Chapter 66 Vocab Flashcards
Akinetic Mutism
Unresponsiveness to the environment; the patient makes no movement or sound but sometimes opens the eye
Altered Level of Consciousness
When a patient is not oriented, does not follow commands, or needs persistent stimuli to achieve a state of alertness
Autoregulation
Describes the ability of cerebral blood vessels to dilate or constrict to maintain stable cerebral blood flow despite changes in systemic arterial blood pressure
Brain Death
Irreversible loss of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem
Coma
Prolonged state of unconsciousness
Cortical Spreading Depression
Depolarization of neuronal cells, associated with migraine
Craniectomy
A surgical procedure that involves removal of a portion of the skull
Craniotomy
A surgical procedure that involves entry into the cranial vault
Cushing’s Triad
Three classic signs–bradycardia, hypertension, and bradypnea–seen with pressure on the medulla as a result of brain stem herniation
Cushing’s Response
The brain’s attempt to restore blood flow by increasing arterial pressure to overcome the increased intracranial pressure
Decerebration
An abnormal body posture associated with a severe brain injury, characterize by an extreme extension of the upper and lower extremities
Decortication
An abnormal posture associated with severe brain injury, characterized by abnormal flexion of the upper extremities and extension of the lower extremities
Epidural Monitor
A sensor placed between the skull and the dura to monitor intracranial pressure
Epilepsy
A group of syndromes characterized by paroxysmal transient disturbances of brain function
Fiberoptic Monitor
A system that uses light refraction to determine intracranial pressure
Herniation
Abnormal protrusion of tissue through a defect or natural opening
Intracranial Pressure
Pressure exerted by the volume of intracranial contents within the cranial vault
Locked-In Syndrome
A condition resulting from a lesion in the pons in which the patient lacks all distal motor activity (paralysis) but cognition is intact
Microdialysis
A procedure in which an intracranial catheter is inserted near an injured area of brain to measure lactate, pyruvate, glutamate, and glucose level
Migraine Headache
A severe, unrelenting headache often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances
Minimally Conscious State
A severe, unrelenting headache often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances
Monro-Kellie Hypothesis
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
Persistent Vegetative State
A condition in which the patient is wakeful but devoid of conscious content, without cognitive or affective mental function
Primary Headache
A headache for which no specific organic cause can be found
Secondary Headache
A headache identified as a symptom of another organic disorder (e.g., brain tumor, hypertension)
Seizures
A paroxysmal transient disturbance of the brain resulting from a discharge of abnormal electrical activity
Status Epilepticus
An episode in which the patient experiences multiple seizure bursts with no recovery time in between
Subarachnoid Screw or Bolt
A device placed into the subarachnoid space to measure intracranial pressure
Transsphenoidal
A surgical approach to the pituitary via the sphenoid sinuses
Ventriculostomy
A catheter placed in one of the lateral ventricles of the brain to measure intracranial pressure and allow for drainage of fluid
