Nervous System: Symptomatic & Diagnostic Terms Flashcards
condition without speech; impairment due to localized brain injury that affects understanding, retrieving, and formulating meaningful and sequential elements of language
aphasia
condition of difficult articulation; group of related speech impairments that may affect the speed, range, direction, strength, and timing of motor movement as a result of paralysis, weakness, or incoordination of speech muscles
dysarthria
difficulty speaking
dysphasia
general term referring to levels of decreased consciousness with varying responsiveness; a common method of assessment is the Glasgow coma scale
coma
state of mental confusion due to disturbances in cerebral function- there are many causes, including fever, shock, or drug overdose
delirium
impairment of intellectual function characterized by memory loss, disorientation, and confusion
dementia
loss of impairment of muscle function
motor deficit
loss or impairment of sensation
sensory deficit
pain along the course of a nerve
neuralgia
temporary or permanent loss of motor control
paralysis
defective or absent muscle control caused by a nerve lesion
flaccid paralysis
stiff and awkward muscle control caused by a central nervous system disorder
spastic paralysis
partial paralysis of the right or left half of the body
hemiparesis
pain that follows the pathway of the sciatic nerve caused by compression or trauma of the nerve or its roots
sciatica
sudden, transient disturbance in brain function resulting from abnormal firing of nerve impulses, with or without convulsion
seizure
to pull together; type of seizure that causes a series of sudden, involuntary contractions of muscles
convulsion
fainting
syncope
evoking a response by touching
tactile stimulation
increased sensitivity to stimulation such as touch or pain
hyperesthesia
abnormal sensation of numbness and tingling without objective cause
paresthesia
any of many types of loss of neurological function associated with interpretation of sensory information
agnosia
inability to judge the form of an object by touch
astereognosis
inability to locate a sensation properly, such as to locate a point touched on the body
atopognosis
disease of structural changes in the brain resulting in an irreversible deterioration that progresses from forgetfulness and disorientation to loss of all intellectual functions, total disability, and death
Alzheimer disease
- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis AKA Lou Gehrig disease
- a condition of progressive deterioration of motor nerve cells resulting in total loss of voluntary muscle control; symptoms advance from muscle weakness in the arms, legs, muscles of speech, swallowing, and breathing to total paralysis and death
ALS
- CP
- condition of motor dysfunction caused by damage to the cerebrum during development or injury at birth, characterized by partial paralysis and lack of muscle coordination
cerebral palsy
disorder resulting from a change within one or more blood vessels of the brain
cerebrovascular disease
hardening of the arteries in the brain
cerebral arteriosclerosis
condition of lipid buildup within the blood vessels of the brain
cerebral atherosclerosis
dilation of a blood vessel in the brain
cerebral aneurysm
presence of a stationary clot in a blood vessel of the brain
cerebral thrombosis
obstruction of a blood vessel in the brain by an embolus transported through the circulation
cerebral embolism
CVA
- cerebrovascular accident stroke
- damage to the brain caused by cerebrovascular disease i.e. occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus or thrombus or intracranial hemorrhage after rupture of an aneurysm
TIA
- transient ischemic attack
- brief episode of loss of blood flow to the brain usually caused by a partial occlusion that results in temporary neurological deficits, often precedes a CVA
ischemia of the anterior circulation of the brain
carotid TIA
ischemia of the posterior circulation of the brain
vertebrobasilar TIA
inflammation of the brain
encephalitis
disorder affecting the central nervous system characterized by recurrent seizures
epilepsy
stiffening-jerking: a major motor seizure involving all muscle groups- previously termed grand mal seizure
tonic-clonic
seizure involving a brief loss of consciousness without motor involvement- previously termed little mal
absence
seizure involving only limited areas of the brain with localized symptoms
partial
tumor of glial cells graded by degree of malignancy
glioma
protrusion of a degenerated or fragmented intervertebral disk so that the nucleus pulposus protrudes, causing compression of the nerve root
herniated disk
viral disease affecting the peripheral nerves, characterized by painful blisters that spread over the skin following the affected nerves, usually unilaterally, aka shingles
herpes zoster
hereditary disease of the central nervous system
Huntington disease (HD)
characterized by bizarre involuntary body movements and progressive dementia
Huntington chorea
aka hydrocephaly
-abnormal accumulation cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain as a result of developmental anomalies, infection, injury, or tumor
hydrocephalus
benign tumor of the coverings of the brain
meningioma
inflammation of the meninges
meningitis
paroxysmal attacks of mostly unilateral headache often accompanied by disordered vision, nausea, and/or vomiting, lasting hours or days caused by inflammation of arteries
migraine headache
- multiple sclerosis
- disease of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination of nerve fibers with episodes of neurological dysfunction followed by recovery
MS
autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction causing a progressive decrease muscle strength with activity and a return of strength after a period of rest
myasthenia gravis
inflammation of the spinal cord
myelitis
sleep disorder characterized by a sudden, uncontrollable need to sleep, attacks of paralysis, and dreams intruding while awake
narcolepsy
condition of slowly progressive degeneration of an area of the brainstem resulting in a decrease in dopamine ; characterized by tremor, rigidity of muscles, and slow movements, usually occurring later in life
Parkinson disease
paralysis
plegia
paralysis on one side of the body
hemiplegia
paralysis from the waist down
paraplegia
paralysis of all four limbs
quadriplegia
inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord caused by a virus, often resulting in spinal and muscle deformity and paralysis
poliomyelitis
inflammation involving two or more nerves, often owing to a nutritional deficiency, such as a lack of thiamine
polyneuritis
condition of abnormal function of the sympathetic nervous system in response to pain perception, usually as a result of an injury to an extremity; symptoms include persistent burning pain, edema, joint tenderness, changes in skin color and temperature, and abnormal sweating at the pain site- decreased mobility caused by pain can lead to muscle atrophy and loss of motor function
reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD)
periods of breathing cessation that occur during sleep, often causing snoring
sleep apnea
congenital defect in the spinal column characterized by the absence of vertebral arches, often resulting in pouching of spinal membranes or tissue
spina bifida
- electroencephalogram
- record of the minute electrical impulses of the brain used to identify neurological conditions that affect brain function and level of consciousness
EEG
record of minute electrical potentials that are extracted from ongoing EEG activity to diagnose auditory, visual, and sensory pathway disorders- also used to monitor the neurological function of patients during surgery
evoked potentials
electrical shock of peripheral nerves to record time of conduction; used to diagnose various peripheral nervous system diseases
nerve conduction velocity (NCV)
recording of various aspects of sleep to diagnose sleep disorders
polysomnography (PSG)
introduction of specialized needle into the spine in the lumbar region for diagnostic or therapeutic purpose, such as to obtain cerebrospinal fluid for testing; aka spinal tap
lumbar puncture (LP)
- magnetic resonance imaging
- nonionizing imaging technique using magnetic fields and radio frequency waves to visualize anatomical structures, such as the tissues of the brain and spinal cord
MRI
use of magnetic resonance in imaging of the blood vessels- useful in detecting pathological conditions such as atherosclerosis and thrombosis
magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
magnetic resonance image of the head to visualize the vessels of the vessels of the circle of willis
intracranial MRA
magnetic resonance image of the neck to visualize the carotid artery
extracranial MRA
radionuclide organ imagin
nuclear medicine imaging
- single photon emission computed tomography
- scan combining nuclear medicine and computed tomography technology to produce images of the brain after administration of the radioactive isotopes
SPECT brain scan
technique combining medicine and computed tomography technology to produce images of brain anatomy and corresponding physiology- used to study stroke, it provides greater accuracy than SPECT but is used less often because of the cost and limited availability of the radioisotopes
positron emission tomography (PET)
x-ray imaging
radiography
x-ray of blood vessels in the brain after intracarotid injection of contrast medium
cerebral angiogram
computed tomographic x-ray images of the head used to visualize abnormalities within
computed tomography
x-ray of the spinal cord made after intraspinal injection of contrast medium
myelogram
test performed to observe the body’s response to a stimulus
reflex testing
DTR
- deep tendon reflexes
- involuntary muscle contractions after percussion at a tendon, indicates function
pathological response to stimulation of the plantar surface of the foot ; a positive sign is indicated when the toes dorsiflex
babinski sign or reflex
image made by sending ultrasound beams through the skull to assess blood flow in intracranial vessels- used in diagnosis and management of stroke and head trauma
transcranial sonogram
excision of part of the skull to approach the brain
craniectomy
incision into the skull to approach the brain
craniotomy
removal of a herniated disk often done percutaneously
diskectomy
excision of one or more laminae of the vertebrae to approach the spinal cord
laminectomy
flattened posterior portion of the vertebral arch
vertebral lamina
utilization of a microscope to dissect minute structures during surgery
microsurgery
diagnosis and treatment of disorders within cerebral blood vessels performed in a specialized angiographic laboratory by interventional neuroradiologists; common procedures include:
- cerebral angioplasty and stent
- embolization
neuroendovascular surgery
surgical repair of a nerve
neuroplasty
spinal fusion
spondylosyndesis
emotional feeling or mood
affect
significantly dulled emotional tone or outward reaction
flat affect
lack of interest or display of emotion
apathy
state of unresponsiveness to one’s outside environment, usually including muscle rigidity, staring, and inability to communicate
catatonia
persistent belief that has no basis in reality
delusion
person’s false belief that he or she possesses great wealth, intelligence, or power
grandiose delusion
persons’s false belief that someone is plotting against him or her with intent to harm
persecutory delusion
restless, dissatisfied mood
dysphoria
exaggerated, unfounded feeling of well-being
euphoria
false perception of the senses for which there is no reality, most commonly hearing or seeing things
hallucination
formation of thoughts or ideas
ideation
state of abnormal elation and increased activity
mania
psychological condition in which anxiety is prominent
neurosis
mental condition characterized by distortion of reality, resulting in the inability to communicate or function with one’s environment
psychosis
thought that lacks clear processing or logical direction
thought disorder
CNS
central nervous system
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid
- aka major depressive illness, clinical depression major affective disorder, unipolar disorder
- disorder causing periodic disturbances in mood that affect concentration, sleep, activity, appetite, and social behavior characterized by feelings of worthlessness, fatigue and loss of interest
major depression
milder affective disorder characterized by a chronic depression persisting for at least 2 years
dysthmia
affective disorder characterized by mood swings of mania and depression (extreme ups and downs)
manic depression bipolar disorder (BD)
affective disorders marked by episodes of depression that most often occur during the fall and winter and remit in the spring
seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
most common anxiety disorder, characterized by chronic, excessive, and uncontrollable worry about everyday problems that affects the ability to relax or concentrate but does not usually interfere with social interactions or employment; physical symptoms include muscle tension, trembling, twitching, fatigue, headaches, nausea, and insomnia- symptoms must exist for atleast 6 months before a diagnosis can be made
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
disorder of sudden, recurrent attacks of intense feelings including physical symptoms that mimic a heart attack such as rapid heart rate, chest pain, shortness of breath, chills, sweating, and dizziness, with a general sense of loss of control or feeling that death is imminent; often progresses to agoraphobia
panic disorder (PD)
exaggerated fear of a specific object or circumstance, such as agoraphobia, claustrophobia, or acrophobia
phobia
PTSD
- posttraumatic stress disorder
- condition resulting from an extremely traumatic experience, illness, or injury that leaves the sufferer with persistent thoughts and memories of the ordeal; symptoms include feelings of fear, detachment, exaggerated startle response, restlessness, nightmare, and avoidance of anything or anyone who triggers the painful recollections
OCD
- obsessive compulsive disorder
- anxiety disorder featuring unwanted, senseless obsessions accompanied by repeated compulsions, which can interfere with all aspect’s of a person’s daily life
preoccupation with thoughts of disease and concern that one is suffering from a serious condition that persists despite medical reassurance of the contrary
hypochondriasis
developmental disability that commonly appearing during the first 3 years of life, resulting from a neurological disorder affecting brain function, evidence by difficulties with vertebral and non vertebral communication, and an inability to relate to anything beyond oneself in social interactions; individuals with autism often exhibit body movements such as rocking, repetitive hand movements, and commonly become preoccupied with observing small objects or moving parts or performing meaningless rituals
autism
developmental disability characterized by a difficulty understanding written or spoken words, sentences, or paragraphs, affecting reading, spelling, and self-expression
dyslexia
ADHD
- attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
- dysfunction characterized by consistent hyper activity, distractibility, and lack of control over impulses, which interferes with the ability to function normally at school, home, or work; specific criteria must be met for diagnosis
condition of subaverage intelligence characterized by an IQ of 70 or below, resulting in the inability to adapt to normal social activities
mental retardation
severe disturbance in eating behavior caused by abnormal perceptions about one’s body weight, evidenced by an overwhelming fear of becoming fat that results in refusal to eat and body weight well below normal
anorexia nervosa
eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by efforts to limit digestion through induced vomiting, use of laxatives, or excessive exercise
bulimia nervosa
mental disorders resulting from abuse of substances such as drugs, alcohol, or other toxins causing personal and social dysfunction; identified by the abused substance, such as alcohol abuse, amphetamine abuse, opioid abuse, or polysubstance abuse
substance abuse disorders
- disease of brain chemistry causing a distorted cognitive and emotional perception of one’s environment characterized by a broad range of “positive” and “negative” symptoms
- positive symptoms: distortions of normal function i.e delusions, hallucinations, catatonic behavior, etc.)
- negative symptoms: (normal reactions that are lacking in those with schizophrenia) flat affect, apathy, and withdrawal from reality
schizophrenia
featuring disorganized speech, behavior, and flat or inappropriate affect
disorganized schizophrenia
featuring catatonia (immobile or unresponsive stupor)
catatonic schizophrenia
featuring delusions, most often persecutory or grandiose types
paranoid schizophrenia
concurrent with major depression or manic depression
schizoaffective disorder
ECT
- electroconvulsive therapy
- electrical shock therapy applied to the brain to induce convulsions; used to treat severely depressed patients
use of specialized illuminating light boxes and visors to treat season affective disorder
light therapy
treatment of psychiatric disorders using verbal and nonverbal interaction with patients, individually or in a group, employing specific actions and techniques
psychotherapy
treatment to decrease or stop unwanted behavior
behavioral therapy
treatment to change unwanted patterns of thinking
cognitive therapy
