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