Epilepsy Flashcards
a sudden disorganized electrical discharge in one or more parts of the brain
seizure
seizure interrupts ___________________________
normal brain signals
seizure disrupts the normal ________________________________
balance of inhibitory and excitatory input
a chronic neurological disorder
epilepsy
occurs when multiple neurons misfire simultaneously
seizure
epilepsy is characterized by ___________________________
recurrent seizures
epilepsy is a CNS disorder wherein nerve cell activity in the brain becomes disrupted causing what (3)
- seizures
- periods of unusual behavior, sensations
- sometimes loss of consciousness
epilepsy causes:
- muscle twitches/spasms
- changes in moods or thoughts
- altered or loss of consciousness
epilepsy is defined by the occurrence of at least _______________________ with or without convulsions, separated by at least ______________
2 unprovoked seizures ; 24 hours
T/F: epilepsy affects all ages
T
T/F: epilepsy is contagious
F
Anything that disrupts the normal homeostasis or stability of neurons can trigger ________________________________
hyperexcitability and seizures
2 types of impulse transmission
excitatory and inhibitory
inhibitory neurotransmitter is also called
calming neurotransmitter
principal inhibitory neurotransmitter
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
principal excitatory neurotransmitter
glutamate
occurs due to inward current of Na and Ca ions and neurotransmitters such as glutamate and aspartate
hyperexcitation
causes or triggers of epilepsy (HI FLAMES)
- high fever (febrile seizure)
- infections (meningitis & encephalitis, COVID)
- flashing lights
- lack of sleep
- acquired brain injuries (head trauma)
- medications (diuretics, analgesics, antidepressants)
- electrolyte imbalance, hypoglycemia
- sudden substance withdrawal (alcohol, smoking, drug)
located at the back of the head
occipital lobe
for visual information
occipital lobe
symptoms include visual disturbances, temporary blindness, headache, & difficulty with spatial ORIENTATION
occipital lobe
located behind frontal lobes
parietal lobe
for processing sensory info
parietal lobe
symptoms: tingling or numbness, difficulty understanding spatial RELATIONSHIPS or distances, dizziness, vertigo, difficulty reading and writing, altered pain sensations
parietal lobe
located behind forehead
frontal lobe
for movement, planning, decision-making, emotion regulation
frontal lobe
symptoms: jerking movements, difficulty speaking or slurred speech, abnormal sensations, out-of-body experience, impaired awareness, confusion, changes in mood or behavior
frontal lobe
at either side of head, behind the temples
temporal lobe
for memory, learning, emotions, and auditory information
temporal lobe
symptoms: auras, altered awareness or confusion, automatisms, auditory hallucinations, difficulty speaking or understanding speech
temporal lobe
damage to this lobe does no affect the consciousness
temporal lobe
T/F: when temporal lobe is damaged, px may not be conscious during seizure episode
F - px may stay partially conscious
repetitive movement (e.g., lip smacking, chewing, or fidgeting)
automatisms
who are at increased risk for seizures and epilepsy (MCHS)
px with
1. mental retardation
2. cerebral palsy
3. head injury
4. stroke
focal neuronal injury is associated in the onset of seizures in ___________
elderly
focal neuronal injury can be induced by
stroke, neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer’s disease)
classification of seizures according to the international league against epilepsy (ILAE)
- onset or beginning
- level of awareness
- motor symptoms
3 major groups of seizures according to ILAE
- generalized onset
- focal onset
- unknown onset
types of generalized seizures
- tonic-clonic (grand mal)
- absence (petite mal)
- atonic epilepsy
most dramatic type of generalized seizure
tonic-clonic
