Neuro Terminology

Question 1

Agnosia

Answer 1

Inability to recognize familiar object with one form of sensation eg. visual agnosia

Question 2

Akinesia

Answer 2

Inability to initiate movement

Question 3

Aphasia

Answer 3

Disturbance to language that results in errors in word choice, comprehension, or syntax

Question 4

Aphasia - Expressive or Broca’s

Answer 4

Severe difficulty in verbal expression with impairment in object naming and writing abilities. Mostly found in those with R hemiplegia

Question 5

Aphasia - Global

Answer 5

Most common and severe form of aphasia, characterized by reduced speech and comprehension. Reading and writing are impaired as well

Question 6

Aphasia - receptive or Wernicke’s

Answer 6

Severe disturbance in auditory comprehension. Reading, writing, and word recognition are also impaired

Question 7

Apraxia

Answer 7

Inability to perform movements previously learned even though there is no loss of strength, coordination, sensation or comprehension

Question 8

Apraxia - Ideational

Answer 8

Person no longer gets the “idea” of how to do a routine task eg. washing hands or brushing teeth

Question 9

Apraxia - Ideomotor

Answer 9

Person cannot do a task on command but can do it spontaneously

Question 10

Astereognosis

Answer 10

Inability to recognize objects by touch alone

Question 11

Asynergia

Answer 11

Inability to move muscles together in a coordinated manner

Question 12

Ataxia

Answer 12

Uncoordinated movement, especially in gait

Question 13

Athetosis

Answer 13

slow, involuntary, worm-like, twisting motions. Usually seen in forms of CP

Question 14

Causalgia

Answer 14

Burning sensations which are painful. Often associated with CRPS type 1

Question 15

Cheyne-Stokes Respiration

Answer 15

A common and bizarre breathing pattern characterized by a period of apnea lasting 10-60 secs followed by gradually increasing, then decreasing depth and freq of respiration

Question 16

Chorea

Answer 16

Rapid, involuntary, jerky movements. Seen esp in Huntington’s chorea

Question 17

Clonus

Answer 17

Rhythmic oscillation of a mm in response to sustained stretch in pts with UMN dz

Question 18

Decerebrate rigidity

Answer 18

Contraction the the extensor mm of the UEs and LEs bc of injury at the level of the brain stem

Question 19

Decorticate rigidity

Answer 19

Contraction of the flexor mm of the UEs with contraction of the extensor mm of the LEs

Question 20

Delirium

Answer 20

Temporary confusion and loss of mental function. Often as a result of illness, drug toxicity, or lack of oxygen. Often reversible

Question 21

Demetia

Answer 21

Loss of memory or intellectual functioning. May be reversible if caused by toxins, drugs, metabolic or psychiatric disorders. Often slowly progressive and nonreversible if a result of alcoholism, Alzheimer’s, infarction, Parkinson’s

Question 22

Dysmetria

Answer 22

Inability to judge distances. Seen esp in cerebellar dysfunction

Question 23

Electromyography (EMG)

Answer 23

The study of a graphic record of the contraction of a mm as a result of electrical stimulation. Used to evaluate the voluntary electrical activity of a mm

Question 24

Glove and Stocking Anesthesia

Answer 24

Can occur in generalized peripheral neuropathies in which the distal portions of the nerve degenerate resulting in anesthesia of the distal extremities in a pattern as if the pt was wearing long gloves and stockings. Occasionally seen in Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Question 25

Herpes Zoster (shingles)

Answer 25

A painful inflammation of the posterior root ganglion caused by a virus, resulting in the formation of vesicles (fluid filled sacs) along the course of the nerve eg. dermatome

Question 26

Horner’s syndrome

Answer 26

Ptosis of the eyelid, constriction of the pupil, and lack of sweating of the ipsilateral face, often accompanying stroke involving the anterior inferior or posterior inferior cerebellar arteries

Question 27

Morton’s neuroma

Answer 27

An excessive pronation during stance produces compression between the third and fourth metatarsals. The nerve can enlarge, forming a neuroma on the interdigital nerve resulting in metatarsalgia

Question 28

Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test

Answer 28

Determines the speed of propogation of an action potential along a nerve or muscle fiber. If the nerve is compressed or damaged, the velocity of the AP will be slowed and the latency will be increased. The test is utilized to determine the severity of nerve compression eg. from a herniated disc prior to surgery

Question 29

Nystagmus

Answer 29

Rapid, usually back and forth, movement of the eyeballs

Question 30

Reciprocal inhibition

Answer 30

Inhibition of mm antagonistic to those being facilitated. This is essential for coordinated movement.

Question 31

Romberg’s sign

Answer 31

Loss of balance in standing when the eyes are closed

Question 32

Somatagnosia

Answer 32

A lack of awareness of the relationship of one’s own body parts of the body parts of others

Question 33

Vegetative state

Answer 33

A deep coma with abnormal posturing. The pt may not have rehab potential if this state persists

Question 34

Visual acuity

Answer 34

Sharpness of vision that generally decreases with age of certain disabilities such as diabetes. May need reading glasses to focus on or read things nearby. Decreased ability to adapt to very dark or light environments and may need more of higher intensity lighting at home or use color contrasts on wall,s floors, and stairs to increase safety during ambulation

Question 35

Visual field deficit - homonymous hemianopsia

Answer 35

a deficit of either the R or L halves of the visual field, caused by damage to the CL optic tract

Question 36

Visual field deficit - Bitemporal hemianopsia

Answer 36

a deficit of the temporal or peripheral visual fields, caused by injury at the optic chiasm. Also known as tunnel vision.

Question 37

Visual field deficit - mononuclear blindness

Answer 37

Result of damage to the optic nerve (blind in one eye)