Chp. 12 Pathologies Flashcards
Absence seizure
type of epileptic seizure that lasts only a few seconds to half a minute, characterized by a loss of awareness and an absence of activity. It is formerly known as petit mal seizure
Aura
sensations such as seeing colors or smelling an unusual odor, that occur just prior to an epileptic seizure or migraine headache
Coma
profound unconsciousness resulting from an illness or injury
Conscious
condition of being awake and aware of surroundings
Convulsions
severe involuntary muscle contractions and relaxations. These have a variety of causes, such as epilepsy, fever, and toxic conditions
Delirium
abnormal mental state characterized by confusion, disorientation, and agitation
Dementia
: a progressive impairment of intellectual function that interferes with performing activities of daily living. Patients have little awareness of their conditions. Found in disorders such as Alzheimer’s
Palsy
: temporary or permanent loss of the ability to control movement
Paralysis
temporary or permanent loss of function or voluntary movemen
Syncope
fainting
Tremor
involuntary repetitive alternating movements of a part of the body
Dysphasia
difficulty communicating verbally or in writing
Hemiparesis
weakness of the loss of motion on one side of the body.
Hemiplegia
paralysis of one side of the body
Hyperesthesia
an abnormally heightened sense of feeling, sense of pain, or sensitivity to touch
Monoparesis
muscle weakness in one limb
Monoplegia
Paralysis of one limb
Paraplegia
Paralysis of the lower portion of the body and both legs
Paresthesia
Abnormal sensations such as burning or tingling
Quadriplegia
Paralysis of all four limbs
Semiconscious
state of being aware of surrounding and responding to stimuli only part of the time
Unconscious
state of being unaware of surrounding, with the inability to respond to stimuli
Focal seizure:
: Localized seizure often affecting one limb
Seizure
sudden, the uncontrollable onset of symptoms, such as in epileptic seizure
Tonic-clonic seizure:
Type of epileptic seizure characterized by a loss of consciousness and convulsions. The seizure alternates between strong continuous muscle spasms (tonic) and rhythmic muscle contraction and relaxation (clonic). It is also called a grand mal seizure
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Chronic, organic mental disorder consisting of dementia, which is more prevalent in adults after 65 years of age.
What are the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease?
Involves progressive disorientation, apathy, speech and gait disturbances, and loss of memory
Who is Alzheimer’s Disease named after?
German Neurologist Alois Alzheimer
Cerebral Aneurysm
Localized abnormal dilation of a blood vessel, usually an artery; the result of a congenital defect or weakness in the wall of the vessel. A ruptured aneurysm is a common cause of a hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident.
What is Parkinson’s Disease and the symptoms of it?
a chronic disorder of the nervous system
Fine tremors
Muscular weakness: Myoparesis
A shuffling gait
Who is Parkinson’s Disease named after?
Sir James Parkinson
What is Reyes Syndrome?
a combination of symptoms first recognized by Australian pathologists R.D.K. Reye.
What are the symptoms of Reyes Syndrome?
includes acute encephalopathy and damage to various organs, especially the liver.
How does Reyes Syndrome occur?
This occurs in children under age 15 who have had a viral infection. It is also associated with taking aspirin. For this reason, it is not recommended for children to use aspirin.
What is Bell’s Palsy?
One-sided facial paralysis due to inflammation of the facial nerve, probably viral in nature.
What are the symptoms of Bell’s Palsy?
The patient cannot control salivation, tearing of the eyes, or expression, but most will eventually recover
What is the Guillain- Barré Syndrome?
Disease of the nervous system in which nerves lose their myelin covering. It may be caused by an autoimmune reaction.
What are the symptoms of the Guillain- Barré Syndrome?
Characterized by loss of sensation and/or muscle control(anesthesia or ataxia) starting in the legs. Symptoms then move toward the trunk and may even result in paralysis of the diaphragm
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
inflammatory disease of the central nervous system in which there is extreme weakness and numbness due to loss of myelin insulation from nerves
lesions separated by time and space
What is Myasthenia Gravis?
Disease with severe muscular weakness and fatigue due to insufficient neurotransmitter at a synapse
What are Shingles?
Eruption of painful blisters on the body along a nerve path. Thought to be caused by a Herpes Zoster virus infection of the nerve root
What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?
a disease with muscular weakness and atrophy due to degeneration of motor neurons of the spinal cor
What is Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis also called?
Lou Gehrig’s disease
What is Epilepsy?
Recurrent Disorder of the brain in which seizures and loss of consciousness occur as a result of the uncontrolled electrical activity of neurons in the brain
What is a Migraine?
: Specific type of headache characterized by severe head pain, sensitivity to light, dizziness, and nausea
What is a Cerebrovascular Accident/ Stroke?
Any destructuion to blood flood through the brain
What are the causes of a CVA/ stroke?
compression (tumor), hemorrhage, thrombus, embolus
Where are CVA/ strokes commonly found?
The Circle of Willis
Transient Ischemic Attack
Temporary Interferance w/ blood supply to the brain and may lead to a CVA
TIA Symptoms
dizziness, numbness, and hemiparesis
How can compression cause a stroke?
A tumor can press down on a blood vessel causing blood flow to decrease causing ischemia: deprivation of oxygen to a cell
How can a Thrombus cause a stroke?
A clot can get stuck in the blood vessel stopping the flow of blood thus causing ischemia
How can an embolus cause a stoke?
Travelling clot. Piece of a clot that breaks away and travels and get stuck in small vessels causing ischemia.
How can a hemorrhage cause a stroke?
If the blood vessel is ruptured, the blood won’t make it to the brain thus ischemia
What is Spina Bifida?
congenital malformations (at birth)
What are the 3 varities of Spina Bifida?
Spina Bifida Ocolata, Meningocele and Myelomeningocele
Spina Bifida Ocolata
vertebra is not complete but there is no protrusion of the nervous system structures; least severe
Meningocele
protrusion of the meninges
Myelomeningocele
protrusion of the meninges and the spinal cord
Hydrocephalus
Enlargement of the ventricles in the brain due to excess CSF. If left untreated it can lead to mental retardation and seizures
Astrocytoma:
tumor of the brain or spinal cord composed of astrocytes, one type of neuroglial cells
Brain Tumor
Intracranial mass, either benign or malignant. A benign tumor of the brain can still be fatal since it will grow and cause pressure on normal brain tissue
Neuroma
Nerve tumor or tumor of the connective tissue sheath around a nerve
Epidural Hematoma:
Mass of blood in the space outside the dura mater of the brain and spinal cord
Meningioma
tumor in the meninges
Subdural Hematoma
Mass of blood forming beneath the dura mater if the meninges are torn by trauma. May exert fatal pressure on the brain if the hematoma is not drained by surgery.
Poliomyelitis
viral inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord. Results in varying degrees of paralysis; may be mild and reversible or may be severe or permanent. This disease has been almost eliminated due to the discovery of a vaccine in the 1950s.
Radiculitis
inflammation of nerve root; may be caused by herniated nucleus pulpous
Meningitis
inflammation of the meninges around the brain or spinal cord caused by bacterial or viral infection. Symptoms may include fever, headache, neck stiffness, lethargy, vomiting, irritability, and photophobia
Cerebral Contusion
Bruising of the brain from a blow or impact
Cerebral Palsy
Brain damage resulting from a defect, trauma, infection, or lack of oxygen before, during, or shortly after birth
Concussion:
Injury to the brain resulting from the brain being shaken inside the skull from a blow or impact; mild traumatic brain injury
What are symptoms of a concussion?
headache, blurred vision, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, and balance problems
Neuropathy
General term for disease or damage to a nerve
Radiculopathy
Refers to a condition that occurs when a herniated nucleus pulposus puts pressure on a nerve root.
What are symptoms of a Radiculopathy?
Pain and numbness along the path of the affected nerve
Where are cerebral aneurysms likely to occur in the Circle of Willis?
anterior cerebral artery, posterior communicating artery and middle cerebral artery
