Head Trauma/ Diseases Flashcards
What is a concussion?
- A brief disruption of a level of consciousness and amnesia due to head trauma.
- Probably microscopic changes to neurons and neuroglia.
- Full recovery is expected, although recurrent concussion can cause permanent damage.
What is a contusion?
- Bruising/ bleeding on the brain which is visible through imaging.
- Brain cells will die.
- Affects depending on what area has been damaged.
- Full recovery may NOT occur.
What are the signs and symptoms of increasing cranial pressure?
- Increased blood pressure
- Decreased heart rate and pulse
- Decreased pupillary response
- Decreased level of consciousness
- Increased temperature
- Odd posture
What is crushings reflex?
- Increased blood pressure
- Decreased heart rate
What is tentorial herniation?
- Fold in the dura mater which separates the cerebrum and cerebellum.
- With herniation, increased pressure forces part of the temporal lobe through the tentorial opening, squeezing brain stem and damaging blood supply which affects the reticular formation and results in a coma.
What does the brain stem do?
-Allows breathing, heart rate, swallowing, consciousness, and vomiting.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
- Progressive, degenerative and neurocognitive disorder.
- Brain cells and connections degenerate and die, destroying memory and mental function.
What is the hippocampus?
- Impaired memory and learning.
- Deep in core/temporal lobe of the brain.
What is the Amygdala?
- Inappropriate emotions and anxiety.
- Located deep in the brains medial temporal lobe.
What occurs in the frontal lobe with Alzheimer’s?
-Impaired speech, reasoning and personality.
What are the early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?
- Short term memory loss.
- Impaired thinking/ planning processes.
What are some tests used to diagnose Alzheimer’s?
- Mini-mental state examination
- General practioner assessment of cognition
- Monteral cognitive assessment scale
What needs to be excluded before diagnosing Alzheimer’s?
- Medication
- Brain injury
- Sensory impairment (hearing/vision)
- Urinary tract infection.
- Anaemic
- Low red blood cells.
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
-Progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons from substantia nigra.
Primary motor symptoms of Parkinson’s?
Tremor= One-sided begins and rest. Rigidity= Led pipe (rigid all the way) or cogwheel Bradykinesia= Slow movement.
Frequent falls because of:
- Stride length
- Stooped posture
- Dystonia
- Slow
- Decreased postural reflexes.
