Unit 12 - Nervous System Key Terms 2

Question 1

stroke

Answer 1

any disorder of the cerebral blood vessels that causes a loss of consciousness due to oxygen deprivation of brain tissue

Question 2

CVA

Answer 2

cerebrovascular attack

Question 3

ischemic storke

Answer 3

blockage of carotid arteries by plaque or thrombus, resulting in insufficient blood flow to the brain

Question 4

Intracerebral hemorrhage

Answer 4

•Rupture of vessels in the brain •Compression and destruction of brain structures from released
blood

Question 5

Subarachnoid hemorrhage

Answer 5

• Release of blood into the space surrounding the brain
• Commonly caused by a ruptured aneurysm
• Usually fatal

Question 6

signs and symptoms of stroke

Answer 6

hemiparesis, ataxia, aphasia, loss of consciousness, blurred vision, TIA

Question 7

TIA

Answer 7

transient ischemic attack, (signs and symptoms of a mild stroke that resolve within 24 hours)

Question 8

dysphagia

Answer 8

difficulty swallowing

Question 9

dysphasia

Answer 9

difficulty speaking

Question 10

AD

Answer 10

Alzheimer Disease

Question 11

Alzheimer Disease

Answer 11

•Most common form of dementia
•Interference with memory, learning, and,
eventually, the ability to function
•Associated with neuritic “plaques” that form in
a small area of the brain and, eventually, spread
•Definitive diagnosis only possible on autopsy

Question 12

AD signs and symptoms

Answer 12

•Forgetfulness
•Diminished interest in daily activity, acquaintances,
and surroundings
•Getting lost on familiar routes
•Personality changes
•Loss of social skills

Question 13

AD treatment

Answer 13

• Primarily supportive
• Altering the environment to ensure the patient’s safety
• Support of family members and caregivers
• Medical management, considering potential adverse effects

Question 14

deterioration

Answer 14

the process of becoming progressively worse.

Question 15

dyslexia

Answer 15

a general term for disorders that involve difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols, but that do not affect general intelligence.

Question 16

dementia

Answer 16

describes various symptoms of cognitive decline, such as forgetfulness

Question 17

aura

Answer 17

awareness or feeling of an approaching physical or mental disorder, commonly preceding a seizure

Question 18

convulsion

Answer 18

any sudden, violent contraction of one or more muscles

Question 19

lethargy

Answer 19

abnormal inactivity of lack of response to normal stimuli

Question 20

palsy

Answer 20

paralysis, usually partial, and

commonly characterized by weakness, shaking, or uncontrolled tremors

Question 21

paresthesia

Answer 21

sensation of numbness,

prickling, tingling, or heightened sensitivity

Question 22

syncope

Answer 22

temporary loss of consciousness; also called fainting

Question 23

cryosurgery

Answer 23

•Exposure of abnormal tissue to extreme cold (super freezing)

Question 24

Thalamotomy

Answer 24

• Destruction of a very small area of the thalamus

* Used to control tremors in Parkinson disease

Question 25

Stereotaxic radiosurgery

Answer 25

•Production of three-dimentional coordinates to
determine the precise location of small areas for
treatment
•Used to determine location for various procedures,
including excision, biopsy, stimulation, or
manipulation

Question 26

tractotomy`

Answer 26

•Incision of a nerve tract, usually in the brain stem or
spinal cord
•Used to relieve intractable pain

Question 27

trephination

Answer 27

•Production of a circular opening into the skull using a special device called a trephine •Used to reveal brain tissue or relieve intracranial pressure

Question 28

EEG

Answer 28

Electroencephalography

Question 29

Electroencephalography

Answer 29

Placement of electrodes on the skull using
adhesive strips
• Recording of electrical activity of the brain on
tracings (strips of paper)
• Analysis of tracings to help locate seizure focus or areas of inactivity

Question 30

EMG

Answer 30

Electromyography

Question 31

Electromyography

Answer 31

• Positioning of electrodes in a skeletal muscle
• Recording of electrical signals from the muscle at
rest and during contraction
• Used to evaluate the health of the muscle and its response to electrical stimuli

Question 32

NCV

Answer 32

Nerve conduction velocity

Question 33

Nerve conduction velocity

Answer 33

Measurement of the speed at which impulses travel
through a nerve • Used to measure the speed that the impulse
travels down the nerve

Question 34

PET

Answer 34

Positron emission tomography

Question 35

Positron emission tomography

Answer 35

Imaging procedure that records metabolic activity,
• Used to scan brain and nervous tissue to identify
areas of abnormal activity that occur in
schizophrenia, tumors, epilepsy, stroke, and AD

Question 36

CT

Answer 36

Computed tomography

Question 37

Computed tomography

Answer 37

• Use of a computer to generate three-dimensional
images
• Especially effective in diagnosing disorders of the
brain and spinal cord
• Used to visualize tumors, abscesses, hemorrhage,
and trauma

Question 38

CTA

Answer 38

Computed tomography angiography

Question 39

Computed tomography angiography

Answer 39

Use of a computer to generate three-dimensional

images of the vascular structure of the brain

Question 40

Lumbar puncture

Answer 40

Insertion of a needle and
syringe into the lumbar
area of the spine
• Used to withdraw a sample
of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
for analysis