Nervous System Flashcards
A group of speech and language disorders resulting from brain damage
Aphasia
The outer layer, is a tough fibrous, double layer membrane that separates at specific points to form the dural sinuses, which collect venous blood and CSF for return to the general circulation
Dura mater
a loose, web-like covering, is the middle layer
Arachnoid
a delicate connective tissue that adheres closely to all convolutions on the surface of the brain, is the inner layer. Many small blood vessels are found in
Pia mater
Is an infection, usually of bacterial origin, in the meninges of the CNS
Meningitis
A state of extreme lethargy, unawareness, and unresponsiveness
Stupor
Severe headache, back pain, photophobia, and nuchal rigidity (a hyperextended, stiff neck) Two other clinical signs of meningeal irritation include the Kernig sign (resistance to leg extension when lying with the hip flexed) and the Brudzinski sign (neck flexion causes flexion of hip and knee).
signs and symptoms of Meningitis
A CVA or stroke is an infarction of brain tissue resulting from a thrombus, embolus, or hemorrhage causing permanent loss of brain tissue; May result from atheroma, embolus, or hemorrhage causing total loss of blood supply to an area of the brain and subsequent infarction
What is a cerebrovascular accident and what is the cause
loss of memory
Amnesia
: is a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulates within the skull, compressing the brain tissue and blood vessels
hydrocephalus
is considered an infection of the parenchymal or connective tissue in the brain and cord.
encephalitis
death or destruction of tissue
necrosis
a protective mechanism provided primarily by relatively impermeable capillaries in the brain.
Blood Brain Barrier
a fold of dura mater, or the outer covering of the brain; separates these compartments
tentorium
procedures are performed if the tumor location is accessible and the tumor volume is large.
Debulking
toward the center; for example, afferent nerves carry impulses toward the central nervous system.
Afferent
moving away from the center; for example, efferent nerve fibers carry motor impulses to muscles.
Efferent
a collection of nerve cell bodies, usually outside the central nervous system.
Ganglion
Central Nervous System-
Detection and Diagnosis
Neurologic workup
CT
MRI
PET
Central Nervous System-
Treatment
Surgery
Debulking
Depends on location
Radiation Therapy
Chemo-limited due to Blood Brain Barrior (BBB)
Many chemo drugs cannot pass through the BBB
Central Nervous System-
Patterns of Spread
Spreads through local invasion and seeding
Gliomas-local invasion (no capsule to contain them)
Medulloblastomas-seeding via CSF (craniospinal treatment)
Central Nervous System-
Signs and or symptoms
Clinical Presentation of brain tumors (depends on location)
Headache
Seizures
Balance issues
Mental status change, personality or behavior changes
Blurred vision
Clinical Presentation of spinal cord tumors (depends on location)
Pain, weakness, loss of sensation, bowel and bladder control problems
Can be a radiation therapy emergency
Central Nervous System-
Grading
Uses a grading system rather than a staging system
Grade I – IV (see box 32-2 on page 688 W/L)
Rarely spreads to other parts of the body but will grow and invade surrounding area
As they continue to grow, will progress from a low-grade tumor to a higher grade tumor
Central Nervous System-
Prognosis
Based on grade or type of tumor, rate of growth, and location and patient function level (Karnofsky performance scale)
Patient’s age also play important roll in prognosis
Central Nervous System-
Types of Tumors
Gliomas-develops in the glial cells, most common type Approx. 30% of all tumors are gliomas and approx. 80% of all malignant tumors are gliomas
Astrocytoma, Glioblastoma-only 2.2% survive 3 years) These both fall under the larger classification of Gliomas
Medulloblastoma –most common malignant nervous system tumors of childhood-
True or False
Most malignant brain tumors are metastatic, not primary brain tumors
True
Central Nervous System-
Spinal Cord
-CSF Provides a cushion for brain and spinal cord
20% of CNS tumors are involve the spinal cord
Central Nervous System-
Brain
Protected by skull, meninges, cerebrospinal fluid
80% of CNS tumors are in the Brain
2nd leading cause of cancer death in children
Central Nervous System-
CNS tumors are relatively rare (1.4%)
Varies by age (2nd leading cause of cancer death in children) Peaks at certain ages Between ages of 3 and 12 Between ages 50 and 80 Varies by age (2nd leading cause of cancer death in children) Peaks at certain ages Between ages of 3 and 12 Between ages 50 and 80
Areas of the brain-
Diencephalon
Central portion of the brain surrounded by the Hemispheres
Contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus
Areas of the brain-
Cerebrum
Largest portion of the brain
Function
Interpretation of sensory impulses and voluntary muscular activities
Memory, learning, reasoning, judgment, intelligence and emotions
Areas of the brain-
Brain Stem
Cerebellum
Inferior portion which connects to spinal cord
Located dorsal to the pons and medulla
Cranial and Spinal Nerves
Ganglia, Sensory Neurons, Neuromuscular Junctions
Peripheral Nervous System
Brian and Spinal cord
Central Nervous System
