Neurodysfunction or Neurodiversity & Causes

Question 1

Brain tumor

Answer 1

Latin tumere, to swell;
neoplasm - Greek new + molding ie, formation
mass of cells that grows independently of the rest of the body

Question 2

Encapsulated tumor

Answer 2

tumor that grows within its own membrane

Question 3

Glioma

Answer 3

Greek glia, to glue
brain tumor that develops from glial cells; infiltrating and rapidly growing

Question 4

Neuroma

Answer 4

Greek nerve + oma, denotes swelling
tumor that grows on nerves or tracts

Question 5

Meningioma

Answer 5

tumor that grows between the meninges and influence function of brain only by pressure exerted on surrounding tissues
- account for 20% of brain tumors
- all meningiomas are encapsulated tumors and almost all are benign

Question 6

Infiltrating tumor

Answer 6

tumor that grows diffusely through surrounding tissue
usually malignant
- most common are gliomas

Question 7

Metastatic tumor

Answer 7

Greek metastatis, to change
tumor that grow from infiltrating cells that are carried to brain by bloodstream from some other part of the body
- account for 10% of brain tumors
- many originate as lung cancers

Question 8

Stroke

Question 9

Infarct

Answer 9

Latin in + farcire, to stuff
area of dead or dying tissue produced by stroke

Question 10

Penumbra

Answer 10

Latin paene, almost + umbra, shadow
dysfunctional area surrounding infarct
- may recover or die in ensuing days
- primary goal of treatment following stroke is to save penumbra

Question 11

Aphasia

Answer 11

Greek a, not + phanai, speak
language difficulties

Question 12

Cerebral hemorrage

Answer 12

bleeding in the brain; cerebral blood vessel ruptures, blood seeps into surrounding neural tissue and damages it
- commonly caused by bursting aneurysm
- one of the two types/major causes of stroke

Question 13

Aneurysm

Answer 13

Greek aneurunein, widen out
pathological balloonlike dilation that forms in wall of an artery at a point where elasticity of artery wall is defective
- can occur in any part of body
- can be congenital (present at birth) or result from exposure to vascular poisons or infection

Question 14

Cerebral ischema

Answer 14

Greek, iskhein, keep back + haima, blood
disruption of blood supply to an area of the brain
- main causes: thrombosis, embolism, and arteriosclerosis
- brain damage takes time to develop (substantial neuron loss can be detected a day or two later, but usually little evidence of damage right after event)
- one of the two types/major causes of stroke

Question 15

Thrombosis

Answer 15

Greek thrombos, blood clot
plug called thrombus is formed and blocks blood flow at the site of its formation; may be a blood clot, fat, oil, an air bubble, tumor cells, or any combination thereof

Question 16

Embolism

Answer 16

Greek emballein, insert
plug called embolus is carried by blood from a larger vessel (where it was formed) to a smaller one (where it becomes lodged); a thrombus that has moved from place of formation

Question 17

Arteriosclerosis

Answer 17

Greek arteria, artery + sclerosis, hardening disease
walls of blood vessels thicken and channels narrow, usually as result of fat deposits; narrowing can eventually lead to complete blockages of blood vessels
- neurons in certain areas of hippocampus are particularly susceptible

Question 18

Closed-head traumatic brain injuries

Answer 18

• 50% of people experience at least one TBI in lifetime
• penetration of skull not necessary to cause serious damage
• caution must be taken if blow causes confusion, sensorimotor disturbances, or loss of consciousness
• either contusion or mild TBI

Question 19

Contusion

Answer 19

bruising of brain; closed-head TBI involving damage to cerebral circulatory system
- internal hemorrhaging → localized collection of blood, ie, bruising in brain
- caused by brain slamming against inside of skull
- blood can accumulate in subdural space: space between dura mater and arachnoid membrane
- frequently appear on side opposite to side of blow - contrecoup (French against a blow) injury

Question 20

Mild TBI (mTBI)

Answer 20

disturbance of consciousness with no evidence of contusion or structural damage (once called concussion but no longer appropriate → mild TBI is associated with long term damage; concussion is not)

Question 21

Brain infection

Answer 21

invasion of the brain by microorganisms
- either bacterial or viral

Question 22

Encephalitis

Answer 22

inflammation caused by brain infection

Question 23

Bacterial infection

Question 24

Viral infection

Answer 24

Two types:
- those that have particular affinity for neural tissue (eg, rabies)
- those that attack neural tissue but have no greater affinity for it than for other tissues (eg, mumps and herpes)

involvement of viruses in etiology (cause) of disorders difficult to recognize because of dormant period

Question 25

Neurotoxins

Answer 25

chemicals can enter general circulation through:
- gastrointestinal tract
- lungs
- skin

eg, toxic psychosis; tardive dyskinesia

Question 26

Down syndrome

Question 27

Apoptosis

Question 28

Necrosis