Neuro Flashcards
Deviation of both eyes to either side
Conjugate gaze
Deviation of the eyes to opposite sides
Dysconjugate gaze
Two mechanisms that cause a comA
Structural lesions- destroy RAS
(Tumor/abscess)
Toxic/metabolic-
(Toxins/lack of O2)
Structural causes of coma (3)
Intracranial bleed
Head trauma
Brain tumor
Metabolic System (6) causes of coma
Anoxia Hypoglycemia DKA Thiamine deficiency Kidney and liver failure Postictal phase of seizure
Drugs (5) cause of coma
Barbiturates Narcotics Hallucinogens Depressants Alcohol
Cardiovascular (4) cause of coma
HTN encephalopathy
Shock
Dysrhythmias
Stroke
Respiratory system (2) cause of coma
COPD toxic inhalation (co)
Infection (1) cause of coma
Meningitis
6 general causes of coma
Structural Metabolic Drugs Cardio Resp Infection
2 types of ischemic stroke
Cerebral thrombosis
Cerebral Embolism
2 types of hemorrhagic strokes
Intracerebral hemorrhage
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Babinski’s sign
Dorsiflexion of big toe
Fanning of outer toes
Lesion on right side of brain will have hemiparesis/numbness on which side
Left side
Diplopia
Double vision
Painless visual loss in one eye
Monocular blindness
S/S of hemorrhagic stroke
Severe headache N/V ⬇️ LOC Stiff neck Seizure
Cushings reflex as ICP⬆️
Cushings
HTN
widening pulse pressure
Bradycardia
Altered breathing
TIA differs from CVA by
S/S return to normal within 24 hrs.
8 D’s of Stroke Management
Detection - family/pt calls 911
Dispatch - dispatch call
Delivery - to SRC
Door - stroke center (TPA
Occur most often in 4-12 y/o
Brief loc w/o loss of posture
Usually No motor
Eye blinking, lip smacking, isolated contraction of muscles
Absence (petit mal) seizures
Abrupt loss of muscle tone
Loss of posture
Sudden collapse
Resistant to drug therapy
Atonic seizures
Brief muscle contractions
Occasionally one arm or foot
Myoclonic seizure
Preceded by an aura Sudden loc Loss organized muscle tone Extensor muscle tone activity Apnea Tongue biting Incontinence Ridgity
Tonic clonic seizure
Extensor muscle tone activity and apnea
Few seconds
Tonic phase
Rigidity alternating w/ relaxation
Clonic phase
Caused by cortical lesions
Partial seizures
Seizure that originates in the motor or sensory cortex
Clonic activity to one body part
Simple partial seizure
Starts in a group of muscles (like wrist or hand)
May progress to whole arm or grand mal
Focal Motor seizure
Jacksonian
Simple partial seizure
Attacks of confusion
Loss of awareness w/ semi-purposeful behavior or movements
Often repetitive
Lasts a few minutes
Complex partial Seizure
Gingival hypertrophy (swelling of the gums) can be a sign of what drug therapy?
Phenytoin (Dilantin) - seizures
Neoplasm
Brain tumor
Accumulation of purulent material (pus) surrounded by a capsule within the brain
Brain abscess
Condition in which nerve cells in the cerebral cortex die and the brain substance shrinks
Alzheimer’s Disease
Slow progressive loss of awareness of time and place
Dementia
Shrinking of the frontal and temporal lobes
Changes in behavior and language
Pick’s Disease
Rare hereditary disease Quick involuntary movements Speech disturbances Mental deterioration Caused by degenerative changes in cerebral cortex and basal ganglia
Huntington’s disease
Rare fatal brain disorder characterized by rapidly progressive dementia Probs w/ muscular coordination Personality changes Involuntary movements Impaired memory Poor judgement Often develop blindness
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)
Inherited muscle disorder
Slow but progressive degeneration of muscle fibers
Muscular dystrophy
Progressive disease of the CNS
scattered patches of myelin in the brain and spinal cord are destroyed
Autoimmune body destroys myelin
Multiple sclerosis
Numbness Tingling to paralysis Fatigue Vertigo Clumsiness Unsteady gait Slurred speech Blurred or double vision Facial numbness or pain
Multiple sclerosis
Disease that affects the peripheral nervous system especially spinal nerves but also cranial nerves
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
Local or diffuse changes in muscle tone resulting in painful muscle spasms, unusually fixed postures and strange movement patterns
Dystonia
Caused by degeneration of nerve cells in the basal ganglia in the brain
Causes lack of dopamine
Parkinson’s Disease
Bell’s palsy is caused by inflammation of which cranial nerve?
Cranial Nerve VII
Nerves that control muscular activity degenerate in the brain and spinal cord
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Congenital defect in which part of one or more vertebrae fails to develop completely
Leaves a portion of the spinal cord exposed
Can occur anywhere on the spine
Spina Bifida
Where is spinal Bifida most common?
Lower back
What is the most common and least serious form of spina Bifida?
Spina Bifida Occulta
Type of spina Bifida where nerve tissue of the spinal cord is usually intact and covered with a membranous sac of skin
Meningocele
Severest form of spina Bifida
Can cause severe handicap
Raw swelling over the spine
Malformed spine may or May not be contained in a membranous sac
Myelomeningocele
Range from Infection To afebrile illness w/o neurological after effects Aseptic meningitis Paralytic disease Poss death
Polio
Fever h/a sore throat malaise
Nonparalytic S/S polio
Gen. Pain weakness muscle spasms paralysis of limbs and other muscles
Paralytic S/S polio
