necessary medical terms

Question 1

paralysis vs paresis

Answer 1

paralysis = complete inability to contract muscle

paresis = reduced contraction & weakness

Question 2

fasciculations vs fibrillations

Answer 2

fasciculations = visible, arrhythmic, isolated twitches in resting muscle

fibrillations = invisible, spontaneous, independent contractions of individual muscle fibers (detectable by EMG)

Question 3

neuropathy

Answer 3

any disease of the nerve, usually of noninflammatory etiology

Question 4

neuritis

Answer 4

an inflammatory disorder of nerve

Question 5

motor neuron diseases

Answer 5

a group of disorders that involve degeneration of motor neurons

Question 6

Example of motor neuron diseases (degenerative)

Answer 6

Amyotrphic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (most common motor neuron disease)

Question 7

ALS

Answer 7

most common motor neuron disease

a disease of both UMNs and LMNs, but its initial manifestations are sometimes LMN

Question 8

LMN phenotype of ALS is referred to as _____ ______ ______

Answer 8

progressive muscular atrophy

Question 9

progressive bulbar palsy

Answer 9

motor neuron disease that primarily affects the cranial nerves; although it can also include UMNs that supply the bulbar muscles, it can be limited to LMNs

Question 10

ALS can cause _____ dysarthria along with ____dysarthria. Why?

Answer 10

flaccid; spastic

- because it is a disease of both UMNs & LMNs