Nervous system pathophysiology Flashcards
What is the definition of local affects?
Signs that are related to the specific area of the brain ot spinal cord which the lesion is located.
What is an early change for someome with damage to the brain or spinal cord?
Decreasing level of consciousness
What can small lesions in the brain stem affect?
Affect the reticular activiating system.
What cranial nerves are within the midbrain?
Ocolumotor and trochlear
What cranial nerves are within the pons?
Trigeminal, abducens, facial and vestibochloear.
What is the needed to close our eyes completley shut?
The 7th cranial nerve working
What cranial nerves are within the medulla?
Glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory, hypoglossal
What nerve controls eye lid movement?
3rd cranial nerve
During seizures what does tongue biting suggest?
Involuntary convulsions - convulsive seizure
What can we look for with a hemispheric (anterior) stroke?
Fast +ve
Sudden onset
Facial and body weakness
Dysphasia
What can we look for with a brainstem (posterior) stroke?
Subtle symptoms such as vertigo and dizziness (look for history of these)
1 side of tongue swollen
Cranial nerve deficits both in examination and history such as double vision
Long tract signs, particuarly bilateral such as bilateral weakness in the arms
No motor changes
Ocolumotor signs
Define a long tract sign
Refers to symptoms that are a attribute to the involvement of long river tracts in the spinal cord
What is the definition of a brain stem stroke?
Happens when the blood supply to the base of the brain is stopped, affecting many different functions within the body.
What are the two types of brain stem stroke?
Ischemic - blood clot or other obstruction withtin the vessels
Haemorrhagic - blood coming out of the vessel
What are some causes of a brain stem stroke?
Tumours, trauma, atherosclerosis, thromboemlism (obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot thats been dislodged from another site)
