Chapter 15

Question 1

aneurysm

Answer 1

A swelling or enlargement of part of a blood vessel, resulting from weakening of the vessel wall

Question 2

aphasia

Answer 2

The inability to understand and/or produce speech

Question 3

aura

Answer 3

A sensation experienced prior to a seizure; serves as a warning sign that a seizure is about to occur

Question 4

cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

Answer 4

An interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in the loss of brain function. Also called a stroke.

Question 5

coma

Answer 5

A state of profound unconsciousness from which one cannot be roused

Question 6

dysarthria

Answer 6

Slurred speech

Question 7

embolus

Answer 7

Clotting that forms in a remote area and travels to the site of blockage

Question 8

febrile seizures

Answer 8

Seizures that result from sudden high fevers, particularly in children

Question 9

generalized seizure

Answer 9

A seizure characterized by severe twitching of all of the body’s muscles that may last several minutes or more; formerly known as a grand mal seizure

Question 10

hemiparesis

Answer 10

Weakness on one side of the body

Question 11

hemorrhagic stroke

Answer 11

One of the two main types of stoke; occurs as a result of bleeding inside the brain

Question 12

hypoglycemia

Answer 12

A condition characterized by a low blood glucose level

Question 13

incontinence

Answer 13

Loss of bowel and/or bladder control; may be the result of a generalized seizure

Question 14

ischemia

Answer 14

A lack of oxygen in the cells of the brain that causes them to not function properly

Question 15

ischemic stroke

Answer 15

One of the two main types of stoke; occurs when blood flow to a particular part of the brain is cut off by a blockage (eg a clot) inside a blood vessel

Question 16

partial seizure

Answer 16

A seizure affecting a limited portion of the brain

Question 17

postictal state

Answer 17

A period following a seizure that lasts between 5 and 30 minutes; characterized by labored respirations and some degree of altered mental status

Question 18

seizure

Answer 18

Generalized, uncoordinated muscular activity associated with loss of consciousness; a convulsion

Question 19

status epilepticus

Answer 19

A condition in which seizures recur every few minutes or last more than 30 minutes

Question 20

stroke

Answer 20

An interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in the loss of brain function; also called a cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

Question 21

thrombosis

Answer 21

Clotting of the cerebral arteries that may result in the interruption of cerebral blood flow and subsequent stroke

Question 22

tonic-clonic seizure

Answer 22

A type of seizure that features rhythmic back-and-forth motion of an extremity and body stiffness

Question 23

transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Answer 23

A disorder of the brain in which brain cells temporarily stop working because of insufficient oxygen, causing strokelike symptoms that resolve completely within 24 hours of onset