Neurological Disorders Flashcards
Atherosclerosis
When linings of arteries develop a later of plaque, deposits of cholesterol, fats, calcium, and cellular waste products
Atherosclerosis can cause …
Heart attacks and strokes
Where does atherosclerotic plaques often form?
In the internal carotid artery, which supplies most of the blood flow to the cerebral hemispheres
What are the two main kinds of stroke?
Hemorrhagic stroke & ischemic stroke
Hemorrhagic stroke: rupture of a cerebral blood vessel. Rare
Ischemic stroke: occlusion of a blood vessel. 87% of strokes
What is a thrombus
Blood clot that forms within a blood vessel, which may block it and reduce blood flow to the affected area
Blood clot can be good if we’re injured, but if it forms in a healthy vessel, it is a trombus
What is an embolus
When a piece of the thrombus has broken free and got stuck in a different place than it started. Can cause problem elsewhere
What is a tumor?
Mass of cells whose growth is uncontrolled and that serves no useful function
Non-malignang tumor
Noncancerous, benign tumor. Has distinct border and cannot metastasize
Malignant tumor
Cancerous tumor. Lacks distinct border and may metastasize
Metastasis
Process by which cells break off of a tumor, travel through the vascular system and grow elsewhere in the body
Why is there bo tumors related to neurons
Because neurons don’t devide. Cancer occurs only where there is cell division
The major distinction between malignang and non-malignant tumor?
Whether the tumor is encapsulated ⭕️. If not, the tumor grows by infiltrating the surrounding tissue. Removing malignang tumors can be hard because some cancer cells are often misse, and these cells will produce new tumors
Tumors (malignanf or benign) damage brain tissue by two means:
Compression and infiltration. Even a benign tumor occupies space and thus pushes against the brain (destroy brain tissue)
Gliomas
Malignang brain tumor. Comes from cells that make glia. Rapidly proliferate and are more resistant to chemotherapy and radiation than mosy tumor cells
Meningioma
Non-malignant tumor. Composed of celle that constitute the meninges. Often right between cerebral hemispheres
Can meningioma tumor be problematic? How?
Yes, even tho it’s encapsulated, it can be so big that it displaces a whole hemisphere.
Encephalitis
Inflammation of the brain
-caused by infection, toxic chemicams, or allergic reaction
Meningitis
Inflammation of meninges caused by virused or bacteria
What’s polio
Viral disease that destroys motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord
Whats rabies?
Fatal viral disease that causes brain dammage; usualmu transmitter through the bite of an infected animal
What is herpes simplex virus?
Virus that normally causes cold sores near the lips or genitals. In rare causes, it instesd enters the brain causinf encephalitis and brain damage
Main causes of seizures
-scarring
-high fevers (espec. in young children)
-withdrawal from GABA agonists, such as alcohol and barbiturates
Seizure & genetics?
Most seizure disorders are caused by nongenetic factors
What’s a synonym for epilepsy?
Seizure disorder
