Nervous System Flashcards
Name some facts about this disease: Bell’s palsy
- paralysis, usually on one side of the face only
- caused by a disorder of the facial nerve (seventh cranial nerve)
- most commonly caused by a viral infection of the nerve
- it’s an eponym
Name some facts about this disease: Sciatica
- Pain in the lower back and hip radiating down the back of the thigh into the leg (along the path of the sciatic nerve)
- considered to be caused by compression of the nerve roots that join to form the sciatic nerve
- often caused by a herniated lumbar disc compromising a nerve root, most commonly the L5 or S1 root
Explain this procedure: Ganglionectomy
- excision of a ganglion (singular)
- there are sensory and autonomic ganglia (plural)
What is this procedure: Trephination
- a method of approach to the brain by cutting a circular opening or boring a hole through the skull bone using a trephine
Name some facts about this disease:
Alzheimer’s disease
- Deterioration in mental capacity (dementia) caused by a progressive degeneration of the brain
- Usually occurs after the age of 60
- Course of the disease varies person to person
- Death may occur 2 - 20 years after onset of symptoms
- Diagnosis can only be confirmed on post mortem
- early stages include short term memory decline and impairment of day to day tasks
- long term memory is affected as the disease progresses
- hallucinations and delusions become common and aggressive behaviour
- tendency to wander
- AD accounts for 50 - 70% of dementia cases
- no cure
What is this procedure:
Trephination
- a method of approach to the brain by cutting a circular opening or boring a hole through the skull bone using a trephine
Explain this event:
Cerebral aneurysm
- localised dilation or widening of a blood vessel of the brain resulting in thinning and weakening of the vessel wall
- the vessel may then rupture causing intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) or subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH)
- may be congenital or due to hypertension or other medical conditions
- clipping of the aneurysm before it ruptures or within the first few days reduces the risk of further bleeding
Explain this event:
Cerebral embolism
- sudden blocking of one of the arteries supplying the brain by an embolus (fragments of a clot / air bubble)
- the embolus has been brought to the brain via the blood stream
- the embolus suddenly obstructs a blood vessel depriving brain tissue of oxygen
- atrial fibrillation is the most common cause
Explain this event:
Cerebral thrombosis
- formation of a thrombus (blood clot) in one of the blood vessels of the brain
- most common cause is a cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
- most CVA’s occur at night or early morning when blood pressure is low
- gradual occlusion of the vessel occurs usually due to atherosclerosis of the cerebral or carotid arteries
Name some facts about this disease:
Trigeminal neuralgia
- Abbreviated to TN
- pain experienced in areas innervated (supply (an organ or other body part) with nerves) by one or more branches of the fifth cranial nerve
- the pain is characterised by a sudden, severe, electric shock-like or stabbing pain typically felt on the side of the jaw or cheek.
- more common in women than men
- rarely affects anyone under 50
- pain triggers include, chewing, talking, smiling, touching, shaving, brushing teeth etc
- most cases caused by a blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve as it emerges from the brain stem causing the insulating material around the nerve to be broken down
Explain this event:
Convulsion
- paroxysms (a sudden attack or outburst of a particular emotion or activity) of involuntary muscular contractions
- presents in violent spasms or series of jerkings of the voluntary muscles of the face, trunk or extremities
Name this condition: Abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain
Hydrocephalus
Name this procedure / device: Surgically created detour channels to relieve the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (2 words)
Ventricular shunt
Name this condition: Congenital defect in the spinal column due to imperfect union of vertebral parts (2 words)
Spina bifida
Name this procedure: Contrast medium is injected into the CSF (via lumbar puncture) and x-rays are taken of the spinal cord (1 word)
Myelogram
myel/o = spinal cord
gram = written record
