Neuro - Key Words (Prof. Cowley made these last year for another class; they include links!) Flashcards
Absence seizure
A type of generalized (involves both sides of brain) onset, non-motor seizure; usually seen in children & rarely beyond adolescence. Typical vs atypical vs myoclonic
Acetylcholine
A neurotransmitter. Myasthenia gravis is caused by an autoimmune process in which antibodies attack the acetylcholine receptors.
Aphasia
Impaired ability to communicate (comprehensive, expressive or both); often seen with CVA patients
Ataxia
Inability to coordinate voluntary muscular movements; often looks as if patient is intoxicated
Autonomic dysfunction
Sometimes occurs with Guillain Barre Syndrome patients; disturbance in ANS results in orthostatic hypotension or hypertension, bradycardia, facial flushing, bowel/bladder problems
Automatism
Happens with partial complex seizures; a set of brief unconscious behaviors; several seconds to minutes to longer; examples include finger rubbing, lip smacking, chewing, swallowing - or more complex actions, such as sleepwalking or incoherent speech.
Dopamine
Neurotransmitter; a deficit is found in Parkinson’s Disease
Dysarthria
Problem with muscular control with speech; many stroke patients have dysarthria; problems with pronunciation, articulation & phonation
Dyskinesia
Impairment of voluntary movement, resulting in fragmentary or incomplete movements
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing
Dysphasia
Impaired ability to communicate; often used interchangeably with aphasia
EEG
Electroencephalography - electrical activity of brain using scalp electrodes.
EMG
Electromyography - recording of electrical activity associated with innervation of skeletal muscle (needles used)
Evoked potential test
Electrical activity associated with nerve conduction along sensory pathways is recorded by electrodes placed on skin and scalp. A stimulus generates the impulse. Use to diagnose multiple sclerosis.
Fasciculation
Spontaneous, involuntary muscle contraction & relaxation, involving fine muscle fibers.
Ice pack test
Useful in diagnosing myasthenia gravis; bag of ice placed on closed eyelid of eye experiencing ptosis for one minute; when remove eyes, assess immediately to see if ptosis improves (lasts < 1 minute); sensitivity = 80% with prominent ptosis
Nystagmus
Jerking or bobbing of eyes as they track moving object
On-off phenomenon
Invariable consequence of long-term Levodopa administration; on = mobile - off = immobile; initially = wearing off at end of dosing interval, but eventually becomes predictable
What are the types of seizures?
Generalized onset
- Tonic-clonic
- Absence
Focal-onset
- Focal seizures w/ retained awareness
- Focal seizures w/ impaired awareness
Plasmapheresis
A possible intervention for myasthenia gravis & guillain barre (all autoimmune in nature); pulls plasma out of body to rid of autoantibodies
Phases of a generalized seizure
Prodromal - patient can tell the seizure is on its way; hours or even days before seizure starts; not all people experience this stage; examples = mood changes, feeling lightheaded, difficulty sleeping
Aural - an early part of the seizure; examples = deja vu (a sense that something has happened before when in fact it hasn’t); odd smells/tastes or sounds; vision problems; pins & needles feeling in parts of body, etc.
Ictal - the time from the first symptom to the end of the seizure; intense electrical activity is occurring in the brain; loss of awareness, confusion, difficulty hearing, twitching, loss of muscle control, repeated movements, body convulsions, etc.
Post-ictal - after the ictal phase; recovery phase; during this phase any physical after-effects of the seizure are felt; confusion, lack of consciousness, exhaustion, loss of bowel/bladder control, anxiety, etc.
Ptosis
Drooping eyelid; sometimes seen with myasthenia gravis
Pull test
A test when assessing for s/s of Parkinson’s disease
Status epilepticus
Continuing series of seizures without recovery period; life-threatening; biggest concern with tonic-clonic; respiratory arrest/hypoxia/brain damage/death; airway is priority; IV lorazepam or diazepam, drug of choice.
Tensilon Test
Done to diagnose myasthenia gravis; “tensilon’s” generic name is edrophonium & it is an acetylcholineserase inhibitor; onset = 30-45 second/duration = 5-10 minutes; given IV & watch eyelids; ptosis will improve if r/t MG.
Thymectomy
Removal of the thymus; treatment for myasthenia gravis
Vagal nerve stimulator
For refractory seizures