Nervous System Pathophysiology

Question 1

Transient loss of consciousness is caused by what?

Answer 1

inadequate cerebral perfusion, vasovagal syncope (fainting), exercise related syncope, epilepsy.

Question 2

What is epilepsy caused by?

Answer 2

A disturbance of the electrical activity in the brain. It results from transient uncontrolled paroxysmal
discharges of nerve tissue within the brain.

Question 3

What needs to happen to get an epilepsy diagnosis?

Answer 3

recurrent attacks

Question 4

epilepsy is the symptomatic manifestation of…

Answer 4

many illnesses

Question 5

How many people have epilepsy in the UK?

Answer 5

600,000

Question 6

What % of seizures stop within 10 minutes?

Answer 6

80%

Question 7

sudden unexpected death can occur in how many people per year from epilepsy?

Answer 7

500

Question 8

What can lower the potencial threshold for seizures?

Answer 8

fever

Question 9

What is the idiopathic causes of epilepsy

Answer 9

genetics.

Question 10

What are the 6 symptomatic causes of epilepsy?

Answer 10

head injury, following infection, brain underdeveloped, stroke, scaring, tumours.

Question 11

Name as many seizure causes as you can.

Answer 11

infection, electric shock, fever, drug abuse, heat related illness, poisoning, stroke, pregnancy (eclampsia), head injury, toxin build up in the body, withdrawal from medication or alcohol.

Question 12

Three types of seizures

Answer 12

focal (partial), generalised, status epilepticus.

Question 13

What are the types of focal seizures?

Answer 13

simple, complex

Question 14

What are the generalised seizures

Answer 14

absence seizures, tonic, atonic, clonic, myoclonic, tonic-clonic.

Question 15

simple focal:temporal lobe

Answer 15

deja vu- unusual smell or taste, sudden intense feeling of fear or joy.

Question 16

simple focal: frontal lobe

Answer 16

stiffness or twitching in part of the body.

Question 17

simple focal: parietal lobe

Answer 17

feeling of numbness or tingling

Question 18

simple focal: occipital lobe

Answer 18

visual disterbance or hallucinations

Question 19

complex focal

Answer 19

15-30 seconds, usually temporal lobe, repetitive movement such as fiddling with clothing, chewing or lip smacking, muttering or repeting nonsense words, wandering round in a confused way, loss of consciousness or confusion.

Question 20

What is a secondary generalised seizure?

Answer 20

when a focal seizure starts affecting the other hemisphere of the brain.

Question 21

absent seizures are more common in…

Answer 21

children

Question 22

How often do absent seizures usually last

Answer 22

a few seconds

Question 23

characteristics of absent seizure

Answer 23

Usually remain conscious but not aware of surroundings. Eyelids often flicker.

Question 24

Are absent seizures frequent or infrequent?

Answer 24

frequent

Question 25

What are absent seizures aka

Answer 25

petit mal

Question 26

characteristics of tonic seizures

Answer 26

Person becomes rigid and usually falls over. Injuries are common. Usually brief and occur without warning.

Question 27

Atonic seizure characteristics

Answer 27

Complete and sudden loss of muscle tone. Often called a “drop attack”. May result in injuries. Last a few seconds.
*Recovery usually quick.

Question 28

Myoclonic seizure characteristics.

Answer 28

Muscle jerking. Patient remains conscious. Usually has other generalised forms of epilepsy. Often occurs in clusters but are relatively short-lived.

Question 29

Tonic clonic seizure characteristics

Answer 29

The person becomes unconscious. Body goes stiff and they usually fall backwards (Tonic). They may cry out. They may bite their tongue or cheek. They jerk and shake (convulse) as their muscles relax and tighten
rhythmically. Breathing might be affected and become difficult or sound noisy. Pallor or cyanosis. Incontinence.
After the seizure, breathing and colour return to normal and they may feel tired, confused, have a headache or want to sleep (Post Ictal).

Question 30

Clonic seizure characteristics

Answer 30

similar to tonic clonic but patient does not go rigid at start.

Question 31

Status epilepticus characteristics.

Answer 31

Convulsions lasting greater than 30 minutes. Repeated seizures for over 30 minutes with no recovery in
between. Potentially life threatening.