Neurology: Vocabulary

Question 1

Peripheral Neuropathy

Answer 1

Any malfunction or damage of the peripheral nerves. Results may include muscle weakness, loss of sensation, impaired reflexes, and internal organ malfunctions.

Question 2

Wernicke’s Syndrome

Answer 2

Condition characterized by loss of memory and disorientation, associated with chronic alcohol intake and a diet deficient in thiamine.

Question 3

Korsakoff’s Psychosis

Answer 3

Psychosis characterized by disorientation, muttering, delirium, insomnia, delusions, and hallucinations. Symptoms include painful extremities, bilateral wrist drop (rarely), bilateral foot drop (frequent), and pain on pressure over the long nerves.

Question 4

Stroke

Answer 4

Cause by either ischemic or hemorrhagic lesions to a portion of the brain, resulting in damage or destruction of brain tissue. Commonly also called cerebrovascular accident or “brain attack”

Question 5

Transient Ischemic Attack

Answer 5

Temporary interruption of blood supply to the brain.

Question 6

Partial Seizures

Answer 6

Seizures that remain confined to a limited portion of the brain, causing localized malfunction. Partial seizures may spread and become generalized.

Question 7

Tonic-clonic seizure

Answer 7

Type of generalized seizure characterized by rapid loss of consciousness and motor coordination, muscle spasms, and jerking motions.

Question 8

Tonic Phase

Answer 8

Phase of a seizure characterized by tension or contraction of muscles.

Question 9

Clonic Phase

Answer 9

Phrase of a seizure characterized by alternating contraction and relaxation of muscles.

Question 10

Absence Seizure

Answer 10

Type of generalized seizure with sudden onset, characterized by a brief loss of awareness and rapid recovery

Question 11

Simple partial seizure

Answer 11

Type of partial seizure that involves local motor, sensory, or autonomic dysfunction of one area of the body. There is no loss of consciousness.

Question 12

Complex partial seizure

Answer 12

Type of partial seizure usually originating in the temporal lobe characterized by an aura and focal findings such as alterations in mental status or mood.

Question 13

Treatment of Seizures

Answer 13

Maintain airway
Oxygen
IV- No D50W unless hypoglycemic
BG
Do not restrain
Body Temp Management
Position PT on left side after Clonic-tonic phase
Suction if needed
EKG Monitoring
Seizure >5 min- anticonvulsant
Transport

Question 14

Status Epileptics

Define and Treat

Answer 14

Series of two or more generalized motor seizures without any intervening periods of consciousness.
Treatment:
Manage Airway
IV- NS at TKO
EKG Monitoring
Give D50W if Hypoglycemic
5-10 mg of Diazepam (Valium)
Use Flumazenil to reverse effects of Diazepam if needed.

Question 15

Syncope

Define and Treat

Answer 15

Transient loss of consciousness due to inadequate flow of blood to the brain with rapid recover of consciousness on becoming supine; fainting.
Treatment:
Manage Airway
O2
Check Circulatory status
Monitor Mental Status
IV at TKO
BG
EKG monitoring
Oximetry
Transport

Question 16

Neoplasm

Answer 16

Literally meaning “new form”: a new or abnormal formation: a tumor.

Question 17

Brain Abscess

Answer 17

A collection of pus localized in an area of the brain.

Question 18

Degenerative Neurological Disorders

Answer 18

A collection of diseases that selectively affects one or more functional systems of the central nervous system.

Question 19

Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 19

A degenerative brain disorder: the most common cause of dementia in the elderly.
Caused by Death and disappearance of nerve cells in the cerebral cortex.
Signs and Symptoms:
Short-term memory problems
Shuffling gait
Stiffness
Aphasia (inability to speak)
Psychiatric Disturbances
End Stage- PT becomes Decorticate

Question 20

Muscular Dystrophy (MD)

Answer 20

A group of genetic diseases characterized by progressive muscle weakness and degeneration of the skeletal or voluntary muscle fibers.

Question 21

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Answer 21

Disease that involves inflammation of certain nerve cells followed by demyelination, or the destruction of the myelin sheath, which is the fatty insulation surrounding nerve fibers.
Commonly in women starting age 20-40
Signs and Symptoms:
Weakness of one or more limbs
Sensory Loss
Paresthesias
Vision Changes

Question 22

Dystonias

Answer 22

A group of disorders characterized by muscle contractions that cause twisting and repetitive movements, abnormal postures, or freezing in the middle of an action.

Question 23

Parkinson’s Disease

Answer 23

Chronic and progressive motor system disorder characterized by tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability.
Other Signs and Symptoms:
Depression
Shuffling gait
Stiff-stone like face
Dementia

Question 24

Central Pain Syndrome

Answer 24

Condition resulting from damage of injury to the brain, brainstem, or spinal cord characterized by intense, steady pain described as burning, aching, tingling, or a “pins and needles” sensation.

Question 25

Bell’s Palsy

Answer 25

One-sided facial paralysis with an unknown cause characterized by the inability to close the ye, pain, tearing of the eyes, drooling, hypersensitivity to sound, and impairment of taste.

Question 26

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)/ Lou Gehrig’s Disease

Answer 26

Progressive degeneration of specific nerve cells that control voluntary movement characterized by weakness, loss of motor control, difficulty speaking, and cramping.
Eventually leads to weakened diaphragm and breathing problems.

Question 27

Myoclonus

Answer 27

Temporary, involuntary twitching or spasm of a muscle or group of muscles.

Question 28

Spina Bifida (SB)
Define and name the three types

Answer 28

A neural defect that results from the failure of one or more of the fetal vertebrae to close properly during the first month of pregnancy.
Myelomeningocele- Spinal Cord and the meninges protrude from an opening in the spine.
Meningocele- Meninges protrude through a spinal opening
Occulta- One or more vertebrae are malformed and covered by a layer of skin.

Question 29

Poliomyelitis (polio)

Answer 29

Infectious, inflammatory viral disease of the central nervous system that sometimes results in permanent paralysis.
Signs and Symptoms:
Fatigue
Headache
Fever
Vomiting
Stiffness of neck
Pain in hands and feet