Nervous System, Brain/Spinal Cord Flashcards
what is the peripheral nervous system
motor and sensory nerves outside the cord
*what is radiculopathy
nerve root pain caused by degeneration or herniation of inter-vertebral discs
*can happen anywhere along the spine (lumbar region)
**common causes radiculopathies
aging - disc shrinks/hardens up
herniation of disk
trauma
*what is a disc called
nucleus pulposus
*symptoms depend on where radiculopathy is, t or f
true
brain tumors are classified as
primary or secondary
primary brain tumors originate
in the brain
secondary brain tumors originate
malignant cells elsewhere in the body and metastasizes into the brain
most common type of cancer spreading to the brain
breast cancer
which is more common
secondary
tumors can be
benign or malignant
most common type of brain tumor
GBM - glioblastoma multiforme - very aggressive cancer
s/s of GBM
seizures, pass out, migraine, double vision
GBM originates in the
astrocytes
patho of brain tumor
originate in parenchyma, cause damage to ventricles, blood vessels and nerves
increased ICP
best option for treatment of brain tumors
surgery for removal of mass/tumor
is chemo a good option for brain tumors
no - chemo agents don’t cross blood-brain barrier
effect of tumor by location, parietal lobe
speech
effect of tumor by location, frontal lobe
intellect, judgment
effect of tumor by location, occipital lobe
vision
complications of brain tumors
new onset seizures (ct scan, looking for mass)
IICP
herniation
big warning sign of brain tumor
new onset seizures
**s/s of brain tumors are related to
location and size of tumor
dx of brain tumor
history and physical - establish good baseline
x-rays
biopsy (type of cells we are dealing with)
ekg (rule out cardiac problems)
spinal cord tumors are rare, t or f
true - usually from somewhere else
s/s of spinal cord tumors
back pain
with any form of back pain you can expect to have a
mri
most common type of spinal cord tumor
extradural - located outside the cord - seen on xray
complications of spinal cord tumors
mass can become big quickly
s/s of spinal cord tumors
numbness, tingling, spasticity, bowel bladder incontinence
is bowel bladder incontinence an emergency
yes - cauda equina?
