Neurology

Question 1

Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)

Answer 1

A brief episode of neurological dysfunction due to temporary focal cerebral ischaemia without infarction

Question 2

Dermatose

Answer 2

Area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve - sensory

Question 3

Myotome

Answer 3

A volume of muscle supplied by a single spinal nerve

Question 4

Cerebral vascular accident - stroke (ischaemic & haemorrhagic)

Answer 4

Syndrome of rapid onset of neurological deficit caused by focal, cerebral, spinal or retinal infarction

Characterised by rapidly developing signs of focal or global disturbance of cerebral functions, lasting more than 24 hours or leading to death

Question 5

Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (SAH)

Answer 5

Spontaneous bleeding into the subarachnoid space - between the arachnoid layer of the meninges and the pia mater

Can often be catastrophic

Question 6

Subdural Haemorrhage (SDH)

Answer 6

Caused by the accumulation of blood in the subdural space - between the arachnoid and dura mater following rupture of a bridging vein between cortex and venous sinus (vulnerable to deceleration injury)

Considered very treatable in all those whose conscious level fluctuates and also in those having an ‘evolving stroke’ - especially if on anticoagulants

Question 7

Extradural Haemorrhage (EDH)

Answer 7

Suspect this if after head injury, conscious level falls or is slow to improve or there is a lucid interval.

Collection of blood between the dura mater and the bone usually caused by head injury.

Question 8

Epilepsy

Answer 8

The recurrent tendency to spontaneous, intermittent, abnormal electrical activity in part of the brain, manifesting in seizures.
Ongoing liability to recurrent epileptic seizures

Question 9

Epileptic seizure

Answer 9

Paroxysmal/unprovoked event in which changes of behaviour, sensation or cognitive processes are caused by excessive, hypersynchronous (usually synchronised) neuronal discharges in the brain.

Question 10

Dementia

Answer 10

A syndrome caused by a number of brain disorders (e.g. Alzheimer’s) which cause memory loss, difficulties with thinking, problem solving or language as well as a difficulties with activities of daily living.

Question 11

Parkinson’s

Answer 11

Degenerative movement disorder caused by a reduction in dopamine in the substantia migra.

Question 12

Huntington’s

Answer 12

Cause of chores and is a neuro degenerative disorder characterised by the lack of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.

Question 13

Chores

Answer 13

A continuous flow of jerky, semi purposeful movements, flitting from one part of the body to another.
They may interfere with voluntary movements but cease during sleep.

Question 14

Migraine

Answer 14

Recurrent throbbing headache often preceded by an aura and associated with nausea, vomiting and visual changes.

Question 15

Trigeminal neuralgia

Answer 15

a chronic, debilitating condition resulting in intense and extreme episodes of pain.

Question 16

Paraplegia

Answer 16

paralysis of both legs always caused by spinal cord lesion

Question 17

Hemiplegia

Answer 17

paralysis of one side of body caused by lesion of the brain

Question 18

Spondylolisthesis

Answer 18

slippage of one vertebra over the one below.
nerve root comes out above disc
L4/5 herniation leads to L5 nerve root compression

Question 19

Spondylosis

Answer 19

degenerative disc disease

Question 20

Myelopathy

Answer 20

caused by spinal cord compression - UMN signs

Question 21

Radiculopathy

Answer 21

caused by spinal root compression - LMN signs

Question 22

Sciatica

Answer 22

pain, numbness and a tingling sensation that radiates from lower back and travels down one of the legs to the foot and toes.

Question 23

Multiple Sclerosis

Answer 23

Chronic autoimmune, T-cell mediated inflammatory disorder of the CNS in which there are multiple plaques of demyelination within the brain and spinal cord, occurring sporadically over years.

Question 24

Myasthenia Gravis

Answer 24

Autoimmune disease against nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChR) in the neuromuscular junction

Question 25

weakness or paresis

Answer 25

impaired ability to move a body part in response to will

Question 26

paralysis

Answer 26

ability to move a body part in response to will is completely lost

Question 27

ataxia or incoordination

Answer 27

willed movements are clumsy, ill-directional or uncontrolled

Question 28

involuntary movements

Answer 28

spontaneous movement of a body part, independently of will

Question 29

apraxia

Answer 29

disorder of consciously organised pattern of movement or impaired ability to recall acquired motor skills e.g. brushing teeth or striking a match

Question 30

Motor neurone disease

Answer 30

cluster of major degenerative diseases characterised by selective loss of neurones in motor complex, cranial nerve nuclei and anterior horn cells

Question 31

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Answer 31

An acute inflammatory demyelinating ascending polyneuropathy affecting the peripheral nervous system (schwann cells targeted) following an upper respiratory infection or GI infection

Question 32

Neuropathy

Answer 32

a pathological process affecting a peripheral nerve or nerves

Question 33

Mononeuropathy

Answer 33

process affecting a single nerve

Question 34

Mononeuritis

Answer 34

means that several individual nerves are affected

Question 35

Polyneuropathy

Answer 35

disorders of peripheral or cranial nerves, whose distribution is usually symmetrical and widespread

Question 36

Meningitis

Answer 36

Inflammation of the meninges can be bacterial/viral/fungi

Question 37

Encephalitis

Answer 37

Inflammation of the brain parenchyma

usually viral

Question 38

Encephalopathy

Answer 38

Reduced level of consciousness/diffuse disease of brain substance
usually non infective

Question 39

Polyradiculopathy

Answer 39

Inflammation of nerve roots

Question 40

Myelitis

Answer 40

Inflammation of spinal cord