Nervous System Diseases and Symptoms Flashcards
Amnesia
lack or loss of memory
Aphasia
defect or loss of the power of expression, especially speech, but also writing or signing, or of comprehending either spoken or written language due to an injury or brain disease.
Apraxia
loss of the ability to carry our familiar, purposeful movements in the absence of paralysis or another motor or sensory impairment.
Asterixis
coarse, slow, non-rhythmic movement, usually of the outstretches hands, but also other muscle groups when there is sustained contraction of them. This is also called “liver flap” because it is often associated with hepatic comas.
Ataxia
failure of muscular coordination resulting in a reeling, wide-based gait
Athetosis
form of dyskinesia marked by ceaseless slow, sinuous, writhing movements, especially of the hands.
Cataonia
psychomotor disturbance usually (but not always) associated with schizophrenia. Can take on different forms and severity, including a decrease in reactivity to the environment, resistance to all instructions or attempts to be moved, maintenance of a rigid posture, excited, uncontrollable and purposeless motor activity, or the assumption of bizarre fixed postures.
Causalgia
burning pain due to injury or peripheral nerve
Cephalalgia
headache
Chorea
Ceaseless occurrence of a wide variety of rapid, highly complex, jerky, movements. Appear to be well coordinated but are involuntary. There are several specific types of this.
Concussion
violent shock to the brain or the condition that results from such an injury
Convulsion
violent, involuntary contraction or series of contractions of the voluntary muscles. Sometimes used interchangeably with seizure.
Delirium
acute mental syndrome characterized by a reduced ability to maintain attention to external stimuli, disorganized thinking, rambling/incoherent speech, reduced consciousness, incorrect sensory perceptions, time disorientation, place, or person, and memory impairment.
Delusion
false belief that is firmly maintained despite irrefutable evidence to the contrary.
Dementia
organic mental syndrome characterized by a loss of intellectual abilities such as memory impairment, judgement, and abstract thinking, as well as personality changes.
Dissociation
process whereby specific internal mental contents such as memories, ideas, feelings, and perceptions are lost to conscious awareness and become unavailable to voluntary recall. Defense mechanism where such mental processes are separated from the rest of the person’s mental activity in order to avoid emotional distress
Dysarthria
slurring and inappropriate phrasing during speech, as well as inability to control volume due to muscular control disturbances. Result of central or peripheral nerve damage.
Dysdiadochokinesia
inability to perform rabid alternating movements
Dysmetria
Inability to control muscular range of motion
Dysphasia
Impairment of speech, specifically lacking coordination and ability to arrange words in proper order
Dysphoria
disquiet, restlessness, malaise
Fasciculations
brief, small irregular twitches or muscle visibly through skin. Caused by a single motor filament
Hallucination
sense perception without a source in external world. Can involve all the senses, but the most common are audio and visual.
Hypersomnolence
sleep disorders consisting of the need for excessive amounts of sleep or causing extreme drowsiness when awake. Can be psychogenic, or be related to medication/drug use
Hypesthesia
abnormally decreased sensitivity, particularly to touch
Hypotonia
diminished skeletal muscle tone
Insomnia
inability to sleep
Myoclonus
brief, lightning -like contraction of a muscle/portion of muscle/group of muscles. Occurs in normal, healthy people as they sleep.
Malaise
vague feeling of bodily discomfort or fatigue
Paralysis
loss or impairment of motor function or sensation in a body part
Paranoia
describes behavior characterized by systematic delusions of persecution, delusions of grandeur, or a combo of the two
Paraphilia
a gross impairment in the capacity for sexual activity of adult human partners. Characterized by abnormal sexual desires, sometimes involving extreme or dangerous activities
Fetishism
use of physical objects as the preferred method of producing sexual excitement
Transvestism
Wearing the clothes, manner, or sexual role of the opposite sex
Pedophilia
preference for sex abuse of prepubescent children
Exhibitionism
repetitive acts of exposing genitals to an unsuspecting stranger for sexual excitation
Voyeurism
The practice of obtaining sexual gratification from observing the naked bodies or sexual acts of others
Masochism
deriving sexual pleasure from being physically or emotionally abused
Sadism
deriving sexual gratification from inflicting pain or emotional abuse on others
paresis
slight or incomplete paralysis
Paresthesia
abnormal touch sensation
Phalen’s Sign
test on physical exam to determine the presence of carpal tunnel syndrome
Romberg Test
performed by having the pt stand with feet together or walk with their eyes closed to determine presence of clumsiness in movements or gait
Scotoma
area of lost or depressed vision within VF
Seizure
sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain.
Somnolence
sleepiness
Stupor
lower level of consciousness
Tic
involuntary, compulsive, repetitive movement
Tinel’s Sign
tingling sensation in the distal end of a limb when percussion is made over the area of the median nerve at the wrist
tremor
Vertigo
Alzheimer disease
involuntary trembling or quivering
Arnold-Chiari malformation
congenital deformity where portions of the medulla and cerebellum protrude into the spinal canal
Arteriovenous malformation
Congenital deformity of consistently enlarging, tangled, dilated, blood vessels, where arterial contents flow directly into veins. Causing neurologic abnormalities due to compressed neural tissue and spinal cord, or interrupting blood supply to brain
Astrocytoma
Tumor composed of neuroglial cells. Most common type of primary brain tumor and can be found throughout the central nervous system. Different classifications and grades
Bell Palsy
functional disorder of Cranial Nerve VII. Results in unilateral facial paralysis and distortion of taste. Usually due to a lesion on the nerve
Bipolar Disorder
mood/personality disorder with both depressive and at least one manic periods occur.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
disorder caused by median nerve compression. Characterized by burning, tingling, parasthesis in the fingers and hand radiating up the arm
Cerebral Palsy
broad term that describes a number of motor disorders in young children resulting from brain damage (often in utero or during birth). Symptoms being delayed or abnormal motor development with spastic paraplegia, hemiplegia, seizures, ataxia, and resultant mental retardation
Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
synonymous with Stroke. Nonspecific term for ischemic or hemorrhagic lesions that affect the brain.
Dysthymia
mood disorder characterized by depressed feelings, with a loss of interest in usual activities that persists for two or more years. Differs from major depression because the symptoms typically last longer, but are not as severe.
Encephalitis
inflammation of the brain
Encephalomyelitis
inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
Encephalopathy
any degenerative brain disease
Epilepsy
Recurrent, paroxysmal disorder of cerebral function characterized by: sudden brief attacks of altered consciousness, motor activity, sensory phenomena, or inappropriate behavior. One episode = seizure, recurrent seizure pattern = epilepsy
Glioma
tumor composed of tissue representing neuroglia. Sometimes used to describe any tumor of brain or spinal cord.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
acute, rapidly progressing form of inflammatory polyneuropathy (lesions impacting many peripheral nerves at once). Usually occurs 3-5 days after infectious disorder, surgery, immunization. Symptoms include: muscle weakness, mild sensory loss.
Herniated Nucleus Pulposus
herniated, ruptured, or prolapsed intervertebral disc. Irritates the nerve root and causes back pain
Hydrocephalus
Secondary to obstruction of CSF pathways with subsequent accumulation of in the skull. Symptoms include: enlarged head, prominent forehead, brain atrophy, mental deterioration, and convulsions.
Lou Gehrig’s Disease
Also called Amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Motor neuron disease of unknown cause Characterized by: muscular weakness, atrophy, cramps, spasticity, hyperactive reflexes, dysarthria, and dysphagia. More common In men. 50% die within three years, 20% for five, and 10% live ten.
Meningitis
inflammation of the meninges
Meningocele
hernia protrusion of the meninges through a bony defect
Microcephaly
smallness of head usually associated with mental retardation
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Lesions causing demyelination of white matter of the CNS, and sometimes the gray matter. Symptoms include: weakness, incoordination, paresthesias, speech disturbances, and visual complaints.
Munchausen Syndrome
repeated fabrication of illness. Usually acute, dramatic, and very convincing. Pts can often mimic disorders with great skill.
Myasthenia Gravis
Characterized by episodic muscle weakness, primarily in muscles innervated by cranial nerves.
Narcolepsy
Sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations, and sometimes cataplexy
Neurofibromatosis
familial condition characterized by developmental changes in the nervous system, bones, muscles, and skin. Formation of multiple soft tumors over the entire body
Paraplegia
Paralysis of the legs and lower part of the body
Myelominingocele
hernia protrusion of spinal cord and its meninges through a defect in the vertebral canal
Parkinson Disease
slow progressing and degenerative CNS disorder with four characteristic features: slowness and poverty of movement, muscular rigidity, resting tremor, and postural instability
Peripheral Neuropathy
any traumatic, toxic, inflammatory, or degenerative changes in the peripheral nerves. Results in : sensory loss, muscle weakness/atrophy, decreased deep tendon reflexes, vasomotor symptoms. Occur either individually or in any combination. Can impact just one nerve or many (polyneuropathy)
Personality Disorders
Patterns of behavior characterized by relatively fixed and inflexible reactions to stress. Disorders are rigid and not adaptive. Damage social, interpersonal, and work relationships.
Antisocial Disorder
Also called psychopathic/sociopathic personality. Individuals act out their conflicts and ignore rules of social behavior. Impulsive, irresponsible, amoral, and unable to forego immediate gratification, cannot tolerate frustration, and opposition will illicit hostility. Cannot form sustained relationships with others but will charm them to get their way. Show little to no remorse/guilt, and rationalize and blame others for their behavior.
Borderline Personality Disorder
unstable in many areas including self-image, mood, behavior, and relationships. Characterized by frequent mood shifts, impulsivity, inappropriate/uncontrolled intense anger. Everything is black or white, very little neutral feelings.
Dependent Personality Disorder
surrender responsibility for their lives to others and allow the needs of those they are dependent upon to take precedence. Lack self-confidence, and initiative. Extremely uncomfortable with being alone.
Histrionic Personality Disorder
excessively dramatic or emotional. Winning the esteem and admiration of others is important, to they have attention-seeking and theatrical behavior. Emotional immaturity is evident with exaggerated childish responses to any wounding their vanity. Inconsistent because they will adopt whatever conduct will place them in a favorable light. In their relationships they have an insatiable need for affection and exhibit sexually aggressive behavior.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Exaggerated sense of importance, absorbed by fantasies of success. Are preoccupied with envy, constantly seek attention, tend to exploit others, and are overly sensitive to criticism. Tend to have multiple somatic complaints.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Conscientious and have high aspirations but tend to be perfectionists and cannot gain satisfaction from their achievements. Reliable, dependable, orderly, methodical. Completely inflexible and cannot adapt to change in circumstances, cautious, have anxiety over responsibility, pay attention to every detail. Difficulty with interpersonal relationships because they lose total control over feelings and must rely on others.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
extreme, irrational distrust of others usually with delusions of persecution. Markedly sensitive in relationships, tend to find hostile intentions behind trivial and kind acts by others. Suspicions often lead to aggressive feelings/behavior. Often belittle others.
Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder
characterized by helplessness, slinging dependency, and procrastination. Passivity is designed to gain attention, avoid responsibility, or to control others. Are often obstinate, inefficient, and sullen, often disguised under apparent compliance. Tend to provoke and engage in arguments, especially with those in authority.
Schizoid Personality Disorder
withdrawn, solitary, introverted, emotionally cold and distance, absorbed in their own thoughts and feelings and greatly fear intimacy of any kind. Tend to daydream and prefer speculation to action.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
neurotic disorder that occurs following exposure to an overwhelming environmental stress. Symptoms include: consistently reliving experience, numbing emotional responsiveness, and general dysphoria.
Avoidant Personality Disorder
These individuals are extremely sensitive to rejection, and they fear beginning relationships but have a strong desire for affection and acceptance. They appear shy and timid and are distressed by their inability to relate to others.
Cyclothymic Personality Disorder
These individuals fluctuate in their moods between high-spiritedness and gloom and pessimism, each sustained for weeks or longer. Their mood changes are often rhythmic and predictable and can be set off by trivial causes, or no external causes at all.
Psychosis
Characterized by gross impairment of reality testing, including delusions, hallucinations, markedly incoherent speech, disorganized and agitated behavior. Used in general sense to refer to mental disorders where their mental impairment interferes with their ability to deal with day to day life
Quadriplegia
paralysis of all four limbs
Schizoaffective disorder
characterized by both schizophrenia and mood disturbances
Schizophrenia
group of mental disorders that are chronic, impair functioning, and are characterized by psychotic symptoms with 6 specific criteria necessary for a diagnosis. 1. delusions/hallucinations, formal thought disorder 2. Deterioration from a previous level of functioning 3. Continuous signs of illness for at least 6 ms. 4. Generally onset before 45 5. Symptoms specifically not due to mood disorders 6. symptoms not due to an organic mental disorder or mental retardation.
Spina Bifida
defective closure of bony encasement of the spinal column.
Spina Bifida Cystica
when the spinal cord and meninges protrude through the bony defect surrounding spinal cord.
Spondylolisthesis
forward displacement of one vertebra over another. Most commonly the L5 and L4
Spondylosis
immobility and consolidation of a vertebral joint. OR general term for degenerative changes of a vertebral joint due to osteoarthritis
Subdural Empyema
collection of pus between the dura and the arachnoid maters. Often complication of sinus infection, ear infection, cranial trauma, or surgery, bacteremia
Syringomyelia
slow progressing where fluid-filled neuroglial cavities form within the spinal cord. May extend up into medulla, or down into thoracic region. Symptoms include: neurological defects, muscular weakness, atrophy, dissociated sensory loss, thoracis scoliosis is often present.
Syrinx
fluid-filled neuroglial cavity
Tourette Syndrome
autosomal multiple tic disorder that begins in childhood with simple facial and vocal tics. Progresses to multiple complex jerking movements which can occur in any part of the body. More common in males
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
Neurologic abnormalities that occur suddenly, are brief (usually lasting only minutes) and are caused by dysfunction in the arterial distribution to the brain. These often occur as a precursor to a stroke.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Disorder of the Trigeminal (5th) Cranial nerve causing bouts of sever pain lasting seconds to minutes in the distribution of one or more of the nerves sensory divisions, but most commonly in the mandibular/maxillary portion
Wallerian degeneration
: A series of changes which take place in a severed peripheral nerve fiber. This affects a portion of the neuron, which swells, becomes granular, and breaks up into irregular fragments that eventually disappear. The myelin sheath (if there is one) also fragments and forms irregular globules before disappearing. Because it affects the peripheral nervous system, it is possible to have some regeneration of the damaged nerve fibers.
