The Nervous System Pathology Flashcards
Anesthesiology
Branch of medicine specializing in all aspects of anesthesia, including for surgical procedures, resuscitation measures, and the management of acute and chronic pain. Physician is an ‘anesthesiologist.’
Neurology
Branch of medicine concerned with diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions of the nervous system. Physician is a ‘neurologist.’
Neurosurgery
Branch of medicine concerned with treating conditions and diseases of the nervous systems by surgical means. Physician is a ‘neurosurgeon.’
Absence Seizure
Type of epileptic seizure that lasts only a few seconds to half a minute, characterized by a loss of awareness and an absence of activity. It is formerly known as a ‘petite mal seizure.’
Analgesia
Absence of pain
Anesthesia
Lack of feeling or sensation
Aphasia
Inability to communicate verbally or in writing due to damage of the speech or language centers in the brain
Ataxia
Lack of muscle coordination
Aura
Sensations, such as seeing colors or smelling an unusual order, that occur just prior to an epileptic seizure or migraine headache
Cephalalgia
Headache
Coma
Profound unconsciousness resulting from an illness or injury
Conscious
Condition of being awake and aware of surroundings
Convulsion
Severe involuntary muscle contractions and relaxations. These have a variety of causes, such as epilepsy, fever, and toxic conditions
Delirium
Abnormal mental state characterized by confusion, disorientation, and agitation
Dementia
Progressive impairment of intellectual function that interferes with performing activities of daily living. Patients have little awareness of their condition. Found in disorders such as Alzheimer’s
Dysphasia
Difficulty communicating verbally or in writing due to damage of the speech or language centers in the brain
Focal Seizure
Localized seizure often affecting one limb
Hemiparesis
Weakness or loss of motion on one side of the body
Hemiplegia
Paralysis on only one side of the body
Hyperesthesia
Abnormally heightened sense of feeling, sense of pain, or sensitivity to touch
Monoparesis
Muscle weakness in one limb
Monoplegia
Paralysis of one limb
Neuralgia
Nerve pain
Palsy
Temporary or permanent loss of the ability to control movement
Paralysis
Temporary or permanent loss of function or voluntary movement
Paraplegia
Paralysis of the lower portion of the body and both legs
Paresthesia
Abnormal sensation such as burning or tingling
Quadriplegia
Paralysis of all four limbs
Seizure
Sudden, uncontrollable onset of symptoms, such as in an epileptic seizure
Semiconscious
State of being aware of surroundings and responding to stimuli only part of the time
Syncope
Fainting
Tonic-Clonic Seizure
Type of severe epileptic seizure characterized by a loss of consciousness and convulsions. The seizure alternates between strong continuous muscle spasms (tonic) and rhythmic muscle contraction and relaxation (clonic). It is also called a ‘grand mal seizure.’
Tremor
Involuntary repetitive alternating movement of a part of the body
Unconscious
State of being unaware of surroundings, with the inability to respond to stimuli
Alzheimer’s Disease
Chronic, organic mental disorder consisting of dementia, which is more prevalent in adults after 65 years of age. Involves progressive disorientation, apathy, speech and gait disturbances, and loss of memory. Named for German neurologist Alois Alzheimer
Astrocytoma
Tumor of the brain or spinal cord composed of astrocytes, one type of neuroglial cells
Brain Tumor
Intracranial mass, either benign or malignant. A benign tumor of the brain can still be fatal since it will grow and cause pressure on normal brain tissue
Cerebellitis
Inflammation of the cerebellum
Cerebral Aneurysm
Localized abnormal dilation of a blood vessel, usually an artery; the result of a congenital defect or weakness in the wall of the vessel. A ruptured aneurysm is a common cause of a hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident
Cerebral Contusion
Bruising of the brain from a blow or impact
Cerebral Palsy (CP)
Brain damage resulting from a defect, trauma, infection, or lack of oxygen before, during, or shortly after birth
Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
Development of an infarct due to loss in the blood supply to an area of the brain. Blood flow can be interrupted by a ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhage), a floating clot (embolus), a stationary clot (thrombosis), or compression. The extent of damage depends on the size and location of the infarct and often includes dysphasia and hemiplegia. Commonly called a ‘stroke.’
Concussion
Injury to the brain resulting from the brain being shaken inside the skull from a blow or impact. Symptoms vary and may include: headache, blurred vision, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, and balance problems. Also called ‘mild traumatic brain injury (TBI).’
Encephalitis
Inflammation of the brain
Epilepsy
Recurrent disorder of the brain in which seizures and loss of consciousness occur as a result of uncontrolled electrical activity of the neurons in the brain
Hydrocephalus
Accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the ventricles of the brain, causing the head to be enlarged. It is treated by creating an artificial shunt for the fluid to leave the brain. If left untreated, it may lead to seizures and mental retardation
Migraine
Specific type of headache characterized by severe head pain, sensitivity to light, dizziness, and nausea
Parkinson’s Disease
Chronic disorder of the nervous system with fine tremors, muscular weakness, rigidity, and a shuffling gait. Named for British physician Sir James Parkinson
Reye Syndrome
Combination of symptoms first recognized by Australian pathologist R. D. K. Reye that includes acute encephalopathy and damage to various organs, especially the liver. This occurs in children under age 15 who have had a viral infection. It is also associated with taking aspirin. For this reason, it’s not recommended for children to use aspirin
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
Temporary interference with blood supply to the brain, causing neurological symptoms such as dizziness, numbness, and hemiparesis. May eventually lead to a full-blown stroke (cerebrovascular accident)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Disease with muscular weakness and atrophy due to degeneration of motor neurons of the spinal cord. Also called ‘Lou Gehrig’s disease’, after the New York Yankees baseball player who died from the disease
Memingocele
Congenital condition in which the meninges protrude through an opening in the vertebral column
Myelitis
Inflammation of the spinal cord
Myelomeningocele
Congenital condition in which the meninges and spinal cord protrude through an opening in the vertebral column
Poliomyelitis
Viral inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord. Results in varying degrees of paralysis; may be mild and reversible or may be sever and permanent. This disease has been almost eliminated due to the discovery of a vaccine in the 1950s
Spina Bifida
Congenital defect in the walls of the spinal canal in which the laminae of the vertebra do not meet or close. May result in a meningocele or a myelomeningocele–meninges or the spinal cord being pushed through the opening
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Damage to the spinal cord as a result of trauma. Spinal cord may be bruised or completely severed
Bell’s Palsy
One-sided facial paralysis due to inflammation of the facial nerve, probably viral in nature. The patient cannot control salivation, tearing of the eyes, or expression, but most will eventually recover
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Disease of the nervous system in which nerves lose their myelin covering. May be caused by an autoimmune reaction. Characterized by loss of sensation and/or muscle control starting in the legs. Symptoms then move toward the trunk and may even result in paralysis of the diaphragm
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Inflammatory disease of the central nervous system in which there is extreme weakness and numbness due to loss of myelin insulation from nerves
Myasthenia Gravis
Disease with severe muscular weakness and fatigue due to insufficient neurotransmitter at a synapse
Neuroma
Nerve tumor or tumor of the connective tissue sheath around a nerve
Neuropathy
General term for disease or damage to a nerve
Polyneuritis
Inflammation of two or more nerves
Radiculitis
Inflammation of a nerve root; may be caused by a herniated nucleus pulposus
Radiculopathy
Refers to the condition that occurs when a herniated nucleus pulposus puts pressure on a nerve root. Symptoms include pain and numbness along the path of the affected nerve
Shingles
Eruption of painful blisters on the body along a nerve path. Thought to be caused by a Herpes zoster virus infection of the nerve root
Epidural Hematoma
Mass of blood in the space outside the dura mater of the brain and spinal cord
Meningioma
A tumor in the meninges
Meningitis
Inflammation of the meninges around the brain or spinal cord caused by bacterial or viral infection. Symptoms include fever, headache, neck stiffness, lethargy, vomiting, irritability, and photophobia
Subdural Hematoma
Mass of blood forming beneath the dura mater if the meninges are torn by trauma. May exert fatal pressure on the brain if the hematoma is not drained by surgery
