Nervous System Definitions

Question 1

Aphasia

Answer 1

The inability (or impaired ability) to understand or produce speech, as a result of brain damage.

Question 2

Brain Stem Herniation

Answer 2

Is the shifting of the brain tissue from one space in the brain to another through various folds and openings (due to very high pressure within the skull)

Question 3

Blood Brain Barrier

Answer 3

A semi-permeable membrane, separating the blood from the cerebrospinal fluid

Question 4

Cerebrospinal Fluid

Answer 4

The fluid that flows in and around the hollow spaces of the brain and spinal cord

Question 5

Concussion

Answer 5

An injury to the brain, that results in temporary loss of normal brain function. Usually caused by a blow to the head

Question 6

Contusion

Answer 6

A bruise produced by bleeding into the skin or underlying tissues from an insult that did not break the skin but did rupture blood vessels

Question 7

Decerebrate Posturing

Answer 7

Any abnormal body posture that involves the arms and legs being held straight out, the toes being pointed downwards and the head and neck being arched backwards. = usually indicates severe damage to the brain

Question 8

Decorticate Posturing

Answer 8

An abnormal posturing in which a person is stiff, with bent arms, clenched fists and legs held out straight. Arms are bent in towards the body and the wrists and fingers are bent and held on the chest.

Question 9

Diffuse axonal injury.

Answer 9

The tearing of the brain’s long connecting nerve fibres (axons) that happens when the brain is injured as it shifts and rotates in the bony skull

Question 10

Dysphagia

Answer 10

Difficulty swallowing

Question 11

Dysphasia

Answer 11

Impairment of speech that manifests as an inability to arrange words in logical order

Question 12

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Answer 12

A technique for studying electrical currents within the brain. Electrodes are attached to the head and wires to these electrodes which are attached to a machine which records the results.

Question 13

Encephalitis

Answer 13

Inflammation of the brain.

Question 14

Encephalopathy

Answer 14

Disease, damage or malfunction of the brain. In general, encephalopathy is manifested by an altered mental state that is sometimes accompanied by physical changes.

Question 15

Haematoma

Answer 15

A localised swelling that is filled with blood caused by a break in the wall of a blood vessel. The breakage may be spontaneous, as in the case of an aneurysm or caused by trauma

Question 16

Hydrocephalus

Answer 16

Various conditions characterised by excess fluid in the cranial vault or subarachnoid space, or both

Question 17

Glascow Coma Scale

Answer 17

The scale assesses an individual’s ability to open their eyes and their verbal and motor response. Measures the patient’s level of consciousness

Question 18

Meningitis

Answer 18

An infection of the meninges, including the pia mater and arachnoid, subarachnoid space, ventricular system and cerebrospinal fluid

Question 19

Neurotransmitter

Answer 19

A chemical substance which is released at the end of a nerve fibre by the arrival of a nerve impulse and by diffusing across the synapse, effects the transfer of the impulse to another nerve fibre.

Question 20

Opioid

Answer 20

A broad group of pain-relieving drugs that work by interacting with opioid receptors in your cells. Opioids can be made from the poppy plant or synthesised in a lab.

Question 21

Transient Ischaemic Attack

Answer 21

Temporary decreases in brain blood flow resulting in brief changes in brain function, such as changes in vision, speech, motor function or symptoms of dizziness or loss of consciousness

Question 22

Vertigo

Answer 22

Is a sensation of feeling off balance. Most often caused by an inner ear problem

Question 23

Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 23

Progressive mental deterioration characterised by confusion, memory failure, disorientation, restlessness, speech disturbances, inability to carry out purposeful movement and hallucinations

Question 24

Bradykinesia

Answer 24

Means slowness of movement, and is one of the cardinal manifestations of Parkinson’s Disease

Question 25

Epilepsy

Answer 25

A disease characterised by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures. Epilepsy is when a person is experiencing frequent, recurrent seizures

Question 26

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Answer 26

An autoimmune disease in which the myelin surrounding the neural axons in the peripheral nervous system is destroyed by the person’s immune system.

Question 27

Multiple Sclerosis.

Answer 27

A chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that causes inflammation and scarring of myelin sheaths. It interferes with nerve impulses within the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves

Question 28

Myasthenia Gravis

Answer 28

A neuromuscular disorder caused by an autoimmune response in which antibodies to acetylcholine receptors impair neuromuscular transmission

Question 29

Parkinson’s Disease

Answer 29

Degeneration of the basal nuclei dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway, which causes hypokinesia, tremor and muscular rigidity