Nervous system Flashcards
What causes meningitis?
- Purulent exudate
- ⬆️ inter-cranial pressure
- URI
6 S/S of meningitis?
- Nuchal rigidity (stiff neck r/t swelling)
- headache from pressure
- fever from infection
- photophobia from pressure on senses
- petechial rash (late symptom)
- n&v from pressure
Dx for meningitis?
- c&s
* Lumbar puncture (between l3/l4 or l4/l5)
2 types of headaches?
Tension - contraction of scalp, neck face muscles; anxiety & stress; vasodilation
Migraine - aura occurs, 1-sided; vasoconstriction
What is a petit mal seizure?
Absent; staring off into space with no movement
What is another word for a grand mal seizure?
Tonic clonic- “tones, jerking”
Status epilepticus is a seizure that lasts longer than ______ minutes
30
S/S of a grand mal seizure ? (3)
- aura
- ⬇️ LOC
- postical period (rest)
4 causes of a spinal cord injury
- MVA
- Falls
- sports injuries
- assault
What vertebrae does a cervical injury affect?
C1-C2 (all 4 limbs)
C6-C7 (gross motor movement)
A thoracic/lumbar injury affects
The lower limbs
In patients with dementia, remote memory is affected __________, and recent memory is affected ___________.
Later
First
A patient showing s/s such as bradykinesia, a shuffle and freeze gait, and a pill-rolling tremor may have?
Parkinson’s disease
Plaques on the brain that impair function and a ⬇️ in acetylcholine is a disease called ___________________
Alzheimer’s
3 stages of Alzheimer’s
Early: 1-2 years; still @ home
Middle: 2-12 years; hallucinations may start, aphasia, memory loss
Late: death; loss of bladder & bowel; inability to recognize family
A TIA resolved within ___ hours
24
2 causes of a CVA?
- Ischemia- lack of blood supply; thrombolitic/embolitic
* Hemorrhage - brain bleed
Name 3 modifiable risk factors for a CVA
• Smoking/alcohol/drugs • atherosclerosis • TIA - Diabetes Mellitus - obesity
5 sudden changes that are warning signs of a CVA:
- Numbness/weakness
- confusion
- change in vision
- trouble walking/talking, dizziness
- severe headache/ 1-sided face droop
3 Interventions for a CVA
- thrombolytic therapy (atherosclerosis)
* within 3 hrs - Time is BRAIN!! 🧠 - control HTN
- Seizure prevention
___________ _____________ is when the myelin sheath is attacked & hardens slowing down nerve impulses
(Autoimmune)
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
6 S/S of MS?
- muscle weakness
- numbness in feet
- vision disturbances
- fatigue
- ataxia “drunk walk”
- dysphagia
Cranial nerve # __ is affected with Bell’s Palsy. (Edema of face & loss of motor control)
7
S/S of Bell’s palsy are one-sided; similar to a _____.
CVA
