Neurological: Level 1 and 2 Flashcards
Impairment of language affecting the production or comprehension of speech due to injury to the brain.
Aphasia
Loss of full control of bodily movements; loss of coordination.
Ataxia
Stroke; damage to the brain due to interruption of its blood supply caused by hemorrhage or ischemia (occlusion of a vessel or blood clot).
Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
Sensation of unsteadiness; a feeling of movement within the head or as if your surroundings are spinning; feeling of lightheadedness.
Dizziness
Difficulty swallowing.
Disphagia
Difficulty generating or understanding language.
Disphasia
Form of epilepsy characterized by tonic-clonic seizures, consists of loss of consciousness and convulsions.
Grand Mal Seizure
Weakness of one side of the body.
Hemiparesis
Complete paralysis of one side of the body.
Hemiplegia
Feeling faint or near syncope.
Lightheadedness
Intense, sharp pain along the course of a nerve.
Neuralgia
Awareness of one’s environment, specifically person, place, time, and situation.
Orientation
Abnormal sensation such as numbness, tingling, or burning.
Paresthesia
The altered state of consciousness after an epileptic seizure
Postictal
Test performed on the physical exam in which the patient is asked to hold both arms extended out in front of them at shoulder level with palms upward, eyes closed. If either arm involuntarily moves or drifts, the test is positive.
Pronator Drift
Uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain which may produce physical signs such as convulsions.
Seizure
Continuous seizure lasting more than 30 minutes or repetitive seizures without regaining consciousness in between
Status Epilepticus
Loss of consciousness (LOC); passing out.
Syncope
Grand mal seizure
Tonic Clonic
Mini-stroke; a neurological event, generally ischemic in nature, with signs and symptoms of a stroke which resolve within a short period of time.
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
Symptoms of pallor, nausea, sweating, bradycardia, hypotension and at times, syncope, may be invoked by emotional stress associated with fear or pain.
Vasovagal Episode
Sensation of the room spinning and loss of balance.
Vertigo
Occurs when the sole of the foot is firmly stroked causing the big toe to move upwards and the other toes to fan outward. Normal sign in infants but suggests brain abnormality if positive in adults.
Babinski’s Sign
For whom is a positive Babinski’s sign abnormal?
Adults
In most cases, a temporary paralysis of the facial nerve (Cranial Nerve VII) causing drooping and muscular weakness to one side of the face.
Bell’s Palsy
Involuntary muscular contraction and relaxation in rapid succession.
Clonus
Test in which the tendon is tapped to determine the integrity of the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system responsible for the reflex.
Deep Tendon Reflexes (DTR)
Test in which the patient is asked to touch their nose with their index finger then touch the provider’s index finger, then touch their nose again.
Finger-Nose-Finger test
What does the Finger-Nose-Finger test assess?
Cerebral Function
Rapid, involuntary movements of the eyes.
Nystagmus
Loss of sensation confined to the area of the perineum, buttocks, and inner aspect of the thighs.
Saddle Anesthesia
