Neuro Glossary

Question 1

Chorea

Answer 1

Quick, irregular, random, non-repetitive but coordinated movements

Question 2

Athetosis

Answer 2

Distal postural muscle fixation
Slower than chorea
Writhing, sinuous hand posture
Slowly fluctuating grimaces

Question 3

Ballism

Answer 3

Proximal muscle fixation
Wild flinging movements of limbs
Usually unilateral
Problem with basal ganglia

Question 4

Pathological source of intentional vs resting tremors

Answer 4

Intentional - cerebellar pathology

Resting - basal ganglia pathology

Question 5

Agnosia

Answer 5

Inability to recognize or interpret sensations
May be problem with touch, smell, sight, taste
The man who mistook his wife for a hat
May be unilateral

Question 6

Akinesia

Answer 6

Paucity of movement

Question 7

Allodynia

Answer 7

Ordinary stimulus causes pain
(dysesthesia)
Usually a peripheral neuropathy

Question 8

Anosognosia

Answer 8

Lack of self-awareness
Lack of comprehension that you have a problem
Common in schizophrenia and bipolar

Question 9

Apnea test

Answer 9

Part of brain death exam

Verifies lack of responsiveness to increased CO2 levels

Question 10

Aphasia

Answer 10

Inability to understand or create language

May be expressive, receptive or both

Question 11

Apraxia

Answer 11

Impaired planning/performance of movement that is not due to weakness or sensory loss
Actions may be deficient when attempting specific tasks but normal when performing others
Parietal and frontal lobe pathology

Question 12

Asterixis

Answer 12

Palmar flapping - indicates metabolic encephalopathy

Question 13

Ataxia

Answer 13

Lack of coordination

Suspect cerebellar or sensory pathway pathology

Question 14

Bradykinesia

Answer 14

Slowed movement

Suspect basal ganglia pathology

Question 15

Charcot joint

Answer 15

Progressive destruction of joints due to sensory or autonomic neuropathy

Question 16

Chiari malformation

Answer 16

CNS disorder characterized by cerebellar elongation and protrusion through foramen magnum
Anatomical abnormality that results in cerebellum, +/- medulla, displacing inferiorly through the foramen magnum into the spinal column.
May cause hydrocephalus, eye movement problems, cerebellar pathology, spinal myelomeningocele.

Question 17

Clasp knife

Answer 17

Spring-like resistance to passive extension/flexion that disappears at a certain point
Indicates spasticity

Question 18

Cogwheeling

Answer 18

Ratchety feel with passive movement

Caused by tremor superimposed on rigidity

Question 19

Dysarthria

Answer 19

Inability to pronounce/articulate words because of problem with vocal apparatus
Sounds like you’re talking with marbles in your mouth

Question 20

Dysesthesia

Answer 20

Pain caused by normally non-painful stimulus
(Allodynia)
Usually a peripheral neuropathy

Question 21

Dysphagia

Answer 21

Difficulty swallowing

Question 22

Fasciculation

Answer 22

Visible spasming of a muscle just under the skin

Indicates denervation

Question 23

Hemiparesis

Answer 23

Weakness on one side of the body

Question 24

Hemiplegia

Answer 24

Paralysis on one side of the body

Question 25

Horner’s syndrome

Answer 25

Ptosis
Meiosis
Anhidrosis
Caused by blockage or damage to sympathetic nerves

Question 26

Kernig’s sign

Answer 26

Pain in posterior thigh with passive flexion and extension of knee
Suspect meningeal irritation

Question 27

Long-tract signs

Answer 27

Signs indicative of damage to corticospinal, spinothalamic or dorsal columns or medial lemniscus columns
Weakness, hyperreflexia, primitive reflexes

Question 28

Neuropathy

Answer 28

Problem with a nerve

Question 29

Parasthesia

Answer 29

Abnormal skin sensation with no apparent cause

Tickling, burning, itching, pain, tingling

Question 30

Reticular activating system

Answer 30

Spread throughout diencephalon, midbrain and pons

Mediates consciouness and has role in respiratory and cardiovascular function

Question 31

Rigidity

Answer 31

Increased resistance to passive movement
Resistance present in both directions because it usually involves muscle groups
Problem originates in basal ganglia

Question 32

Romberg test

Answer 32

Inability to maintain upright posture with feet together and eyes closed
Suspect impaired proprioception or cerebellar pathology

Question 33

Simple tic

Answer 33

A tic that involves a few muscles

May cause small noises, eye blinking, facial grimace

Question 34

Spasticity

Answer 34

Abnormally high muscle tone and reflexes
Irregular, arrhythmic rigidity
Velocity-dependent resistance to movement, passive or active
Resistance present in one direction because individual muscles are affected
Suspect upper motor pathology

Question 35

Spondylosis

Answer 35

Degenerative problem of vertebral column

Question 36

Spondylolisthesis

Answer 36

Subluxation of a vertebral body

Look for step-off

Question 37

Tic

Answer 37

Repetitive, stereotyped movement

Can often be voluntarily suppressed for a short time, although this may cause discomfort

Question 38

Transient ischemic attack

Answer 38

Stroke whose symptoms resolve within 24 horus

Question 39

Two-point discrimination

Answer 39

Measure of how far apart two stimuli need to be for someone to tell that they aren’t the same stimulus
Increased distance indicates neuropathy

Question 40

Vertigo

Answer 40

Imbalance

Often noticed as the external world spinning or moving

Question 41

Neglect

Answer 41

Part of the world doesn’t exist anymore
Rights-sided neglect - unable to recognize, acknowledge or interact with right side of the world
Temporal and/or parietal lobe pathology

Question 42

Hemianopsia

Answer 42

Loss of half of visual field
Homonymous hemianopsia - loss of right or left visual field in both eyes
Bitemporal hemianopsia - loss of temporal visual field in both eyes

Question 43

Akithesia

Answer 43

Inner feeling of restlessness.