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Paramedic Science > Neurological > Flashcards

Neurological Flashcards

1
Q

2 groups of seizures

A

Focal- affect one area of the brain
Generalised- affect multiple areas of the brain/ spread to all areas

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2
Q

Types of seizures

A

Focal (one area of the brain)
Generalised:
-absence
-tonic
-atonic
-clonic
-myoclonic
-tonic clonic

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3
Q

Absence seizures

A

Stare into space/ repetitive movements
Last 5-10s, can occur in clusters
Often occur in children

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4
Q

Tonic seizure

A

Stiff muscles (back,legs, arms)
May have LOC

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5
Q

Tonic seizure

A

Stiff muscles (back,legs, arms)
May have LOC

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6
Q

Atonic seizure

A

Loss of muscle control
Falls

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7
Q

Clonic seizure

A

Repeated Jerking movements

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8
Q

Myoclonic seizures

A

Sudden brief jerks
Often no LOC

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9
Q

Tonic clonic seizures

A

Most dramatic seizure
Stiffness of limbs followed by jerking
Sudden LOC
Bite tongue
Lose bladder control
Can start as focal and spread
Last for several minutes

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10
Q

When seizures require hospital conveyance?

A

Last longer than 5 mins
First seizure
3 or more seizures in an hour
Unresponsive to treatment (benzodiazepines- midazolam- diezapam)
Head injury/ injury from seizures that requires hospital
Stroke/ illness/ infection cause of seizure

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11
Q

Seizure definition

A

Sudden and uncontrolled burst of electrical activity in the brain
(Excessive neuronal activity)

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12
Q

Symptoms of seizures

A

Confusion
Loss of consciousness
Jerking/ stiff movements
Staring spells
Cognitive/ emotional changes

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13
Q

Symptoms of seizures

A

Confusion
Loss of consciousness
Jerking/ stiff movements
Staring spells
Cognitive/ emotional changes

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14
Q

Causes of seizures

A

Stroke/ head injury
Infection of the brain eg meningitis/ encephalitis
Epilepsy
Pyrexia
Hypoxia
Severe illness
Lack of sleep
Legal/ illegal drugs
Alcohol misuse (eg withdrawal/ extreme intoxication)
Low blood sodium
Hypoglycaemia

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15
Q

Questions to ask for seizures

A

First seizure?
How many seizures have you had?
How long have they lasted for? (>5 mins= medical emergency)
Any signs/symptoms that forewarn a seizure?
Epilepsy? History?
Medication taken?
Taken alcohol?
Characteristics of seizure?
Care plan/ treatment plan for seizures?

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16
Q

Treatment for seizures?

A

If seizing- place in comfortable/safe position, maintain ABC
Hypoxic- 15lpm o2, OPA/NPA
Benzodiazepines- midazolam, diazepam (if multiple seizures, seizures lasting longer than 5 mins)

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17
Q

Stages of seizures

A

Prodome- early warning of seizure, changes in behaviour/ aura/ feeling off
Ictal- middle part of seizure, spans from first symptom- end of seizure
Post ictal- recovery period, can last minutes/hours, length dependent on the area of the brain that was affected/type of seizure, feel sleepy/ trouble talking/ weakness

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18
Q

Branches of the nervous system

A

CNS (brain and spinal cord)
Peripheral NS (neurons in body)- Somatic NS (voluntary) + autonomic NS (involuntary)- parasympathetic NS (relax) + sympathetic NS (fight or flight)

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19
Q

How many cranial nerves/ spinal nerves

A

12 cranial
31 pairs spinal (C-8, T-12, L-5, S-5, C-4)

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20
Q

Neuron structure

A

Myelin sheath- conductor, insulator
Axon
Nodes of ranvier (impulses jump across)
Dendrites (connect to other neurons/cells)
Cell body
Nucleus

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21
Q

Cell bodies clustered in CNS?

A

Nuclei

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22
Q

Cell bodies clustered in peripheral CNS?

A

Ganglia

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23
Q

Sensory/ afferent neuron?

A

Receive impulses from receptors on sensory organs, transmit impulses to CNS

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24
Q

Motor/ efferent neuron

A

Receives impulse from sensory neuron, sends impulse to an effector (gland/muscle) that generates a response
Can be somatic/voluntary or autonomic/involuntary

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25
Nerve?
Bundle of neurons outside of CNS, no cell body
26
Oligodendrocytes?
Form myelin sheaths around axons of CNS
27
Microglia
White blood cells that defend the CNS/brain and destroy foreign/degenerated material
28
Astrocytes
Regulate external environment of neurons eg maintenance of synapses
29
Supporting cell of peripheral nervous system
Schwann cells (form myelin sheaths around peripheral axons)
30
Supporting cells of CNS
Astrocytes Oligodendrocytes Microglia
31
Synapse
Connection/junction between neuron and neuron/ neuron and muscle
32
Action at a synapse
-Electrical impulse/action potential travels along presynaptic neuron -activated voltage gated calcium ion channels, activating protein kinase -protein kinase phosphorylates vesicles, causing them to fuse with presynaptic membrane -neurotransmitters released by exocytosis into synaptic cleft, diffuse across -bind to receptors on postsynaptic neuron, converted back into an electrical impulse
33
Cerebrum
Largest part of brain, higher mental functions Right and left hemisphere joined by corpus callosum Grey matter (neuronal cell bodies) and white matter (neuronal axons) 5 lobes- frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, deep insula
34
Frontal lobe
Brocas area- speech production Motor area- voluntary skeletal muscle movement
35
Parietal lobe
Somatosensory area- muscular/skin sensation, feeling
36
Temporal lobe
Auditory area Wernickes area- speech comprehension
37
Occipital lobe
Visual area
38
What brain centres control emotion?
Hypothalamus, Limbic system
39
Brain centre responsible for feeling fear/memory of fears?
Amygdala
40
What centres are responsible for memory
Temporal lobe- hippocampus, amygdala
41
Medulla oblongata
Control of breathing/cardiovascular system
42
Cerebellum
Motor learning, co ordinating movement of different joints, balance
43
2 corticospinal tracts of spinal cord
Ascending- carry sensory information Descending- carry motor information
44
Cranial nerves
Olfactory nerve Oculomotor Optic Trochlear Trigeminal Abducens Facial nerve Vestibulocochlear Glossipharyngeal Vagus nerve Accessory nerve Hypoglossal nerve
45
Reflex arc
Stimulus- receptor- action potential- sensory neuron- CNS (spinal cord)- relay/interneuron- motor neuron- effector (muscle/gland)- Involuntary
46
Autonomic nervous system
Involuntary functi n Sympathetic NS (fight/flight) Parasympathetic NS (relax/regulate changes made back to normal)
47
Acts of parasympathetic ns
Constricts pupils Lowers heart rate Increases saliva production Dilates blood vessels Constricts bronchi Decreases blood flow to skeletal muscles Increases stomach and intestine mobility Contracts bladder
48
Acts of sympathetic ns
Dilated pupils to enhance vision Decreases saliva production Increases heart rate Constricts blood vessels, increases blood pressure Dilates bronchi to allow more air into the lungs Increases blood flow to skeletal muscles Reduced stomach motility, diverts blood flow from GI tract Liver Release glucose to increase blood sugar Stimulate adrenal glands to secrete stress hormones Relaxes bladder
49
Multiple sclerosis
Chronic autoimmune disease affecting CNS, damages myelin sheathe of neurons (sclerosis= hardening) Disrupts communication between brain and body
50
Symptoms of multiple sclerosis
Fatigue, difficulty walking, vision problems, poor bladder control, numbness/ tingling in parts of body, muscle stiffness/spasm, balance/coordination problems, problems with thinking/learning/planning
51
Risk factors of multiple sclerosis
Age Genetics Smoking Diet/obesity Gender (female more likely) Vitamin D deficiency
52
Parkinson’s (+symptoms)
Degenerative condition, dopamine deficiency due to dysfunctional brain cells Dopamine involved in motor movement and emotion regulation Not enough dopamine released into synapse Symptoms- bradykinesia (slow movement), tremor, postural instability, rigidity
53
Cauda equina syndrome
Injury compresses nerve bundle at base of spinal cord (cauda equina) / sensory nerves of pelvis. Cauda equina controls bladder/bowel function
54
Symptoms of Cauda equina
Incontinence Urinary retention Sciatica Weakness/numbness in legs/genitals/anus, sexual dysfunction
55
Amnesia - 2 types
Retrograde- unable to retrieve old memories Anterograde- unable to form new memories
56
Causes of amnesia
Trauma/head injury Seizures Stroke Brain tumours Neurosurgery Hypoxia Ischarnia Viral infection
57
Epilepsy
Uncontrolled/excessive neuronal activity in part of/ all of CNS, causing sudden alteration in behaviour
58
Types of epilepsy (severity)
Grand map (tonic clonic) Petit mal (absence) Focal (specific lobe/part of the brain)
59
Causes of epilepsy
Traumatic brain injury (stroke, tumour,hypoxia,injury), genetic, brain infections, low blood sugar, alcohol withdrawal, drug intoxication
60
Treatment of epilepsy
Buccal midazolam, IV diazepam, oxygen.
61
Alzheimer’s
Type of dementia Loss/damage to synapses, causes loss of neuronal connections) Over time affected parts of brain shrink eg hippocampus/temporal lobe, causing symptoms of Alzheimer’s
62
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Confusion Disorientation Getting lost Difficult decision making Speech/language problems Personality changes eg aggression Low mood/anxiety
63
Meningitis
Bacterial/viral Infection of meninges (layers of brain and spinal cord), causes inflammation
64
Symptoms of meningitis
Non blanching rash Photophobia Neck stiffness Muscle pain Fever Drowsiness Nausea/vomiting Seizures

Paramedic Science (9 decks)

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