Nervous System, Brain/Spinal Cord

Question 1

what is the peripheral nervous system

Answer 1

motor and sensory nerves outside the cord

Question 2

*what is radiculopathy

Answer 2

nerve root pain caused by degeneration or herniation of inter-vertebral discs
*can happen anywhere along the spine (lumbar region)

Question 3

**common causes radiculopathies

Answer 3

aging - disc shrinks/hardens up
herniation of disk
trauma

Question 4

*what is a disc called

Answer 4

nucleus pulposus

Question 5

*symptoms depend on where radiculopathy is, t or f

Answer 5

true

Question 6

brain tumors are classified as

Answer 6

primary or secondary

Question 7

primary brain tumors originate

Answer 7

in the brain

Question 8

secondary brain tumors originate

Answer 8

malignant cells elsewhere in the body and metastasizes into the brain

Question 9

most common type of cancer spreading to the brain

Answer 9

breast cancer

Question 10

which is more common

Answer 10

secondary

Question 11

tumors can be

Answer 11

benign or malignant

Question 12

most common type of brain tumor

Answer 12

GBM - glioblastoma multiforme - very aggressive cancer

Question 13

s/s of GBM

Answer 13

seizures, pass out, migraine, double vision

Question 14

GBM originates in the

Answer 14

astrocytes

Question 15

patho of brain tumor

Answer 15

originate in parenchyma, cause damage to ventricles, blood vessels and nerves
increased ICP

Question 16

best option for treatment of brain tumors

Answer 16

surgery for removal of mass/tumor

Question 17

is chemo a good option for brain tumors

Answer 17

no - chemo agents don’t cross blood-brain barrier

Question 18

effect of tumor by location, parietal lobe

Answer 18

speech

Question 19

effect of tumor by location, frontal lobe

Answer 19

intellect, judgment

Question 20

effect of tumor by location, occipital lobe

Answer 20

vision

Question 21

complications of brain tumors

Answer 21

new onset seizures (ct scan, looking for mass)
IICP
herniation

Question 22

big warning sign of brain tumor

Answer 22

new onset seizures

Question 23

**s/s of brain tumors are related to

Answer 23

location and size of tumor

Question 24

dx of brain tumor

Answer 24

history and physical - establish good baseline
x-rays
biopsy (type of cells we are dealing with)
ekg (rule out cardiac problems)

Question 25

spinal cord tumors are rare, t or f

Answer 25

true - usually from somewhere else

Question 26

s/s of spinal cord tumors

Answer 26

back pain

Question 27

with any form of back pain you can expect to have a

Answer 27

mri

Question 28

most common type of spinal cord tumor

Answer 28

extradural - located outside the cord - seen on xray

Question 29

complications of spinal cord tumors

Answer 29

mass can become big quickly

Question 30

s/s of spinal cord tumors

Answer 30

numbness, tingling, spasticity, bowel bladder incontinence

Question 31

is bowel bladder incontinence an emergency

Answer 31

yes - cauda equina?