the body, is characterized by intense headache & flu-like symptoms.
meningitis [aka infectious meningitis. Bacterial meningitis, which is less common, is sometimes fatal.]
The mental activities associated with thinking, learning and memory.
cognition
A memory disorder, usually associated with recently acquired information, which may be an early predictor of Alzheimer’s disease.
mild cognitive impairment
A slowly progressive decline in mental abilities including memory, thinking, and judgement that is often accompanied by personality changes.
dementia [Senile dementia is dementia of the aged.]
A form of dementia caused by a restriction of blood to the brain.
vascular dementia [Although Alzheimer’s disease is the primary cause of dementia, vascular dementia accounts for about 10-20% of all cases.]
Inflammation of the brain, can be caused by a viral infection such as rabies.
encephalitis
A potentially serious or deadly disorder in children that is characterized by vomiting & confusion. This syndrome sometimes follows a viral illness in which the child was treated with aspirin.
Reye’s syndrome (RIZE) (RS)
An acute and potentially fatal infection of the central nervous system caused by a toxin produced by the this bacteria.
tetanus [Tetanus can be prevented through immunization. In unimmunized people, this condition is typically acquired through a deep puncture wound.]
A complex neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics, grunts and compulsive utterances that sometimes include obscenities.
tourette syndrome (TS)
An umbrella term for disorders in which there is a progressive loss of the structure or functions of neurons.
neurondegenerative disease [example: Huntington’s disease is a genetic disorder that is classified as a neurondegenerative disease - chp 2.]
A group of disorders involving the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. It is the leading cause of dementia and is marked by progressive deterioration that affects both the memory & reasoning capabilities of an individual.
Alzheimer’s disease
A chronic, degenerative central nervous system disorder characterized by the fine muscle tremors, rigidity & a slow or shuffling gait. Gait describes the manner of walking. This slow or shuffling gait is caused by gradual progressive loss of control over movements due to inadequate levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain.
Parkinson’s disease
A memory disturbance marked by a total or partial inability to recall past experiences. This condition can be caused by a brain injury, illness, or a psychological disturbance.
amnesia
A violent shake up or jarring of the brain. May result in a temporary loss of awareness and function.
concussion
Bruising of brain tissue as the result of a head injury that causes the brain to bounce against the rigid bone of the skull.
cerebral contusion
A collection of blood trapped in the tissues of the brain. Can be caused by a major or even minor head injury.
cranial hematoma [Named for their location, the types of cranial hematomas include an epidural hematoma located above the dura mater or subdural hematoma, which is located below the dura mater.]
A blow to the head or a penetrating head injury that damages the brain. Not all blows to the head result in damage to the brain. When an injury does occur, it can range from mild, with only brief change in mental status, to severe, with longer lasting effects.
traumatic brain injury
Describes an injury occurring within the skull near the point of impact, such as hitting the windshield in an auto accident.
coup
An injury that occurs beneath the skull opposite to the area of impact.
contrecoup, also described as a counterblow
Describes the result of a child being violently shaken by someone. This action can cause brain injury, blindness, fractures, seizures, paralysis, and death.
shaken baby syndrome
Terms used to describe the measurement of response to arousal and stimulus.
levels of consciousness (LOC)
Refers to the decrease in consciousness due to injury, disease, or substances such as medication, drugs, or alcohol.
altered levels of consciousness (ALOC)
The state of being awake, alert, aware, and responding appropriately.
conscious
A state of being unaware and unable to respond to any stimuli including pain.
unconscious
A lower level of consciousness marked by listless, drowsiness, and apathy. As used here, apathy means indifference and a reduced level of activity. The term lethargic refers to a person who is at this level of consciousness.
lethargy
An unresponsive state from which a person can be aroused only briefly despite vigorous, repeated attempts.
stupor
The brief loss of consciousness caused by the decreased flow of blood to the brain.
syncope, aka fainting
A deep state of unconsciousness marked by the absence of spontaneous eye movements, no response to painful stimuli, and no vocalization.
coma [Comatose refers to a person who is in a coma.]
A type of coma in which the patient exhibits alternating sleep and wake cycles; however, the individual is unconscious even when appearing to be awake.
persistent vegetative state
An acute condition of confusion, disorientation, disordered thinking and memory, agitation, and hallucinations. This condition is usually caused by a treatable physical condition, such as high fever.
delirium [An individual suffering from this condition is described as being delirious.]
An abnormal growth located inside the skull.
brain tumor
This type of brain tumor destroys brain tissue. When this cancer originates in the brain, it is considered to the be primary site. If this cancer metastasizes (spreads) to the brain from another body system, it is considered to be a secondary site.
invasive malignant brain tumor
This type of brain tumor does not invade the brain tissue; however, because this growth is surrounded by rigid bone, as the tumor enlarges, it can damage the brain tissue by placing pressure against the tissue & by increasing the intracranial pressure.
benign brain tumor
The amount of pressure inside the skull.
intracranial pressure [Elevated intracranial pressure can be due to a tumor, an injury, or improper drainage of cerebrospinal fluid.
Damage to the brain that occurs when the blood flow to the brain is disrupted because a blood vessel is either blocked or has ruptured.
cerebrovascular accident (CVA), aka stroke [Strokes are currently the third-leading cause of death and the primary cause of long-term disability.
Strokes, CVA (cerebrovascular accident) - damage to the right side of the brain produces symptoms on the ? side of the body? Damage to the left side of the brain produces symptoms on the ? side of the body?
left side
right side
Damage that occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked by the narrowing or blockage of a carotid artery. This is the most common stroke in older people.
ischemic stroke [Ischemic means pertaining to the disruption of the blood supply.]
A type of ischemic stroke that occurs when a blood clot forms in a carotid artery and blocks it.
thrombotic stroke
A type of ischemic stroke that occurs when a blood clot or other debris forms in a blood vessel somewhere other than the brain and travels through the bloodstream to lodge in the narrower brain arteries.
embolic stroke
A temporary interruption in the blood supply to the brain. Symptoms include numbness, blurred vision, dizziness, or loss of balance. It can pass in less than an hour; however, this incident is often a warning sign that the individual is at risk for a more serious and debilitating stroke.
transient ischemic attack (TIA) [Transient means passing quickly.]
The loss of the ability to speak, write, and/or comprehend the written or spoken word, which is often caused by brain damage.
aphasia
Damage to the brain that occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks. A bleed also occurs when an aneurysm within the brain ruptures. This type of stroke is less common than ischemic strokes and is often fatal.
hemorrhagic stroke, aka bleed [A hemorrhagic stroke affects the area of the brain damaged by the leaking blood. An aneurysm is a localized, weak, balloon-like enlargement of an artery wall.]
An abnormal connection between the arteries and vein in the brain is usually congenial and can rupture suddenly at any age; may cause a hemorrhagic stroke.
arteriovenous malformation
The prolonged or abnormal inability to sleep. This condition is usually a symptom of another problem such as depression, pain or excessive caffeine.
insomnia
A sleep disorder consisting of sudden and uncontrollable brief episodes of falling asleep during the day.
narcolepsy
A sufficient lack of restorative sleep over a cumulative period so as to cause physical or psychiatric symptoms and affect routine performance or tasks.
sleep deprivation
The condition of walking or performing some other activity without awakening.
somnambulism, aka sleepwalking or noctambulism
Inflammation of the spinal cord; inflammation of bone marrow.
myelitis
A tumor of the spinal cord. Also means an abnormal proliferation of bone marrow tissue.
myelosis
A highly contagious viral infection of the brainstem and spinal cord that sometimes leads to paralysis.
poliomyelitis [There is no known cure of polio; however, it can be prevented through vaccination.]
The recurrence later in life of some polio symptoms in individuals who have had the childhood poliomyelitis and have recovered from it.
post-polio syndrome
Paralysis resulting from damage to the spinal cord that prevents nerve impulses from being transmitted below the level of the injury.
spinal cord injuries
Inflammation of the root of a spinal nerve that causes pain and numbness radiating down the affected limb. This term usually applies to the portion of the root that lies btw the spinal cord and the intervertebral canal of the spinal column.
radiculitis, aka pinched nerve
Nerve pain caused by pressure on the spinal nerve roots in the neck region.
cervical radiculopathy
Nerve pain in the lower back caused by muscle spasms or by nerve root irritation from the compression of vertebral disks such as a herniated disk.
lumbar radiculopathy
A progressive autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation that causes demyelination of the myelin sheath. This scars the brain, spinal cord, & optic nerves & disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses. This damage leaves the patient with varying degrees of pain plus physical and cognitive problems.
multiple sclerosis [Disease is characterized by periods of exacerbations, which are episodes of worsening symptoms that are also referred to as flares. Between episodes, the patient my be in remission - a time during which the symptoms ease, but the disease has not been cured. Demyelination is the loss of patches of the protective myelin sheath.
A rapidly progressive neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. Patients affected with this condition become progressively weaker until they are completely paralyzed and die.
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig’s disease
Temporary paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve that causes paralysis only on the affected side of the face. In addition, paralysis symptoms can include the inability to close the eye, pain, tearing, drooling, hypersensitivity to sound in the affected ear, and impairment of taste.
Bell’s palsy
Inflammation of the myelin sheath of peripheral nerves, characterized by rapidly worsening muscle weakness that may lead to temporary paralysis. This condition is an autoimmune reaction that can occur after certain viral infections or an immunization.
Guillain-Barre’ syndrome
Inflammation of a nerve accompanied by pain and sometimes loss of function.
neuritis
Inflammation of the sciatic nerve that results in pain, burning, and tingling along the course of the affected sciatic nerve through the thigh, leg, and foot.
sciatica
Is characterized by severe lightening-like pain due to an inflammation of the fifth cranial nerve. These sudden, intense, brief attacks of sharp pain affect the cheek, lips, and gums only on the side of the face innervated by the affected nerve.
Trigeminal neuralgia
A condition characterized by poor muscle control, spasticity, speech defects, and other neurologic deficiencies due to damage that affects the cerebrum. Spasticity is a condition in which certain muscles are continuously contracted.
cerebral palsy [Palsy means paralysis of a body part that is often accompanied by loss of feeling and uncontrolled body movements, such as shaking. Occurs most frequently in premature or low-birth-weight infants. Also caused by an injury that occurs during pregnancy, birth, or soon after birth.
A chronic neurologic condition characterized by recurrent episodes of seizures of varying severity.
epilepsy, aka seizure disorder [Epilepsy can usually be controlled with medication.]
A sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain that affects how a person feels or acts for a short time. Some can hardly be noticed, whereas others cause a brief loss of consciousness. Symptoms are different disorders that can affect the brain and also can be caused by extreme high fever, brain injury, or brain lesions.
seizure
Also called a grand mal seizure, involves the entire body. In the this ____phase of the seizure, the body becomes rigid, and in the ____ phase, there is uncontrolled jerking.
tonic-clonic seizure
A brief disturbance in brain function in which there is a loss of awareness often described as a starting episode.
absence seizure, aka petit mal seizure
Persistent, severe, burning pain that usually follows an injury to a sensory nerve.
causalgia
A condition of abnormal and excessive sensitivity to touch, pain or other sensory stimuli.
hyperesthesia
A burning or prickling sensation that is usually felt in the hands, arms, legs, or feet., but can also occur in other parts of the body. These sensations may constitute the first symptoms of peripheral neuropathy or may be a drug side effect.
paresthesia
A disorder of the peripheral nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord, producing pain, loss of sensation, and inability to control muscles, particularly in the arms or legs.
peripheral neuropathy
Any disease or damage to a nerve?
Damage to a singular peripheral nerve, as in carpal tunnel syndrome?
Multiple peripheral nerves are damaged. Diabetes is a common cause, along with trauma, vitamin deficiencies & alcoholism.
Neuropathy
Mononeuropathy
Polyneuropathy
A neurological disorder characterized by uncomfortable feelings in the legs, producing a strong urge to move them. The sensation is usually most noticeable at night or when trying to rest.
restless leg syndrome (RLS)
