Stroke- pathology and investigation 1 Flashcards
what is a stroke?
a neurological deficit ( loss of function) of sudden onset and lasting more than 24 hours. It is of vascular origin.
what is a transient ischaemic attack?
a neurological deficit of sudden onset and vascular origin that last less than 24hours
what are the symptoms of a stroke?
loss of power loss of sensation loss of speech (dysphasia) loss of vision loss of coordination
what is aphasia/ dysphasia?
language disorder marked by deficiency in the generation of speech
what must be found out during the history taking of a stroke?
time of onset witnesses headache vomiting neck stiffness photophobia loos of consciousness fit incontinence
if a stroke patient has headache, vomiting, neck stiffness or photophobia what does this suggest?
haemorrhage
what are the findings on examination of a stroke patient?
motor function- clumsy or weak limbs sensory function- loss of feeling speech- dysarthria/ dysphasia neglect/visuospatial problems vsion-loss in one eye, or hemianopia gaze palsy ataxia vertigo incoordination nystagmia
what is nystagmia?
condition in which the eyes make repetitive and uncontrolled movements, sign of stroke
what is ataxia?
neurological sign consisting of lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements, sign of stroke
what is gaze palsy?
an inability to move both eyes in a single direction
what are the causes of strokes?
- blood vessel occlusion by thrombus or embolus
- haemorrhage
- disease of vessel wall eg. atherosclerosis
- disturbance of the normal properties of blood eg. thick blood from cancer
what is penumbra?
tissue that is alive but not perfused. It is at risk of infarction but can be saved if reperfused
what are the three circulations within the brain?
anterior circulation
posterior circulation
circle of WIllis
what is the Broca’s area of the brain responsible for?
speech
what is the frontal lobe responsible for?
judgement, foresight and voluntary movement
smell
what is the motor cortex of the brain responsible for?
movement
what is the sensory cortex of the brain responsible for?
heat, pain and other sensations
what is the parietal lobe responsible for ?
comprehension of language
what is the temporal lobe responsible for?
- hearing
- intellectual and emotional functions
what is the occipital lobe responsible for?
sight (primary visual area)
what is the Wernicke’s area of the brain responsible for?
speech comprehension
what is the cerebellum responsible for?
coordination
what is the brainstem responsible for?
swallowing breathing heart beat wakefullness centre other involuntary functions
if a stroke is small but affects deep white fibres what will the result be?
it will result in a large deficit as the fibres are packet close together here
