Week 1 Vocab Flashcards
Brainstem
the central trunk of the mammalian brain, consisting of the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain, and continuing downward to form the spinal cord
Cranial nerves
each of twelve pairs of nerves which arise directly from the brain, not from the spinal cord, and pass through separate apertures in the skull
Tectum
the uppermost part of the midbrain, lying to the rear of the cerebral aqueduct
Superior colliculus
a paired structure in the rostral midbrain that is involved in incorporating environmental stimuli and coordinating gaze of both eyes and head movements
inferior colliculus
a paired structure in the rostral midbrain, which serves as an important relay point for auditory information as it travels from the inner ear to the auditory cortex
Cranial nerve I
Olfactory nerve - each of the first pair of cranial nerves, transmitting impulses to the brain from the smell receptors in the mucous membrane of the nose
Cranial nerve II
Optic nerve - each of the second pair of cranial nerves, transmitting impulses to the brain from the retina at the back of the eye
Cranial nerve III
Oculomotor nerve - each of the third pair of cranial nerves, supplying most of the muscles around and within the eyeballs
Cranial nerve IV
Trochlear nerve - each of the fourth pair of cranial nerves, supplying the superior oblique muscle of the eyeball
Cranial nerve V
Trigeminal nerve - each of the fifth and largest pair of cranial nerves, supplying the front part of the head and dividing into the ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular nerves.
Cranial nerve VI
Abducens nerve - each of the sixth pair of cranial nerves, supplying the muscles concerned with the lateral movement of the eyeballs
Cranial nerve VII
Facial nerve - each of the seventh pair of cranial nerves, supplying the facial muscles and the tongue
Cranial nerve VIII
Vestibulocochlear nerve - each of the eighth pair of cranial nerves, conveying sensory impulses from the organs of hearing and balance in the inner ear to the brain. The vestibulocochlear nerve on each side branches into the vestibular nerve and the cochlear nerve
Cranial nerve IX
Glossopharyngeal nerve - each of the ninth pair of cranial nerves, supplying the tongue and pharynx
Cranial nerve X
Vagus nerve - each of the tenth pair of cranial nerves, supplying the heart, lungs, upper digestive tract, and other organs of the chest and abdomen
Cranial nerve XI
Spinal Accessory nerve - each pair of eleventh pair of cranial nerves, supplying the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles
Cranial nerve XII
Hypoglossal nerve - each of the twelfth pair of cranial nerves, supplying the muscles of the tongue
Cribriform plate
exit foramen for cranial nerve I
Optic canal
exit foramen for cranial nerve II
Superior orbital fissure
exit foramen for cranial nerves II, IV, and V1 branch of cranial nerve V
Foramen rotundum
exit foramen for V2 branch of cranial nerve V
Foramen ovale
exit foramen for V3 branch of cranial nerve V
Superior orbital fissure
exit foramen for cranial nerve VI
Auditory canal
exit foramen for cranial nerves VII and VIII
Jugular foramen
exit foramen for cranial nerves IX, X, and XI
Hypoglossal foramen
exit foramen for cranial nerve XII
Anosmia
loss of the sense of smell
Trigeminal neuralgia
neuralgia involving one or more of the branches of the trigeminal nerves,and often causing severe pain
Bell’s palsy
the most common facial nerve disorder where all divisions of the nerve are impaired within a few hours or days and then gradually recover
Tympanic membrane
a membrane forming part of the organ of hearing, which vibrates in response to sound waves. In humans and other higher vertebrates, it forms the eardrum, between the outer and middle ear
Labyrinth
the inner ear composed of the bony labyrinth and the membranous labyrinth
Cochlea
the spiral cavity of the inner ear containing the organ of Corti, which produces nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations
Vestibule
the centralized structure of the bony labyrinth from which the semicircular canals arise
Membranous labyrinth
the inner labyrinth that is suspended within the bony labyrinth and filled with endolymph
Bony labyrinth
the outer labyrinth comprised of bone and filled with perilymph
Endolymph
the fluid in the membranous labyrinth of the ear
Perilymph
the fluid between the membranous labyrinth of the ear and the bone that encloses it
Utricle
one of the otoliths, located in the vestibule, which is sensitive to linear acceleration and positioned in the horizontal plane
Saccule
one of the otoliths, located in the vestibule, which is sensitive to linear acceleration and is positioned in the vertical plane
Semicircular canals
three fluid-filled bony channels in the inner ear. They are situated at right angles to each other and provide information about orientation to the brain to help maintain balance
Scala vestibuli
the upper bony passage of the cochlea
Scala tympani
the lower bony passage of the cochlea
Scala media or cochlear duct
the central duct of the cochlea in the inner ear, containing the sensory cells and separated from the scala tympani and scala vestibuli by membranes.
Organ of Corti
hair cells and supporting cells of the cochlea
Primary auditory cortex
Brodmann’s area 41 and the transverse gyrus of Heschl
Vestibular nuclei
important for adjustment of posture, muscle tone, and eye position in response to movements of the head in space
Ampullae
the bulge at the base of each semicircular canal containing the crista ampullaris and cupula
Maculae
a sensory structure located inside the otoliths, the utricle and saccule, that detect linear acceleration and head tilt
Cupula
a gelatinous mechanoreceptor inside the ampulla of the semicircular canal
Otoliths
each of three small oval calcareous bodies in the inner ear of vertebrates, involved in sensing gravity and movement
Crista ampullaris
- the primary sensory structure within the ampulla containing hair cells
Scarpa’s ganglion
the location of cell bodies for the vestibular portion of cranial nerve VIII
Conductive hearing loss
hearing loss caused by abnormalities of the external auditory canal or middle ear
Sensorineural hearing loss
hearing loss caused by disorders of the cochlea or cranial nerve VIII
Tinnitus -
ringing or buzzing in the ears
Nystagmus
rapid involuntary movements of the eyes
Peripheral vestibular disorders
vestibular disorders involving anatomy in the inner ear
Central vestibular disorders
vestibular disorders involving the brainstem or cerebellum
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
the most common cause of peripheral vertigo which causes a false sensation of spinning or movement
Vestibular neuritis
a peripheral vestibular disorder that affects the vestibular nerve and causes prolonged vertigo in the absence of hearing loss
Vestibular labyrinthitis
a peripheral vestibular disorder that affects the labyrinth and causes prolonged vertigo along with hearing loss
Meniere’s disease
a peripheral vestibular disorder that is caused by an abnormality in the labyrinth where fluid imbalance causes severe vertigo and hearing loss
Acoustic neuroma
a vestibular schwannoma that is a benign, slow-growing tumor, that develops in and around cranial nerve VIII
Paralysis
complete absence of muscle strength, unable to voluntarily recruit motor units
Plegia
same as paralysis; complete absence of muscle strength, unable to voluntarily recruit motor units
Paresis
muscle weakness
Hemiplegia
one-sided paralysis
Hemiparesis
one sided weakness
Paraplegia
lower extremity paralysis
Tetraplegia
upper and lower extremity paralysis (note that the term quadriplegia is no longer used!)
Muscle tone:
the resistance felt in the muscle during passive elongation
Hypotonia
low tone
Flaccidity
a complete lack of resistance during passive elongation
Hypertonia
high tone
Spasticity
occurs when there is damage to the descending motor systems (i.e.corticospinal tract). A key sign of spasticity is that it is velocity dependent, meaning the faster you passively elongate the muscle you are assessing, the more resistance or spasticity you will feel
Rigidity
Unlike spasticity it is not velocity dependent. It may affect both the agonist and antagonist muscles and is associated with lesions of the basil ganglia
Coordination
allows for smooth, accurate and efficient movement. The motor cortex, basil ganglia, cerebellum, and dorsal columns (proprioception) all contribute to coordinated movement.
Dystonia
excessive twisting and bizarre repetitive movements caused by axial and proximal limb muscles; associated with basal ganglion lesions (i.e. Parkinson’s disease and long-term use of levodopa medication)
Chorea
rapid and jerky limb movements; associated with basal ganglia lesions (i.e.Huntington’s disease)
Athetosis
slow, twisting, snake like movements; associated with cerebral palsy
Tremor
rhythmical, oscillating and alternating movement of a body part
Resting Tremor
occurs when muscles of the involved body part are at rest and supported against gravity; associated with Parkinson’s disease
Action Tremor:
occurs when muscles of the involved body part are contracted; such as a tremor that occurs when you are holding your body or body part in a posture against gravity (Postural Tremor) or a tremor that occurs during a voluntary movement such as reaching for a target (Intention Tremor); associated with cerebellar lesions disease
Blurred vision
s the loss of visual acuity (sharpness of vision) resulting in a loss of ability to see small details
Diplopia
condition in which a single object appears as two objects. Also called “doublevision.” From the Greek diplo- (double) + -opia (vision)
Strabismus
condition in which the visual axes of the eyes are not parallel, and the eyes appear to be looking in different directions. In divergent strabismus, or exotropia, the visual axes diverge.
Nystagmus
rapid rhythmic repetitious involuntary (unwilled) eye movements. Nystagmus can be horizontal, vertical or rotary
Homonymous Hemianopsia
medical term for a type of partial blindness resulting in a loss of vision in the same visual field of both eyes
Occipital blindness
loss or absence of the ability to perceive visual images
Agnosia
occurs when an individual demonstrates an inability to process and recognize incoming information. For example, despite normal eye site, an individual will not be able to visually identify an object, such as a brush, but looking at it. However, if they pickup the brush and manipulate it with their hands, they will be able to recognize that they are holding a brush.
Unilateral Neglect (a body scheme agnosia)
common in individuals with right sided brain damage and it is defined as an inability to perceive and integrate stimuli on one side of the body and environment. It is not uncommon for an individual to eat food from only the right side of their plate, put make-up on only the right side of their face, and ignore individuals who are standing on their left side
Apraxia
is the inability to perform movement despite the presence of normal sensation and motor control. Apraxia is more common in individuals with left sided brain damage. Some types of apraxia render an individual incapable of performing a task on command, but they can perform the task automatically. For example, you may ask your patient to show you how to answer the phone. Your patient will not be able to demonstrate this task for you. However, if the phone rang, your patient could automatically answer it without hesitation or difficulty. Wow! Pretty interesting stuff don’t’ you think? You will learn about different types of apraxia in a later unit.
Memory
is the ability to store and retrieve information and past experiences. Memory is very complex and involves many areas of the brain (portions of all the lobes and the limbic system, specifically the hippocampus).
Short-term memory
is the ability to recall events that took place a few minutes, hours, or days ago
Immediate recall
is the ability to recall after a few seconds.
Long-term memory:
is the ability to recall events that occurred years ago. Amnesia is a type of long-term memory deficit.
Lethargy
refers to an altered level of consciousness in which a person’s level of arousal is diminished
Obtunded
refers to diminished arousal and awareness
Stupor
refers to a state of altered mental status and responsiveness to one’s environment
Coma
an unconscious patient that cannot be aroused
Expressive aphasia (also known as Broca’s, non-fluent, and motor aphasia):
occurs when there is damage to Broca’s area in the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere (dominant hemisphere). An individual’s auditory comprehension is intact, but they have difficulty expressing what they want to say. Thus, they understand what is being said to them but have great difficulty communicating their needs and responding to questions. Spoken language is very labored, slow, and hesitant and the individual is usually very frustrated.
Receptive aphasia (also known as Wernicke’s, fluent, and sensory aphasia):
occurs when there is damage to Wernicke’s area in the temporal lobe of the left hemisphere (dominant hemisphere). An individual’s auditory comprehension is impaired; thus, they don’t understand what is being said to them and they do not get frustrated. Spoken language is smooth without hesitation but it does not make sense and often includes made up words.
Global aphasia
results from widespread damage to the left hemisphere (dominant hemisphere) and leads to both expressive and receptive aphasia
Dysarthria
a speech disorder (as opposed to a language disorder such as aphasia) and is commonly referred to as “slurred speech”. Dysarthria occurs after an UMN lesion when there is damage to the motor speech system (right or left sided damage). Weakness and lack of coordination of the speech and respiratory muscles leads to articulation, pitch, and volume problems. Dysarthria is common in individuals with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Dysphagia
is impaired swallowing ability
Reactive Postural Control
occurs in response to an external force or perturbation (i.e. someone pushes you from behind) and relies on feedback mechanisms to prevent you from falling over. Thus, if you are unrepentantly pushed off balance you will recover using reactive postural control which relies on feedback mechanisms.
Anticipatory Postural Control:
occurs in anticipation of a destabilization force (i.e. you know that you are going to get pushed) and relies on feed forward mechanisms to prevent you from falling over
