Chapter 66 Vocab

Question 1

Akinetic Mutism

Answer 1

Unresponsiveness to the environment; the patient makes no movement or sound but sometimes opens the eye

Question 2

Altered Level of Consciousness

Answer 2

When a patient is not oriented, does not follow commands, or needs persistent stimuli to achieve a state of alertness

Question 3

Autoregulation

Answer 3

Describes the ability of cerebral blood vessels to dilate or constrict to maintain stable cerebral blood flow despite changes in systemic arterial blood pressure

Question 4

Brain Death

Answer 4

Irreversible loss of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem

Question 5

Coma

Answer 5

Prolonged state of unconsciousness

Question 6

Cortical Spreading Depression

Answer 6

Depolarization of neuronal cells, associated with migraine

Question 7

Craniectomy

Answer 7

A surgical procedure that involves removal of a portion of the skull

Question 8

Craniotomy

Answer 8

A surgical procedure that involves entry into the cranial vault

Question 9

Cushing’s Triad

Answer 9

Three classic signs–bradycardia, hypertension, and bradypnea–seen with pressure on the medulla as a result of brain stem herniation

Question 10

Cushing’s Response

Answer 10

The brain’s attempt to restore blood flow by increasing arterial pressure to overcome the increased intracranial pressure

Question 11

Decerebration

Answer 11

An abnormal body posture associated with a severe brain injury, characterize by an extreme extension of the upper and lower extremities

Question 12

Decortication

Answer 12

An abnormal posture associated with severe brain injury, characterized by abnormal flexion of the upper extremities and extension of the lower extremities

Question 13

Epidural Monitor

Answer 13

A sensor placed between the skull and the dura to monitor intracranial pressure

Question 14

Epilepsy

Answer 14

A group of syndromes characterized by paroxysmal transient disturbances of brain function

Question 15

Fiberoptic Monitor

Answer 15

A system that uses light refraction to determine intracranial pressure

Question 16

Herniation

Answer 16

Abnormal protrusion of tissue through a defect or natural opening

Question 17

Intracranial Pressure

Answer 17

Pressure exerted by the volume of intracranial contents within the cranial vault

Question 18

Locked-In Syndrome

Answer 18

A condition resulting from a lesion in the pons in which the patient lacks all distal motor activity (paralysis) but cognition is intact

Question 19

Microdialysis

Answer 19

A procedure in which an intracranial catheter is inserted near an injured area of brain to measure lactate, pyruvate, glutamate, and glucose level

Question 20

Migraine Headache

Answer 20

A severe, unrelenting headache often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances

Question 21

Minimally Conscious State

Answer 21

A severe, unrelenting headache often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances

Question 22

Monro-Kellie Hypothesis

Answer 22

The theory that states that due to limited space for expansion within the skull, an increase in any one of the cranial contents—brain tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid—causes a change in the volume of the others; also referred to as Monro-Kellie doctrine

Question 23

Persistent Vegetative State

Answer 23

A condition in which the patient is wakeful but devoid of conscious content, without cognitive or affective mental function

Question 24

Primary Headache

Answer 24

A headache for which no specific organic cause can be found

Question 25

Secondary Headache

Answer 25

A headache identified as a symptom of another organic disorder (e.g., brain tumor, hypertension)

Question 26

Seizures

Answer 26

A paroxysmal transient disturbance of the brain resulting from a discharge of abnormal electrical activity

Question 27

Status Epilepticus

Answer 27

An episode in which the patient experiences multiple seizure bursts with no recovery time in between

Question 28

Subarachnoid Screw or Bolt

Answer 28

A device placed into the subarachnoid space to measure intracranial pressure

Question 29

Transsphenoidal

Answer 29

A surgical approach to the pituitary via the sphenoid sinuses

Question 30

Ventriculostomy

Answer 30

A catheter placed in one of the lateral ventricles of the brain to measure intracranial pressure and allow for drainage of fluid