The Nervous System

Question 1

What is Hydrocephalus?

Answer 1

Build up of fluid in the brain.
The excess fluid puts pressure on the brain, which can damage it.
Three types of Hydrocephalus:
Congenital Hydrocephalus - Presents at birth
Acquired Hydrocephalus - Develops after birth
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus - Usually only develops in older people.

Question 2

What is Spina Bifida?

Answer 2

When a Baby’s Spine and Spinal Cord does not develop properly in the womb, causing a gap in the Spine. Type of Neural tube defect. Neural tube is the structure that eventually develops into the Baby’s brain and Spinal Cord. In Spina Bifida, part of the Neural Tube does not develop or close properly, leading to defects in the Spinal Cord and Bones of the Spine (Vertebrae).

Question 3

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Answer 3

Affects movement and Coordination
Caused by a problem with the brain that develops before, during or soon after Birth.
Can happen if a Baby’s brain does not develop normally while they’re in the Womb, or is Damaged During or soon after Birth.
Can be Caused by:
Bleeding in the Baby’s Brain or reduces blood and oxygen supply to their Brain.
Infection caught by Mother during Pregnancy
Brain temporarily not getting enough Oxygen (Asphyxiation) during a difficult Birth.
Meningitis
Serious Head Injury

Question 4

What is Meningitis?

Answer 4

Infection of the Protective Membranes that surround the Brain and Spinal Cord (Meninges).
Can cause Life Threatening Blood Poisoning (SEPSIS) and result in Permanent Damage to the Brain or Nerves.

Question 5

What is Encephalitis?

Answer 5

Uncommon but Serious Condition. Brain becomes Inflamed (Swollen).
Can be caused by:
Viral Infections: Rarely caused by common viruses that cause Cold Sores or Chickenpox spreading to the Brain.
A Problem with the Immune System, the body’s defence against Infection. When the Immune System mistakenly attacks the Brain, causing it to become inflamed.
Bacterial or Fungal Infections: Much rarer causes then Viral.

Question 6

What is the Zika Virus?

Answer 6

Mainly Spread by Mosquitoes found in some parts of the world. Infectious Disease caused by a virus carried by Mosquitoes.

Question 7

What is an Epidural Haemotoma?

Answer 7

Collection of Blood that forms between the Skull and Dura Mater, the outermost protective membrane covering your Brain. Cause is usually an Artery that gets torn by Skull Fractures.

Question 8

What is a Subdural Haemotoma?

Answer 8

Where Blood collects between the Skull and the Surface of the Brain. Usually Caused by a Head Injury. When a Blood Vessel in the Space between the Skull and Brain is Damaged. Blood Escapes the Blood Vessel, leading to the formation of a blood clot, placing pressure on the Brain.

Question 9

What is an Intracerebral Haematoma?

Answer 9

Collection of Blood within the Skull. Usually Caused by a Blood Vessel that Bursts in the Brain. Blood Collect in the Brain Tissue or Underneath the Skull, pressing on the Brain.

Question 10

What is a Subarachnoid Haemorrhages?

Answer 10

There is Bleeding in the Space that surrounds the Brain. Most often Occurs when a weak area in a Blood Vessel on the surface of the Brain bursts and Leaks. Blood Builds up around the Brain and inside the Skull increasing pressure on the Brain.

Question 11

What is a Transient Ischaemic Attack? (TIA)

Answer 11

Caused by Temporary Disruption in the Blood Supply to part of the Brain. Disruption in Blood Supply results in a lack of Oxygen to the Brain. Can cause sudden symptoms similar to a Stroke, such as Speech and Visual Disturbance, and Numbness or Weakness in the Face, Arms and Legs. Does not last as long as a Stroke.

Question 12

What is a Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA-STROKE)?

Answer 12

When Blood Supply to Part of the Brain is cut off. Two Causes for Strokes:
Ischaemic - Where blood supply is Stopped because of a Blood Clot, accounting for 85% of all Cases.
Haemorrhagic - Where a weakened blood vessel supplying the Brain Bursts.

Question 13

What is a Cerebral Aneurysm?

Answer 13

A Bulge in a Blood Vessel caused by a weakness in the Blood Vessel wall, usually where it branches. As Blood passes through the weakened Blood Vessel, the Blood pressure causes a small area to bulge outwards like a Balloon.

Question 14

What are Seizure Disorders?

Answer 14

Example Includes Epilepsy.
Seizures are bursts of Electrical Activity in the Brain that temporarily affect how if works. In Epilepsy, the Electrical signals in the brain become scrambles and there are sometimes sudden bursts of Electrical Activity. This is what causes Seizures.

Question 15

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Answer 15

Condition that can affect the Brain and Spinal Cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance. Autoimmune condition. When something goes wrong with the immune system and it mistakenly attacked a healthy part of the body. The immune system attacks the layer that surrounds and protects the nerves called the myelin sheath. This Damages and Scars the sheath, and potentially the underlying nerves, meaning that messages travelling along the nerves becomes slowed or disrupted.

Question 16

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 16

Condition in which parts of the Brain become progressively damaged over many years. Caused by loss of nerve cells in part of the Brain called the substantia nigra. This leads to a reduction in a chemical called Dopamine in the Brain. Dopamine plays a vital role in regulating the movement of the body. A reduction in Dopamine is responsible for many of the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.

Question 17

What is Huntingtons Disease?

Answer 17

Condition that stops part of the Brain working properly over time. Passed on (inherited) from a persons parent. Huntingtons disease is caused by a faulty gene that results in parts of the Brain becoming gradually damaged over time. Usually only at risk of developing it if one of your parents has or had it. Both men and women can get it.

Question 18

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Answer 18

Most common cause of Dementia in UK. Thought to be caused by the abnormal build-up of Proteins in and around Brain cells. As Brain cells become affected, there’s also a decrease in Chemical messengers (called neurotransmitters) involved in sending messages, or signals between brain cells. Over time, different areas of the Brain shrink. The first area usually affected are responsible for memories.

Question 19

What is Vascular Dementia?

Answer 19

Common type of Dementia caused by reduced Blood flow to the Brain. Tends to get worse over time, although it sometime slows down. This can happen as a result of:
- Narrowing and Blockage of the small Blood Vessels inside the Brain.
- A Single Stroke, where the blood supply to part of the Brain is suddenly cut off.
- Lots of Mini strokes that cause tiny but widespread damage to the Brain.

Question 20

What is Dementia with Lewy Bodies?

Answer 20

One of the most common types of Dementia. Name for problems with mental abilities caused by gradual changes and damage to the Brain. Caused by clumps of Protein forming inside Brain cells. These abnormal deposits are called Lewy Bodies. Build up in areas of the Brain responsible for functions such as thinking, visual perception and muscle movement. Not clear why the Deposits develop and how exactly they damage the Brain.

Question 21

What is Schizophrenia?

Answer 21

Believed that condition is caused by a combination of Genetic and Environmental factors. Severe long term mental health condition. Can cause Hallucinations and Delusions.

Question 22

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Answer 22

Mental health conditions that affects Moods, which can swing from 1 extreme to another. Triggers are:
- Extreme Stress
- Overwhelming Problems
- Life changing events
- Genetic and Chemical factors.

Question 23

What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Answer 23

Anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. Any situation that a person finds traumatic can cause PTSD. These can include:
- Serious road accidents
- Violent personal assaults
- Serious health problems
- Childbirth experiences.

Question 24

What are Anxiety Disorders?

Answer 24

Feelings of Anxiety are constant and can effect daily lives. Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a long term condition that causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than 1 specific event.

Question 25

What are Depressive Disorders?

Answer 25

Depression is a low mood that lasts for weeks or months and affects your daily life.

Question 26

What is Intracranial Pressure?

Answer 26

Increased Intercranial pressure describes increased volume in the limited space within the cranial cavity.
The Skull and its Components (Blood, CSF and Brain tissue) creates a state of volume equilibrium.
Increased ICP may occur due to traumatic brain injury, a tumour, hydrocephalus, cerebral oedema + Haemorrhage.
Left untreated can lead to poor perfusion of the Brain as cerebral arteries and veins become compressed and the brain herniates or shifts as it becomes compressed within the skull.

Question 27

What are Intracranial Haemorrhages?

Answer 27

Epidural - Bleeding between the Dura and Skull
Subdural - Between Dura and Arachnoid
Intracerebral - Bleeding in Brain tissue itself.

Question 28

What is the Pathophysiology of Stroke?

Answer 28

A Stroke occurs as a direct result of impaired blood flow to the Brain either as a result of vessel occlusion or Haemorrhaging due to rupture blood vessel.
Thrombotic (aka ischaemic) Stroke or Haemorrhagic Stroke.
The Nature and extent of neurological impairment that the patient may suffer is dependent on the amount and location of oxygen starvation that the Brain tissue has experienced and/or the severity of cerebral bleeding that has occurred.
A CVA last longer than 24 Hours
A TIA typically lasts much less than 24 Hours (most resolve in 3 hours).

Question 29

What is a Seizure?

Answer 29

A Seizure is a burst of uncontrolled electrical activity, between neurones that causes temporary abnormalities in muscle tone or movements - (stiffness, twitching or limpness), behaviours, sensations or state of awareness.
They are not all alike. A Seizure can be a single event due to a specific acute cause, such as hypoglycaemia or medication.
When an individual has recurring seizures, this is known as epilepsy.

Question 30

What is Status Epilepticus?

Answer 30

A BTCs that has stopped after 5 minutes, or a series of such Seizures without recovery in between which lasts for 5 Minutes or more, is defined as convulsive status epilepticus (CSE).
Life threatening condition which needs immediate treatment - people very quickly become hypoxic.
Can lead to permanent neurological and brain damage, respiratory failure and death.
Most common cause in Adults is failure to take their prescribed medications.

Question 31

What is a Bilateral Tonic Clonic Seizure?

Answer 31

2 Stages
Initial “Tonic’ Stage shortly followed by a second “Clonic” stage:
Tonic Stage - Lose consciousness, body goes stiff, and may fall to the floor.
Clonic Stage - Limbs jerk about, may lose control of bladder or bowel, might have difficulty breathing.

Question 32

What is a Simple Partial (Focal) Seizures?

Answer 32

General Strange feeling
Unusual smells or taste
Tingling in Arms and Legs
Stiffness or Twitching in part of body such as Arm or Hand

Question 33

What is a Complex Partial (Focal) Seizure?

Answer 33

Rubbing your Hands
Making Random Noises
Moving your arms around
Picking at Clothes or Fiddling with Objects

Question 34

What is an Absence Seizure?

Answer 34

Lose awareness of Surroundings
Mostly in Children
Stare blankly into space
Like “Daydreaming”
Slight Jerking Movements of Body or Limbs
Can Occur several times a day