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Final Year Defintions > Neurology > Flashcards

Neurology Flashcards

1
Q

Comatose state

A

diffuse cortical disturbance

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2
Q

Seizure

A

paradoxical discharge of cerebral neurones which is apparent to an external observer or as an abnormal perceptual experience by the subject

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3
Q

Epilepsy

A

recurrent tendency to have seizures

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4
Q

Diplopia

A

Double vision

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5
Q

Dysmetria (eyes)

A

Overshooting of eyes during scanning movements. Sign of a cerebellar lesion

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6
Q

Dysmetria (fingers)

A

Past pointing

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7
Q

Dysphagia

A

Difficulty swallowing

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8
Q

Dysphonia

A

Definition - difficulty producing sound (low in volume, speech in terms of quality is completely normal)

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9
Q

Dysarthria

A

difficulty in articulating, can include slurring

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10
Q

Dysphagia - definition, difference between Receptive and Expressive

A

Dysphagia - difficulty of language

Receptive (cannot understand what someone else is saying. Problem is in Wernicke’s area. e.g. Unable to follow commands)

Expressive (cannot find the word, non fluent. Problem is in Broca’s area. e.g. Unable to name objects)

NB: Both areas are supplied by MCA therefore most people will have a mixed picture

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11
Q

Aphemia

A

Complete lack of ability to make a sense

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12
Q

Bradykinesia

A

slowing of movement

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13
Q

Akinesia

A

loss of voluntary movement

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14
Q

Tremor

* Resting 
* Postural 
* Intention
A

Tremor - oscillation of a body part, usually involuntary

* Resting - tremor at rest 
* Postural - tremor when arms are held out 
* Intention - tremor when patient attempts to do something, e.g. Going towards a target
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15
Q

Myoclonus

A

rapid, lighting fast muscle jerks (can be a form of focal epilepsy, sign of vCJD etc)

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16
Q

Chorea

A

random and involuntary movements of the limbs and trunk (“dance like jerks”)

17
Q

Dystonia

A

co-activation of muscles causing cramping and seizing of muscle groups (spasms and contractions)

18
Q

Stereotyped movements

A

itching, pulling, rocking, tics etc are all signs of potential neurological disturbance

19
Q

Tic

A

single or complex motor or vocal expression with partial control. A type of stereotyped movement

20
Q

Spasticity

A

velocity dependent resistance to passive muscle stretch

21
Q

Decerebrate

A

Type of posture - lack of cerebral function therefore there is a loss of brain stem, presents as extension to pain (very serious)

1/5 on the motor portion of the GCS

22
Q

Decorticate

A

Type of posture - lack of cortical function, presents as flexion to pain (UMN presentation to pain)

3/5 on GCS scale for motor

23
Q

What are the signs of cerebellar disease? (HINT: think DANISH)

A 
Dysmetria (past-pointing)
Ataxia
Nystagmus
Intention tremor
Slurred speech
Hypotonia
24
Q

List the “5 As” of complex, partial seizures

A 
Aura
Autonomic change
Awareness lost
Automatisms
Amnesia
25
Q

What are the potential causes of collapse/blackout?

A

CARDIAC - stoke-adams, vagal overactivity (eg: vasovagal), sympathetic underactivity (eg: postural hypotension), vertebrobasilar insufficiency (eg: migraine), shock

NEUROLOGICAL - epilepsy, TIA, stroke

OTHER - metabolic (eg: hypoglycaemic episode), respiratroy (eg: hypoxia)

26
Q

What is a “resting tremor”?

  • Describe what you would see and when
  • What causes it (i.e. ddx)
A

Pill rolling tremor
Improves (absent) on voluntary movement
Worse on distraction
Cause - parkinsonism

27
Q

What is an “action tremor”? (aka: essential tremor)

  • Describe what you would see and when
  • What causes it (i.e. ddx)
A

Absent at rest
Worse on movement
Cause - essential tremor, thyrotoxicosis, withdrawal, anxiety

28
Q

What is an “intention tremor”?

  • Describe what you would see and when
  • What causes it (i.e. ddx)
A

Irregular
Worse towards the end of movement
Cause - cerebellar damage

29
Q

Define myoclonus and list some causes

A

Sudden involuntary jerks

Causes - metabolic, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy

30
Q

Define chorea and list some causes

A

Non-rhythmic, purposeless, jerking movements

Causes - huntington’s, sydenham’s chorea, wilson’s, L-DOPA

31
Q

List some of the triggers for migraine (HINT: think CHOCOLATE)

A 
Chocolate
cHeese
OCP
Caffeine 
alcohOL
Anxiety
Travel
Exercise
32
Q

What are the (3) cardinal features of parkinson’s disease?

A

Rigidity
Tremor (resting / pill rolling)
Bradykinesia

33
Q

In addition to the cardinal features, list some of the other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

A 
Akinesia
Postural instability
Slow shuffling gait
Postural hypotension
Depression
Dementia
Mask-like facial expression
Psychosis
Sleep disturbance
34
Q

List the common presenting features of MS (HINT: think TEAM)

A

Tingling
Eyes: optic neuritis
Ataxia
Motor disturbance - commonly spastic paresis

35
Q

What is the difference between a medical and a surgical third (occulomotor) nerve palsy?

A

Medical 3rd nerve palsy is pupil sparing

Surgical 3rd nerve palsy involves the pupil - it is fixed and dilated. This is a SURGICAL EMERGENCY to save the eye

36
Q

Describe the symptoms of Bell’s Palsy. Which cranial nerve is affected?

A

Sudden onset of - unilateral facial weakness, failure to close eye, eye dryness, bell’s sign, drooling, decreased taste, hyperacusis

Facial nerve (CN VII)

37
Q

List the three classical symptoms of Horner’s Syndrome

A

Miosis - pupil constriction (due to paralysis of papillae muscles)

Ptosis - eyelid droop

Anhydrosis - absence of sweating (on affected side of face)

38
Q

How can you differentiate between Horner’s Syndrome and 3rd nerve palsy on examination? How are they similar?

A

In both pathologies there is ptosis

In Horner’s syndrome - there is miosis (pupil constriction)

In 3rd nerve palsy - there is a dilated pupil AND it points DOWN and OUT

Final Year Defintions (13 decks)

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