Neurology Definitions Flashcards
Ataxia
Lack of voluntary control
Atonia
Loss of muscle tone
Hyper/Hypotonia
Increase or decrease in muscle tone
Parathesia
Lack of sensation
Paraplegia
Paralysis of the lower half of the body
Quadriplegia
Paralysis of all four limbs
Dysphagia
Loss of swallow
Dysphonia
Inability to speak
Dysmetria
Loss of balance
Dysdiadochokinesia
Inability to make rapid, alternating movements
Apraxia
Loss of co-ordination
Aphasia
Loss of speech
Areflexia/Hypo/Hyperreflexia
Loss of, increase or decrease in reflexes
Agnosia
Loss of sensory recognition
Bradykinesia
Slow movement
Dysarthria
Difficulty Speaking
Dyslexia
Difficulty reading
Hemiplegia
Paralysis of one half of the body
Palsy
Muscle Paralysis
Paresis
Muscle Weakness
Rigidity
Increase in muscle tone meaning movement is restricted
Spasticity
Altered muscle performance die to paralysis
Neural Networks
A series of neurons which come together to create a linear pathway
Emergence
When neurones all work together to create a larger function e.g. consciousness
Hydrocephalus
The accumilation of CSF in the ventricles
Aneurysm
Abnormal dilatation of an artery
Stroke
An abrupt loss of brain function that lasts for more than 24 hours
Decussation
The crossing of neurones across the midline of the CNS
Lateral Inhibition
When interneurones inhibit their neighbouring neurones to localise sensation
Two Point Discrimination
The ability to tell the difference between two sensory inputs. The smaller the receptive field, the better the discrimination
Proprioception
The ability to tell
Proprioception
The ability to tell where you are in space
Brown-Sequard Syndrome
One sided lesion of the spinal cord
Due to trauma
Causes ipsi loss of DCIM
Causes contra loss of AL
Allodynia
When a receptor becomes heightened and responds to a normal sensation, making it into a painful one
Receptor Field Expansion
When the size of the receptor field increases, so pain is felt in a larger area of the skin/body, rather than localised to where the stimulus is
Phantom Limb Pain
When there is pain in a limb post-amputation. Usually occurs when the limb is in pain when amputated e.g. post-trauma, in emergency situations
Mixed Pain
In cancer
Has features of both pains
Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome
Disease of the extremities
Usually one limb
Associated with a previous trauma
Pain is disproportionate to initial event
Nociceptive Pain
After operations or trauma
Similar to visceral pain
Neuropathic Pain
Burning/Shooting pain
Pain of neural origin
e.g. neuropathy
Homunculus
A representation of the body in the cortex
A map of the anatomical divisions of the body
The topography of the brain
Clonus
Muscle spasms: multiple, rhythmic contractions
Nystagmus
Uncontrolled movement of the eyes, especially in the lateral gaze and pointing towards the lesion