Stroke Flashcards
Aneurysm
An abnormal blood-filled dilation of a vessel resulting from a weakened/diseased vessel wall
Anoxia
A condition in which there is an absence of oxygen supply to an organ’s tissues even though there is adequate blood flow to the tissue
Agenesis
The failure of a body part to develop completely or properly
Anarthria
The partial or total loss of speech resulting from lesions of the central nervous system
Anosognosia
The inability to recognize the reality of the physical impairments resulting from stroke
Bulbar paralysis
The weakness of muscles necessary for speech, swallowing, and movement of lips and tongue. It is caused by damage to the lower cranial nerves/bulbar nerves
Cheyne-Stokes respirations
An abnormal pattern of breathing that alternates between a gradual increase in depth and rate of respiration to a maximum and then a decrease in depth and rate of respiration resulting in apnea
Choreoathetosis
A condition characterized by an extreme range of motion, changeable muscle tone and unpredictable movements of the limbs
Dysesthesias
An unpleasant, abnormal sensation, whether spontaneous or evoked: tactile hallucination
Dystonia
A state of disordered tonicity of tissues
Dysarthria clumsy hand syndrome
A condition generally caused by an infarct in the pons. It is characterized by subtle unilateral hand weakness and severe dysarthria
Endocarditis
An inflammation of the lining of the heart and its valves
Embolism
Occurs when bits of matter formed elsewhere in the body migrate and become lodged in a vessel resulting in an occlusion
Hematocrits
The proportion, by volume, of the blood that contains red blood cells
Hemiballismus
Violent uncontrollable movements on one half of the body. This results from a lesion in the subthalamic nucleus on the contralateral/opposite side of the body
Limb-kinetic apraxia
The inability to make precise movements with the limb, especially the fingers contralateral to the affected part of the brain. Sometimes referred to as “clumsy hand”
Miosis
The excessive constriction of the pupil often caused by bright lights or certain types of eye drops
Necrosis
The death of living cells or tissues, resulting from injury or disease
Papilledema
A condition characterized by the swelling of the optic nerve due to elevated intracranial pressure
Prosopagnosia
A neurological disorder characterized by the inability to recognize faces
Ptosis
The drooping of eyelids due to weakness of the muscles responsible for keeping the lids open
Subclavian steal syndrome
A condition that results from the occlusion of the subclavian artery, proximal to the origin of the vertebral artery. The blockage causes the reversal of blood flow in the vertebral artery. This is termed the “steal”, because it steals blood from the cerebral circulation
