Neuro Vocab Flashcards
Agnosia
Inability to recognize familiar objects with one form of sensation
Akinesia
Inability to initiate movement
Aphasia
Disturbance to language that results in errors in word choice, comprehension, or syntax
Apraxia
Inability to perform movements previously learned even though there is no loss of strength, coordination, sensation, or comprehension
Ideational Apraxia
Person no longer understand the “idea” of how to do a routine task
Ideomotor Apraxia
Person cannot do the task on command but can do it spontaneously
Astereognosia
Inability to identify objects by touch alone
Asynergia
Inability to move muscle together in a coordinated manner
Ataxia
Uncoordinated movement, especially gait
Athetosis
Slow, involuntary, worm-like, twisting motions. Usually seen if forms of CP
Causalgia
Burning sensations often associated with CRPS type I
Cheyne-Stokes Respirations
A common bizarre breathing pattern characterized by a period apnea lasting 10-60s followed by gradually increasing, then decreasing depth and frequency of respirations.
Accompanied by the depression of frontal lobe and diencephalic dysfunction.
Chorrea
Rapid involuntary, jerky movements
Clonus
Rhythmic oscillation of a muscle in response to a sustained stretch in patients with UMN disease
Decerebrate Rigidity
Contraction of extensor muscles of UE and LE d/t injury of the brainstem
Decorticate Rigidity
Contraction of flexor muscles of UE and extensor contraction of LE
Delirium
Temporary confusion and loss of mental function often 2/2 illness, drug toxicity, or lack of O2.
Dementia
Loss of memory or intellectual functioning. Often slowly progressive and nonreversible.
Dysmetria
Inability to judge distances. Seen in cerebellar dysfunction
Electromyography (EMG)
The study of graphic record the contraction of a muscle as a result of electrical stimulation. Used to evaluate the voluntary electrical activity of the muscle.
Glove and stocking anesthesia
Generalized peripheral neuropathy in which distal portions of the nerves degenerate resulting in anesthesia of the distal extremities in a pattern as if the pt was wearing gloves and stockings. Occasionally seen in GB.
Herpes Zoster (shingles)
A painful inflammation of posterior root ganglion, cased by virus, resulting in the formation of vesicles along the course of the dermatome
Horner’s Syndrome
Ptosis of the eyelid, constriction of the pupil, and lack of sweating on the ipsilateral face, often accompanying stroke involving the anterior inferior or posterior inferior cerebellar artery.
Morton’s Neuroma
An excessive pronation during the stance produces compression between the third and fourth metatarsals
Nerve Conduction Velocity Test
Determines the speed of propagation of an action potential along a nerve or muscle fiber
Nystagmus
Rapid usually back and forth, movement of the eyeballs
Reciprocal Inhibition
Inhibition of muscles antagonistic to those being facilitated. This is essential for coordinated movement
Romberg’s Sign
LOB in standing with eyes closed
Somatagnosia
A lack of awareness of the relationship of one’s own body parts of the body parts of others
Vegetative State
A deep coma with abnormal posturing. Different from a coma in that there are sleep wake cycles.
Visual Acuity
Sharpness of vision that generally decreases with age or certain disabilities such as diabetes
Homonymous hemianopsia
A deficit of either the right or the left half of the visual field, caused by damage to the contralateral optic nerve.
Bitemporal hemianopsia
A deficit of the temporal or peripheral visual fields, caused by injury at the optic chiasm
Monocular blindness
Caused by damage to the optic nerve
Hyperventilation
Increased rate and depth of respirations. Seen in dysfunction of lower midbrain and pons
Apneuistic breathing
Abnormal breathing marked by prolonged inspiration. Seen in damage to upper pons
Hypotonia
Decreased tone. Seen in LMN lesions (nerve roots and peripheral nerve injuries). Also seen initially after a UMN lesion for a brief period of spinal shock in SCI or cerebral shock in CVA.
Spasticity
Velocity-dependent resistance to PROM. Seen in UMN lesions.
Types: clasp-knife response, clonus, abnormal superficial cutaneous reflexes, hyperreflexia
Extensor synergy
UE: Scapular protraction, shoulder ADD, IR, elbow extension, pronation, wrist and finger flexion
LE: Hip extension, hip ADD, IR, knee extension, PF, IV
Flexor synergy
UE: Scapular retraction, shoulder ABD, ER, elbow flexion, supination, wrist and finger flexion
LE: Hip extension, hip ADD, IR, knee flexion, DF, IV
