disorders of neural transmission

Question 1

Seizures

Answer 1

discharges from a group of neurons which arise as a result of excessive excitation, loss of inhibition

Question 2

Epilepsy

Answer 2

a neurological syndrome ( collection of signs ans symptoms) characterised by recuurent, unproved seizures

Question 3

Types of epilepsy

Answer 3

• Focal / Partial seizure

• seizures are focussed to a particular section of the brain
• patients hold a level of consciousness

• Generalised seizure

• whole brain, both hemispheres involved in seizure
• full loss of consciousness

Question 4

Focal/ Partial seizure

Answer 4

• Simple partial - no impairment of conscoiousness
• Complex partial - impairment of consciousness
- caused by underlying trauma, lesion, hippocampal sclerosis

• Aura - smell/ auditory hallucinations, sensory symptoms like tingling

Question 5

Generalised seizure

Answer 5

• Full loss of consciousness / across both hemisphers
– Absence seizure
• affects children
• Loss of awareness and vacant expression for less than 10 secs
• No motor manifestation

– Tonic clonic seizure
• stiffness followed by clonic jerking of the limbs
• flaccid unresponsiveness and gradual return of consciosness

— Myoclonic seizures
• some or all of the body undergoes sudden jerks,
• Maybe only a fraction of a second

– Atonic seizure
sudden collapse of muscle tone and consciousness