Module 7: Nervous system Flashcards
These lesions occur in the cerebral hemispheres above the tentorium cerebelli, And lead to a specific disfunction in a discreet area
Supratentorial lesions
Describe infratentorial lesions
- May affect many motor and sensory fibres (results in widespread impairment)
- Respiratory and circulatory function may be impaired
- Level of consciousness may be impaired
Damage to left hemisphere may cause…
Loss of logical thinking ability, analytical skills, other intellectual abilities, communication skills
Damage to right hemisphere may cause…
- Impairs appreciation of music and art
- causes behavioral problems
- spatial orientation and recognition of relationships may be deficient
- Self-care deficits common
Describe vegetative state
Loss of awareness and mental capabilities
- Result of diffuse brain damage
- Brainstem function continues.
- Appearance of a sleep-wake cycle
- Person unresponsive to external stimuli
The left side of the brain is responsible for? The right side?
Both - Voluntary movement and sensory function on the opposite side
Left side - Academic and logical side
Right side – artistic and creative side
What is the function of the thalamus?
Serve as a sorting and relay station for incoming sensory impulses
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
Responsible for behaviours such as hunger and thirst, as well as the maintenance of body temperature
What is the cerebellum responsible for?
Balance and coordination of muscles in the body
What is the Medulla oblongata responsible for?
Carries out and regulates life sustaining functions such as breathing, swallowing, and heart rate
What is the frontal lobe responsible for
Reasoning, planning, movement, speech, emotions, problem-solving
The Parietal Lobe is responsible for
Movement, orientation, recognition, perception
Neurons require what for metabolism?
Glucose and oxygen
What are the preganglionic and postganglionic neurotransmitters of the sympathetic nervous system? And what are the receptors?
Preganglionic – Acetylcholine
Post ganglionic – norepinephrine
Receptors - alpha and beta
Local (focal) effects – signs related to the specific area of the brain or spinal cord in which lesion is located. How are expanding lesions caused?
By growing tumour or hemorrhage
Additional impairment is noted as adjacent areas become involved
Supratentorial lesions occur in the cerebral hemispheres above the tentorium cerebelli. What do they lead to ?
Lead to specific dysfunction in a discrete area
Infratentorial lesions, which are located in the brainstem or below the tentorium, have what effect?
May affect many motor and sensory fibers
Results in widespread impairment
Respiratory and circulatory function may be impaired.
Level of consciousness may be impaired
Localized vs systemic is used from the perspective of…
The whole body
“Focal” vs “diffuse” is used from the perspective of ..
a single organ
Diffuse brain injuries occur throughout the brain, focal brain injuries are confined to one area of the brain
Damage to the left hemisphere of the brain would cause loss of…
Logical and analytical thinking ability, and communication skills
Right hemisphere damage causes are
Impairs appreciation of music and art
Causes behavioural problems
Spatial orientation and recognition of relationships may be deficient
Visual loss: Hemianopia, Depends on
Site of damage in visual pathway
What does Aphasia/dysphasia mean?
Inability to comprehend or express language
There is expressive and receptive aphasia
Broca’s Aphasia is expressive or receptive? Damage to what part of the brain may cause Broca’s Aphasia?
Expressive - injury to the left frontal area
Wernicke’s Aphasia is expressive or receptive? What is impaired in this form of aphasia?
Receptive
Inability to read or understand the spoken word
Source—inability to process information in the brain
Result of damage to Wernicke’s area in the left temporal lobe
Usually also affects expression
Nonfluent aphasia causes slow and labored, with short phrases. Expressive or receptive?
Expressive (broca)
Fluent aphasia - pace of speech relatively normal, includes made up words. Expressive or receptive?
Receptive (Wernicke’s)
What is Dysarthria? Agraphia? Alexia? Agnosia?
Dysarthria- Words cannot be articulated clearly
-Motor dysfunction—usually results from cranial nerve damage or muscle impairment
Agraphia -Impaired writing ability
Alexia - Impaired reading ability
Agnosia - Loss of recognition or association
Seizures are caused by?
Spontaneous, excessive discharge of neurons in the brain.
- They spread to neighbouring areas and created an uncontrolled storm of electrical activity.
- The electrical impulses can be transmitted to the muscles, causing twitches or convulsions
What causes seizures or convulsions?
Inflammation
hypoxia
bleeding in the brain
drug abuse
Absence seizures Are characterized by
A brief loss and return of consciousness, generally not followed by a period of lethargy
A generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal seizure) Is a type of generalized seizure that affects what?
It is most commonly associated with what?
Affects the entire brain. Most commonly associated with epilepsy and seizures in general
Myoclonic Seizures - myoclonic means? What are the most common triggers?
‘Muscle jerk’
Most common triggers or lack of sleep and too much stress. (Drinking alcohol, which can lead to you too little sleep, is the strongest trigger for myoclonic jerks and tonic-clonic)
What is the difference between simple and complex seizures?
During simple partial seizures, patients retain awareness; during complex partial seizures, they lose awareness
Describe simple partial seizures
Are localized to one area on one side of the brain, but may spread from there
Complex partial seizures or partial seizures that are associated with
An alteration of consciousness
Status epilepticus is usually defined as
30 minutes of uninterrupted seizure activity
