Neurologic assessment Flashcards
Neuron
basic functional unit of the brain; dendrite, cell body, axon
neurotransmitters
acetylcholine, serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, endorphins
acetylcholine
neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic nervous system; important in MS
serotonin
helps control mood and sleep, pain pathway (think psych meds)
dopamine
affects behavior (emotions, attention), fine movement (parkinsons)
norepinephrine
major transmitter of the sympathetic NS
endorphines
produced by hypothalamus; pleasurable sensation, inhibits pain transmission
cerebrum
frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe,
frontal lobe
concentration, abstract thoughts, memory, affect, judgement, and inhibition ; brocas area
brocas area (frontal lobe)
located on the left hemisphere; speech center
singing uses different lobe!!
parietal lobe
sensory lobe; function is right and left orientation, shape discrimination
temporal lobe
auditory memory of a sound, understanding of language and music ; recognition of friends
occipital lobe
visual interpretation and memory
brain stem
composed of midbrain, pons, medulla, oblongata
function of brain stem
reflex center for respiration, blood pressure, HR, coughing, swallowing;
damage to brainstem can lead to immediate cessation of breathing (immobilize head)
cerebellum
provides smooth and coordinated movement; controls fine movement, balance and position and postural sense
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
clear, colorless fluid produced in the choroid plexus of the ventricles; importance in immune and metabolic functions of the brain
sample of CSF is obtained through
lumbar puncture or lumbar tap (spinal tap)
Brain cannot store ____
glucose
so it needs constant supply of glucose and oxygen
cerebral circulation
brain receives about 15% of cardiac output, neurons/brain does NOT need insulin to absorb glucose unlike our skeletal muscle cells
cerebral circulation (anterior brain)
arterial blood supplying anterior brain originates from common carotid artery
cerebral circulation (posterior brain)
posterior circulation of the brain is supplied by vertebral arteries branching from subclavian arteries
Blood brain barrier
prevents many substances that circulate in the blood from reaching CNS; this can altered by trauma, cerebral edema, or cerebral hypoxemia
spinal cord
serves as a connection between brain the periphery; protected by vertebral column
vertebral column
7 cervical vertebrae
12 thoracic vertebrae
5 lumbar vertebrae
sacrum (fused mass of 5 vertebrae)
peripheral nervous system
cranial nerves, spinal nerves, autonomic nervous system
cranial nerves
some say money matters but my brother says big brains matter more
(S= sensory, B= both, M= motor)
(ooo to touch and feel a girls vag a H)
olfactory
sense of smell
optic
visual acuity
oculomotor
muscle that moves the eye and lid, pupillary constriction
trochlear
muscle that moves the eye
trigeminal
facial sensation; corneal reflex; mastication
abducens
muscles that moves the eye
facial
symmetry of facial expression; muscle movement upper/lower face; salivation; taste; tearing; sensation in the ear
acoustic
hearing and equilibrium
glossopharyngeal
taste; sensation in pharynx and tongue, pharyngeal muscles, swallowing
vagus
muscles of the pharynx, larynx, soft palate, sensation of the external ear, thoracic viscera
(spinal) accessory
sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles
hypoglossal
movement of the tongue
