Chapter 6: Brain Damage & Plasticity Flashcards
A type of brain damage caused by an interruption of the blood supply to the brain.
Stroke.
Risk factors of stroke.
Age, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and the use of alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, and other drugs.
Hardening of the arteries.
Arteriosclerosis.
A condition caused by bleeding in the brain.
Cerebral hemorrhage.
A balloon-like bulge in the wall of an artery.
Aneurysm.
Blockages of blood vessels, leading to inadequate blood flow.
Ischemia.
An acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both.
Traumatic brain injury.
Penetration of the skull.
Open head injuries.
Closed head injuries (unconscious or coma).
Concussions.
The site of a blow.
Coup.
The force of the blow pushes the brain against the side of the skull opposite the coup producing a second area of damage.
Countercoup.
Bleeding because of a coup.
Subdural hematoma.
Outcomes of this include lack of concentration, reduction in processing speed, and deficits in higher-order cognitive functions such as attention and memory.
Post-concussion syndrome (PCS).
A type of brain damage caused by repeated concussions.
Chronic traumatic brain injury (CTBI).
Also known as “Boxer’s syndrome.” Symptoms include slurred speech, memory impairment, personality changes, lack of coordination, and a Parkinson like syndrome.
Dementia pugilistica.
An independent growth of tissue that lacks purpose.
Tumor.
A type of abnormal cell growth that, lacking boundaries, invades the surrounding tissue and is very likely to recur following surgical removal.
Malignant tumor.
The migration of cancerous cells from one part of the body to another.
Metastasis.
An abnormal cell growth that develops within its own membrane and is unlikely to recur following surgery to remove it.
Benign tumor.
A tumor that develops from glial cells.
Glioma.
A tumor arising from the tissue of the meninges.
Meningioma.
Four (4) classifications of tumors.
- Grade I tumors
- Grade II tumors
- Grade III tumors
- Grade IV tumors
Benign, slow-growing, and respond well to surgery.
Grade I tumors.
Malignant, have a higher likelihood of recurrence following surgery, but grow relatively slowly.
Grade II tumors.
Malignant and require more aggressive therapies.
Grade III tumors.
Rapidly fatal.
Grade IV tumors.
Five (5) treatments for tumors.
- Surgeries
- Radiation
- Chemotherapy
- Thalidomide (to starve tumors)
- Mixed methods of treatment
These are uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain that are correlated with changes in consciousness, caused by brain injury, infection, drug withdrawal, and others.
Seizures.
A disorder characterized by repeated seizure activity in the brain.
Epilepsy.
Seizures when exposed to flashing lights of specific intensities and frequencies.
Photosensitivity epilepsy.
A seizure that has a clear area of origin, or focus.
Partial seizure.
A premonition of an impending seizure.
Aura.
A type of partial seizure that causes movements or sensations appropriate to the location. No change in consciousness.
Simple partial seizure.
A type of partial seizure that causes confusion and change of consciousness.
Complex partial seizure.
A seizure that affects the brain symmetrically without a clear point of origin.
Generalized seizure.
A generalized seizure that results in violent convulsions; also known as a tonic-clonic seizure.
Grand mal seizure.
10 seconds of loss of consciousness, cessation of breathing, and intense muscular contraction.
Tonic phase.
1 minute violent rhythmic contraction resulting in broken bones and physical injuries.
Clonic phase.
A mild type of generalized seizure in which the patient experiences a brief period of unconsciousness. Absence seizure for 10 seconds.
Petit mal seizure.
Treatment for Epilepsy.
- Anti epilepsy drugs (AED)
- Surgeries
- Ketogenic diet (high fat low carb)
A brain infection caused by the pork tapeworm and Taenia solium. Symptoms: Sudden-onset partial seizures, nausea, vomiting, headaches, confusion, inattention, poor balance.
Neurocysticercosis.
A brain infection caused by viruses with the following main symptom: brain inflammation. Symptoms vary from mild to very severe, including death.
Encephalitis.
A brain infection caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi with the following symptoms: flulike symptoms, neck stiffness, aversion to bright light, and drowsiness.
Meningitis.
A brain infection caused by the HIV virus with the following symptoms: depressive symptoms, motor disturbance, and cognitive disturbance.
AIDS dementia complex.
A brain infection possibly caused by prions or slow-acting viruses with the following symptoms: paranoia, anxiety, depression, dementia, motor disturbances, and death.
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).
A human TSE that results in a progressively degenerative condition characterized by movement and cognitive disorder.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).
A human TSE identified among the Fore of New Guinea, related to their practice of cannibalism.
Kuru.
A protein particle that lacks nucleic acid and is believed to be responsible for TSEs.
Prion.
