Neuro terms Flashcards
Aphasia
Absence or impairment of ability to communicate speech, writing or signs due to brain dysfunction
Ataxia
- Inability to make smooth, coordinated moments
- Defective muscular coordination
Apraxia
Inability to perform purposive movements
Dysarthria
- Impairment in uttering words due to disorder of oral, lingual or pharyngeal muscles
Athetoid
- Slow, irregular, snakelike movements
- Hypotonic to normal movement
Choreoathetosis
- Extreme range of motion, jerky involuntary movements
- Hypo to hypertonia
- Cerebral palsy
Asterixis
- Abnormal muscle tremor
- Jerky mvmts in hands- liver disease
Decorticate
- Abnormal posture
- Stiff, bent arms, clenched fists and legs out straight
- Severe brain damage
Decerebrate
Abnormal body posture
- Arms and legs straight out
- Toes pointed downward
- Head and neck arched backward
Obtundation
Blunted reflexes, state of lethargy
Hypersomnia
Excessive daytime sleepiness lasting > 1 hour
- Inability to feel refreshed
Hemiplegia
- Paralysis of one side of the body
- Damage to corticospinal tract
Paraplegia
Paralysis of lower portion of body and both legs
- SPinal cord lesion
Quadriplegia
Paralysis of both arms and legs
- Aka tetraplegia
Palmomental reflex
- Sratching palm diagonally = contraction of ipsilateral mentalist and orbicular oris
Palmar grasp reflex
- Stroke skin of pal elicits fingers to close
Glanbellar reflex
Repetitive tapping on forehead results in persistent blinking
Primitive reflexes
- Superficial- skin stimulation
- Not normal in adults
- Diseases of frontal lobe pathways cause reflexes to appear
