Neuro- Abnormals Flashcards
disorders of consciousness can either effect _____ or _____
the level of consciousness (LOC) or the content of consciousness
what is LOC vs content of consciousness?
LOC: injury in ascending reticular activating system or both cerebral hemispheres (changes influence the state of consciousness- e.g. hallucination)
Content: Level of Consciousness may be normal but content is abnormal (e.g. dementia)
Difference in time-of-onset for LOC vs Content of Consciousness change
Determining time of onset helps diagnose:
acute confused state- impaired LOC
Dementia- not impaired LOC, slowly progressive
What are we trying to determine in a mental status evaluation? 4 possibilities?
- dementia
- acute confused state cause by a number of things
- focal lesion
- psychiatric disorder (may be caused by lesion, genetic, illness, etc)
5 parts of testing cognition and what disease states or these results indicative of?
Orientation- acute or dementia Attention- dementia, delirium Remote memory- dementia, Recent memory- dementia, delirium New learning ability- amnesia *(delirium and amnesia are both acute states, dementia is chronic) - essentially trying to determine acute vs chronic
what is aphonia?
loss of voice from the LARYNX (from disease or nerve damage)
-this is a step up from dysphonia- less severe impairment from, say, laryngitis
what is dysphasia?
impairment of speech resulting from a brain lesion or neurodevelopmental disorder
what is dysphonia?
(Cranial Nerve X) – difficulty in speaking; hoarseness
what is dysarthria?
Impairment or clumsiness in the uttering of words due to disease that affect the oral, lingual, or pharyngeal MUSCLES
what is aphasia?
absence or impairment of the ability to communicate by speech, writing, or signs because of BRAIN DYSFUNCTION
what is wernicke’s aphasia?
sensory speech area issue: Fluent, rapid, voluble, effortless Malformed words Nonsensical sentences Incomprehensible -Location: Posterior superior temporal lobe
what is broca’s aphasia?
Motor speech area issue:
Non-fluent, slow, few words, laborious
Meaningful words with impaired inflection/articulation
May drop small words
Comprehend words/reading fair to good
Impaired: repetition, naming, writing
-Location: Posterior inferior frontal lobe
what is bell’s palsy?
CN VII Peripheral lesion Paralyzes entire side of face on side of lesion Eye will not close Flattening of nasolabial fold Inability to raise eyebrows Lower face paralysis
lower portion of the face controlled by what? upper portion of face controlled by what?
Lower portion of face controlled by contralateral upper motor neurons of the cortex (Stroke may affect these)
Upper face controlled by both sides of cortex, so motor neurons on opposite side of cortex allow fair movement of the upper face
CN 7 central lesion could cause…
Eye closes but may be weak
Nasolabial fold is flat
Raises eyebrows
Lower face paralyzed
what is jerk nystagmus?
has a fast and a slow phase and is defined by the direction of its fast component.
issues in what three areas can cause nystagmus?
peripheral or central nerves
cerebellar
what is the dix-hallpike test?
test when pt has vertigo w/change in position:
The head, turned to the right is rapidly lowered 30 degrees below horizontal while gaze is maintained to the right.
The eyes are observed for nystagmus patient notes the following about their vertigo:
Onset
Severity
Cessation
peripheral lesion vs central lesion… how will these present different in a dix hallpike test for nystagmus and vertigo?
peripheral lesion will show more severe signs- distress from vertigo, vomitting
includes latency, fatiguability (response remits as position is maintained) and habituation
what are resting tremors?
(Static)
Prominent at rest
May decrease/disappear with movement
Example: Parkinson Tremor
what are postural tremors?
(Action) Occur when affected part is maintaining a posture Examples: Hyperthyroidism: Fine and rapid Anxiety/Fatigue Benign Essential (Familial) Tremor
what are intention tremors?
Absent at rest, Occur with activity
*Worsen as they get near target (aka- trying to pick up a pen, it will get worse as the hand nears the pen)
Example:
Multiple Sclerosis (Disorder of Cerebellar Pathway)
what are tics?
Brief, coordinated, repetitive movements at irregular intervals
Examples:
Tourette’s syndrome
what is athetosis?
Slow and twisting movements with a large amplitude
-face and extremities, spastic
Example:
Cerebral palsy