Chapter 15 Flashcards
aneurysm
A swelling or enlargement of part of a blood vessel, resulting from weakening of the vessel wall
aphasia
The inability to understand and/or produce speech
aura
A sensation experienced prior to a seizure; serves as a warning sign that a seizure is about to occur
cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
An interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in the loss of brain function. Also called a stroke.
coma
A state of profound unconsciousness from which one cannot be roused
dysarthria
Slurred speech
embolus
Clotting that forms in a remote area and travels to the site of blockage
febrile seizures
Seizures that result from sudden high fevers, particularly in children
generalized seizure
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
hemiparesis
Weakness on one side of the body
hemorrhagic stroke
One of the two main types of stoke; occurs as a result of bleeding inside the brain
hypoglycemia
A condition characterized by a low blood glucose level
incontinence
Loss of bowel and/or bladder control; may be the result of a generalized seizure
ischemia
A lack of oxygen in the cells of the brain that causes them to not function properly
ischemic stroke
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
partial seizure
A seizure affecting a limited portion of the brain
postictal state
A period following a seizure that lasts between 5 and 30 minutes; characterized by labored respirations and some degree of altered mental status
seizure
Generalized, uncoordinated muscular activity associated with loss of consciousness; a convulsion
status epilepticus
A condition in which seizures recur every few minutes or last more than 30 minutes
stroke
An interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in the loss of brain function; also called a cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
thrombosis
Clotting of the cerebral arteries that may result in the interruption of cerebral blood flow and subsequent stroke
tonic-clonic seizure
A type of seizure that features rhythmic back-and-forth motion of an extremity and body stiffness
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
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
