Neuro Flashcards
1
Q
Cauda Equina
A
When the nerve roots in the lumbar spine are compressed, cutting off sensation and movement
2
Q
Ataxia
A
Gross lack of coordination of muscles such as staggering gait
3
Q
Atrophy
A
Partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body
4
Q
Aphagia
A
Inability to swallow
5
Q
Dysphagia
A
Difficulty swallowing
6
Q
Aphasia
A
Inability to express oneself through speech
7
Q
Dysarthria
A
Speech condition that occurs making it difficult to pronounce words due to weakness, paralysis or lack of muscle coordination
8
Q
Dysphasia
A
Speech disorder in which there is an impairment of speech and of comprehension of speech
9
Q
Hemiplegia
A
Total paralysis of the arm, leg, and trunk on the same side of the body
10
Q
Dizziness
A
Refers to an impairment in spatial perception and stability
11
Q
Vertigo
A
Type of dizziness, where there is a feeling of motion when one is stationary
12
Q
Lightheadedness
A
Feeling faint
13
Q
Presyncope
A
State consisting of lightheadedness, muscular weakness, and feeling faint with NO LOC
14
Q
Syncope
A
Temporary loss of consciousness, fainting, LOC
15
Q
Fecal Incontinence
A
Loss of regular control of the bowels
16
Q
Urinary Incontinence
A
Loss of bladder control
17
Q
Saddle Anesthesia
A
Loss of sensation restricted to the area of the buttocks and perineum
18
Q
Paresthias
A
Sensation of tingling, burning, pricking, or numbness
19
Q
Hemiparesis
A
Weakness on one side of the body
20
Q
AMS
A
Altered mental status
21
Q
CSF
A
Cerebrospinal fluid
22
Q
HA
A
Headache
23
Q
LOC
A
Loss of consciousness or level or consciousness
24
Q
SF
A
Spinal fluid
25
MAE
Moving all extremities
26
EOMI
Extra ocular movements intact
27
A&O
Alert and oriented
28
Asterixis
Tremor of the wrist when the wrist is extended (dorsiflexion) due to motor disorder is characterized by jerking movements associated with metabolic encephalopathy
29
Babinski Reflex:
elicited when the sole of the foot is stimulated with a blunt instrument based upon what the big toe does when the sole of the foot is stimulated (Normal: toes down going)
30
Clonus
Series of involuntary muscular contractions and relaxations, a sign of certain neurological conditions; upper motor neuron lesions such as in stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord damage and hepatic encephalopathy
31
DTR's: Deep Tendon Reflexes
reflexes are elicited and measured on a scale of 0 to 5+; often patellar reflex tested (Normal: 2+ patellar reflex)
32
FNF Test: Finger-Nose-Finger Test
patient extends index finger and touches nose then touches examiner's outstretched finger with the same finger and goes back and forth between touching nose and examiner's finger.
33
Dysmetria
s the clinical term for the inability to perform point-to-point movements due to over or under projecting ones fingers (Normal: normal finger to nose testing)
34
Gait
Particular way or manner of moving on foot. Abnormalities can be describes as staggering, shuffling or ataxic (Normal: gait normal)
35
GCS
Glasgow Coma Scale- neurological scale that aims to give a reliable, objective way of recording the conscious state of a person based on eye, verbal and motor function on a scale of 3-15 (Normal: GCS 15)
36
Heel to Shin Test
While laying supine patient is instructed to place heel of one leg on shin of opposite leg just below the knee and then slide it down shin to the top of their foot (Normal: normal heel to shin)
37
Kernig’s Sign
Positive when the thigh is bent at the hip and knee at 90 degree angles, and subsequent extension in the knee is painful
38
Brudzinski’sSign
A physical exam finding in which forced flexion of the neck elicits reflex flexion of the hips
39
Mentation
Mental activity
40
Obtunded
less than full mental capacity in a medical patient, typically as a result of a medical condition or trauma
41
Somnolent
state of feeling drowsy, ready to fall asleep
42
Muscle Tone
Continuous and passive partial contraction of the muscles
43
Nuchal Rigidity
Patient is unable to flex his or her head forward due to an un-natural rigidity of the neck muscles
44
Nystagmus
Involuntary rapid eye movements; vertical or horizontal (Normal: no nystagmus
45
Pronator Drift
ndicator of upper motor neuron weakness. In upper motor neuron weakness, supination is weaker than pronation in the upper extremity, leading to a pronation of the affected arm (Normal: no pronator drift
46
Romberg Test:
Neurological test to detect poor balance based on the inability to maintain a steady standing posture with the eyes closed (Normal: negative Romberg)
47
Sensation
Perception of a stimulus (Normal: sensation intact)
48
Tremor
Involuntary somewhat rhythmic, muscle contraction and relaxation involving to and- fro movements (oscillations or twitching) of one or more body parts
49
Bell's Palsy
Form of facial paralysis resulting from a dysfunction of the cranial nerve VII (the facial nerve) that results in the inability to control facial muscles on the affected side
50
Cerebral Aneurysm
Weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel
51
CP: Cerebral Palsy
motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development; caused by damage to the motor control centers of the developing brain and can occur during pregnancy, during childbirth or after birth
52
CVA: Cerebral Vascular Accident
blood flow to a part of the brain stops; ischemic or hemorrhagic. Also called stroke
53
Dementia
Loss of global cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging
54
Epidural Abscess
Collection of pus (infected material) between the outer covering of the brain and spinal cord and the bones of the skull or spine
55
Epidural Hematoma
Bleeding between the inside of the skull and the outer covering of the brain
56
Epilepsy
Brain disorder in which a person has repeated seizures
57
Hydrocephalus
Buildup of fluid inside the skull that leads to brain swelling
58
LP: Lumbar Puncture
procedure whereby spinal fluid is removed from the spinal canal for the purpose of diagnostic testing
59
Meningitis
Inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord or brain (viral or bacterial)
60
MR: Mental Retardation
generalized disorder appearing before adulthood, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors
61
Peripheral Neuropathy
Refers to damage to nerves of the peripheral nervous system associated with varying combinations of weakness, autonomic changes and sensory changes
62
Parkinson's Disease
Degenerative disease of the central nervous system that leads to shaking (tremors) and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination
63
SAH: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
bleeding in the area between the brain and the thin tissues that cover the brain (subarachnoid space)
64
Seizures
Abnormal electrical activity in the brain classified by grand mal, absence, myoclonic, clonic, tonic or atonic seizures
65
Epilepsy
brain disorder in which a person has repeated seizures over time
66
Focal (Partial)
seizures which affect only a part of the brain
67
Petit Mal
term commonly given to a staring spell, most commonly called an "absence seizure." It is a brief (usually less than 15 seconds) disturbance of brain function due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain
68
Tonic Clonic (Grand Mal)
type of generalized seizure that affects the entire brain
69
TIA: Transient Ischemia Attack
transient episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by ischemia
70
VP Shunt: Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt
used to treat swelling of the brain due to excess buildup of cerebrospinal fluid by draining fluid into the peritoneal cavity
71
Subdural Hematoma
Collection of blood on the surface of the brain
72
EEG: Electroencephalography
recording of electrical activity along the scalp. EEG measures voltage fluctuations resulting from ionic current flows within the neurons of the brain
