X Neuro: Mrs Grant (Adult Health, Chp 14) Flashcards
The Nervous system works together with what system?
The Endocrine system to maintain homeostasis
NS responsible for what in the body?
- communication
- control
- It interpretes info received then send to appropriate areas of the brain of spinal cord
NS reacts in split seconds while Endocrine (enzymes/hormones) system takes longer to take effect.
.
CNS includes
- brain
- spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System
- Somatic nervous system
- Autonomic nervous system
Somatic Nervous System (voluntary)
sends messages form CNS to skeletal muscles (voluntary)
(i. e. walking)
- Spinal Nerves: 31 pairs (Afferent, sensory /Efferent, motor)
- Cranial Nerves: 12 pair, (conduct impulses btwn head/neck/brn), back of brain, brain stem. (Nerve X, Vegus brings impuls to Thoracic/abdominal, unlike the rest)
Autonomic Nervous System
involuntary, automatic
sends messages from CNS to smooth muscle, cardiac muscle and certain glands (involuntary, unconscious i.e. heart beat, breathing)
- Sympathetic NS
- Parasympathetic NS
Cells of Nervous System
- Neuron
- Neuromuscular juntion
- Neurotransmitters
- Neurocoverings
- Synapse
Neurons
most important cells in transmission of info
- cell body, nucleus, axon, dendrites
- receive impulses
- many shapes and sizes
- non myotic (don’t replicate when injured. don’t hear of malignancy of these cells because they don’t multiply
Neuromuscular Junction
area of contact btwn ends of fibers
Neurotransmitters
store chemicals
- ACETYLCHOLINE: transmission of impulse (speed)
- NOREPINEPHRINE: maintain arousal, dream, mood
- DOPAMINE: helps with fluidity of mvmt, motor functions (i.e. parkinson’s, lack of dopamine)
- SERATONIN: sleep, temp, mood
Synapse
space btwn 2 neurons. Impulse crosses to next neuron
Neuron Coverings
Myelin Sheath
- white waxy material insulates/protects axon
- starts to form at 4mos gestation
- increases speed of impulse transmission
Neuro Glial Cells
support cells to neurons. ‘Nerve Glue’. Support, insulate, care, nourish neurons
Peripheral NS: Spinal Nerves
- Spinal Nerves: 31 pairs of mixed nerves
- Afferent: sensory, RECEIVE info from organs
- Efferent: motor nuerons, SEND messages from CNS to periphery
Peripheral NS: Cranial Nerves
- 12 pair, attached to brain stem
- conduct impulses btwn head/neck/brn
- all except cranial nerve X, Vegus, brings impulse to Thoracic/abdominal, unlike the rest
Autonomic NS: Sympathetic NS
- work together, but one will dominate the others. Activated in times of severe stress or when threatened.
- Fight or Flight
- If body stays in Fight or Flight state for too long, can cause HTN and illness
Autonomic NS: Parasympathetic NS
- most active during resting state.
- digestion, reproductive funtion
- Feed & Breed
- Paradoxial Fear can result.
Paradoxical Fear
when person knows running or fighting won’t help. Body relaxes. (i.e. urinate or defacate on self, pass out)
- the body’s way of taking you out of the situation.
- Protection, acceptance of situation.
- ‘Bradying down’ –> LO BP, Bradycardia
Effects of Normal Aging on NS
- loss of brain weight (cortex (gray matter) lose cells at higher rate), impairs reasning, memory, language
- loss of neurons (lose 1% neurons after age 50)
- reduction cerebral blood flow
- LO brain metab and O2 utilization
- LO blood supply to spinal cord, dec reflexes
- altered sleep/wake ratio
- LO ability to regulate body temp
- LO velocity of nerve impulses
- Existing neurons may contain 1)Senile Plaques 2) Neurofibroloary tangles, 3) Age pigment (Lipofuscin)
Brain
- Cerbrum
- Diencephalon
- Cerebellum
- Brain Stem (mid brain, pons, medulla oblongata, coverings of brain, ventricles
Can Neurons be replaced/regenerated
NO
Aging: Lipofuscin
name given to finely granular yellow-brown pigment granules[1] composed of lipid-containing residues of lysosomal digestion. It is considered to be one of the aging or “wear-and-tear” pigments, found in the liver, kidney, heart muscle, retina, adrenals, nerve cells, and ganglion cells. It is specifically arranged around the nucleus, and is a type of lipochrome.
Aging: Senile Plaques
polymorphous beta-amyloid protein deposits found in the brain in Alzheimer disease and normal aging. This beta-amyloid protein is derived from a larger precursor molecule of which neurons are the principal producers in brain.
Aging: Neurofibrillary Tangles (NFTs)
aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau protein that are most commonly known as a primary marker of Alzheimer’s Disease. Their presence is also found in numerous other diseases known as tauopathies.
Gray Matter
Grey matter, also known as substantia grisea, is the part of the brain that is controlled by the nerve cell bodies and the majority of the true dendrites (numerous, short, branching filaments that carry impulses towards the cell body). The cell body is the area of the neuron that is highlighted by the existence of a nucleus. Grey matter has no myelin blanket.
The real processing is concluded in the grey matter.
White Matter
The white matter, also known as substantia alba, is a neuron that is made up of extending, myelinated nerve fibers, or axons. It composes the structures at the center of the brain, like the thalamus and the hypothalamus. It is found between the brainstem and the cerebellum. It is the white matter that allows communication to and from grey matter areas, and between grey matter and the other parts of the body. It functions by transmitting the information from the different parts of the body towards the cerebral cortex. It also controls the functions that the body is unaware of, like temperature, blood pressure and the heart rate. Dispensing of hormones and the control of food, as well as the intake of water and the exposition of emotions, are additional functions of the white matter.
???? PIC of SLIDE 8
find
Prevention of Neuro problems
- avoid ETOH/DRUGS
- safe Motor Vehicles use (seat belt, helmet)
- safe swimming (diving in shallow)
- safe handling/storage firearms
- use hardhats, construction area
- use protective padding in sports (concussion, football)
- safe sex (syphillis, HIV, condoms, monogamy, abstinence)
Neuron Covering: Myelin Sheath
- white waxy material
- insulates/protects axon
- starts to form at 4mos gestation - teen yrs
- increases speed of trans of impulses
- i.e. newborns slower/uncoordinated because myelin sheath not fully formed. impulses slwoer
How many Spinal Nerves
31 pairs (Afferent, sensory /Efferent, motor)
Cranial Nerves
12 pair, (conduct impulses btwn head/neck/brn), back of btrain, brain stem.
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X- Vegus brings impuls to Thoracic/abdominal, unlike the rest
Hierarchy of the Nervous System
- Nervous System: Peripheral + Central (brain/spinal cord)
- PERIPHERAL: Autonomic (auto) + Somatic (voluntary)
- AUTONOMIC: Sympathetic (fight/flight) + Parasympathetic (feed/breed)
Assessment of Neuro System
- Hx
- MS
- LOC: Glasgow Coma Scale
- Language/Speech
- Cranial Nerve fx
- Motor fx
- Sensory/perceptual status
Neuro Assessment: Hx
comprehensive history w specifics: symptoms, understanding of what’s happening, info from other family members, subj data H, change of character, insomnia, change in location of headches
Neuro Assessment: MS
mental status:
- orientation to person, place, time, purpose
- mood, behavior
- general knowledge (president, mayor)
- LT/ST memory
- 3 word test (5 min recall)
Neuro Assessment: :LOC
Level of Consciousness:
- the earliest indicator that something is changing
- **earliest sign of INC cranial pressure
- controlled by brain stem
- Wakefullness (most important part of LOC)
- If pt opens eyes spontaneously to voice/pain, BRAIN STEM still function)
- Awareness (higher fx of brain stem)(4 components)
4 components of Awareness
- Orientation
- Memory
- Calculation (count by 7s)
- Fund of knowledge (general knowledge, current affairs)
Neuro Assess: Glasgow Coma Scale
standardized system of assess LOC
- est in head injury
- quick/practical system
- helps predict outcome of person in coma
- Rule of Thumb: stronger stimulus needed to get response, lower the score, worse prognosis
- 14 - 16, not neuro impaired
- 3/4, low score/not good
***3 parts of the Neuro Asses
- Eye Opening
- Verbal Response
- Motor Response
Posturing
- Extension posturing (decerebrate rigidity)(hands/legs freeze down)
- Abnormal flexion (decorticate rigidity)
Decerebrate Rigidity
- Extension/extensor posturing
- arms straight down by sides, clenched jaws
- one side or in arms only
- WORSE, injury to brain stem
- affect breathing, BP regulation, living
- can show up after LT decorticate indicates decline in brain function down to brain stem.
- don’t normally heal
- can’t live long like this
- indicates: stroke, brain abscess, trauma, brain stem herniation
Decorticate Rigidity
Cause: Intracranial bleed, brain stem tumor, stroke, trauma, head injury
- Mummy pose/flexor response
- some can heal w leftover damage
- arms bent, hands in fists on chest (like mummy)
- damage to thalamus, midbrain and cerebral hemispheres (thinking , speaking, remembering)
- can heal, but likely only able to stare and twitch
Language/Speech: fx of what side of brain?
LEFT, dominant
Speech
Aphasia
abnormal nuero condition d/t injury in CEREBRAL CORTEX (outer layer of the cerebrum, composed of folded gray matter and playing an important role in consciousnes.
- Broca (front lobe)
- Wernicke area (temporal lobe)
- affects all areas of language (speech, reading, writing, understanding)
- main condition affecting speech. Stroke on L side
The Left brain
- your personal dictionary
- dominant in language processing
- affects all areas of language (speech, reading, writing, understanding)
- main condition affecting speech. Stroke on L side
- Broca (front lobe)
- Wernicke area (temporal lobe)
Types of Aphasia
- Wernicke (temporal), Receptive
- Broca Aphasia, Expressive
- Global Aphasia
Wernicke Aphasia
- Receptive Aphasia
- difficulty w comprehension (how pt receives)
- w say words that don’t make sense
- i.e. saying gleebee instead of fork (they don’t even realize it)
- sometime group together meaningless words
Broca Aphasia
- Expressive Aphasia
- when stroke injures FRONTAL region of L hemisphere can have language problems
- diff putting words together
- pts know what they want to say, but can’t verbalize
- diff forming complete sentences
- w leave out little words ie the, are, in
- diff w direction (L v R, Up v Down)
Global Aphasia (most severe)
- affects extensive portion of FRONT or BACK or L Hemis
- not expressive or receptive
- diff understanding words/sentences
- diff forming words/sentences
- remember , pt frustrated/angry, not directed towards Nurse
Agnosia
Inability to name or recognize written or spoken name of objects
-r/t nervous system damage
Dysarthria
- muscles for speech very weak
- diff controlling them
- slurred slow speech, diff to understand them
Cranial Nerve Fx (burke 945)
- Olfactory, smell
- vision acuity
Motor Fx
- detect abnormal levels in nerves and functions
- most common neuro symptoms, coor/walking
- gait, stance (Parkinsons shuffle)
- involuntary mvmts
- muscle stretch reflexes (using little rubber reflex hammer)
- Scale 0-4+ (hyper reflexic)
- most important to compare one side to other, reflexes
Motor Fx: reflex test area
- biceps
- brachialis radialis
- quads
- calf muscles
- triceps
Paralysis v Paresis
Paralysis: Mvmt deficit complete loss of fx
Paresis: partial or incomplete paralysis
Injury to Motor Nuerons causes
Muscles, flaccid, changes in muscle tone, muscle strength, reflexes
Spastic Muscles
Involuntary , sudden Mvmt, muscular contactions
Twitching
Fascications
Clonus
Severe or alternating rhythmic contractions and partial relation of muscles
Sensory and Spacial Status
Alteration in pain, touch,temp
- ***PROPIOCEPTION, aware of Spacial positioning of arms and legs (police sobriety test, walk line, touch nose )
- UNILATERAL NEGLECT, pt unaware of one side of body
- HEMIANOPIA, defective vision in half of visual field
Mini Nuero Exam
- orientation
- LOC
- bilateral muscle Strength
- notice involuntary mvmnts
- ability to follow commands
- abnormal posturing (decerebrate, decorticate)
- speech ability
Lab and Dx Exams
- Blood/Urine
- CSF
- CT (pathos of cerebrum/spinal cord)
- Brain Scan (pathos of cerebrum, not as common anymore)
- MRI (magnetic forces to image body)
- PET
- Lumbar Puncture
Blood Urine Tests
- Culture (to rule out infection, UTI, confusion in elderly)
- Drug Screen (can alter behaviour, K2 Synthetic weed, purple haze)
- Arterial Blood Gas (monitor O2 in blood, painful)
CT Scans
- test pathological condition of cerebrum and spinal cord
- no prep, painless
- w or wo contrast
- 20min - 1 hr
- contrast: ensure pt not allergic to Io
- pt w lie still in enclosed space
MRI
- magnet forces to image body structure w or w/o contrast.
- pathos of cerebrum, spinal cord, stroke, tumor, trauma, seizures
- monitor soft tissue structures
- no metal
- painless, lie still
- 45min - 1 hr
- pt can become claustrophobic, loud clanging noise
PET scan
- smilar to MRI
- look at organs, tissue in more detail.
- view neuro fibrillary tangles, defects in brain, after stroke, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, neuro changes, bio chem changes
- 3D pics
- lie still, 45min
Lumbar Punctures
- during pt dx workup for neuro prob.
- collecting CSF
- not advised in pts w Intracranial pressure
- can cause Medulla Oblongata to herniate
- to relieve pressure
- to obtain CSF for exam
- can cause shooting pain
- pain when go through dura mater
- fetal position to administer
- btwn L4/Lb or L5/S1
- collect btwn 1-10cc of CSF
- First insertion can draw blood
- after, lie flat for several hours to prevent headache
CSF collection
aka (spinal tap, ventricular puncture, lumbar puncture, cisternal puncture, cerebral spinal fluid culture)
- pressure: 70-180mm H2O
- appearance: clear, collorless
- CSF total protein: 15-60mg/100ml
- Gamma globulin: 3-12% of total protein
- CSF Glucose: 50-80mg/100ml (or > 2/3 blood sugar level)
- Chloride: 110-125 meq/l
Abnormal CSF results Dx? Cloudy?
possible infection or buildup of WBC or protein
Abnormal CSF results Dx? Bloody/Red?
possible bleeding or spinal cold obstruction
Abnormal CSF results Dx? Brown/Orange/Yellow?
posbiel sign of UP CSF protein or previous beleding (>3days)
Abnormal CSF results Dx? UP CSF pressure? Lo pressure
- HI pressure: increased intracranial pressure
- LO pressure: spinal cord tumor, shock, fainting, or diabetic coma
Abnormal CSF results Dx? UP CSF protein/LO protein
- HI protein: blood in CSF, DB, polyneuritis, tumor, injury or any inflammatory of infectious condition, degenerative disease
- LO protein: sign of rapid CSF production,
Abnormal CSF results Dx? UP CSF gamma globulin
disease i.e. MS, neurosyphilis, Guillain-Barre syndrome
Abnormal CSF results Dx? UP CSF glucose, LO glucose
HI: hyperglycemia
LO: hypoglycemia (low BG), bacterial, fungal infection (i.e. meningitis), TB
Abnormal CSF results Dx? UP WBC
sign of acute infection, meningitis, beginning of chronic illness, tumor, abcess, stroke, demyelinating disease (MS)
Abnormal CSF results Dx? UP RBC
sign of bleeding into spinal fluid, or result of traumatic lumbar puncture
Lab and Dx Exams (cont’d)
- EEG (electroencephalogram)
- Myelogram
- Angiogram
- Carotid duplex
- Digital subtraction antiography
- Electromyogram
- Echoencephalogram
EEG (electroencephalogram) (Sleep Deprived EEG)
- measure electrical activity in the brain
- Test for epilepsy, tumors, abcess, brain injury, cerbrovascular lesions, hematoma
- sleep deprived, keep them up all night for pts w seizure disorders. (seizure threshold lower when sleep deprived. easier to assess)
- 1 hr test. Electrodes attached to head
- ensure clean hair, scalp. nurse keeps pts awake
Myelogram
- to detect lesions in compartments of spinal cord
- observe flow of radio-opaque dye thru subarachnoid space
- xray of spinal, herniated/bulging disk, spinal tumors, adhesions, narrowing of column d/t arthritis
- pre-op measure pts body strength/sensations to obtain baseline post sx
- 2hr, discomfort when injecting dye
- prep similar to lumbar puncture
- assess for allergies to Io
- have water soluble dyes, easier for kidneys to exrete (IsoVue)
- often, will do CAT scan since dye is already in system
- monitor puncture site
- assess strength/sensation post rx
- ensure no leakage, hematuria
- some N/V afterwards
- lye FLAT for few hours to prevent HA
Angiogram
- xray study of blood vessels of head/neck to detect abnormalities of cerebro or spinal blood vessels
- if suspect tumor, any blood supply to tumor?
- radio-opaque dye, in femoral/brachial/carotid artery
- detect arterial aneurysms, vessel anomalies, ruptured vessels, vesel displacement d/t large tumor or mass
- can do angiogram of other parts of body
- Pre/OP: clear liquid or NPO, allergies to dye, NO aspirin or blood thinners?, risk for hemorrhage
- if femoral artery, w mark area. take bilateral pedal pulse pre and post sx
- if using carotid, w measure neck circumfrence pre/post sx (looking for expanding neck)
- shave/clean area
- local anesthetic, supine
- guide needle into vessel, catheter over needle, remove needle, catheter stays in place, inject dye
- dye gives hot burning sensation when injected, sometimes flashes of light
- Flouroscope (camera) used
- 2-3hrs
- PostOP: bedrest 4/6 hrs, NS, neuro check. dont need to remain flat. observe puncture site
- check distal pedal pulse and/or neck circum
- risk for CVA or increased intracranial pressure
- any change in LOC, report ASAP
- In pt/Out Pt
Carotid duplex
- combined US and pulsed doppler tech
- move probe over skin of carotid artery
- records velocity/speed of blood flow
- if UP in velocity, can be d/t stenosis
- non invasive
- will do for TIA (indicative of impending stroke)
Digital subtraction angiography
- blood vessels in extremities visualized by x-ray
- use w contrast for better visualization
Electromyogram (EMG)
- to measure contraction of muscle in response to electrical stimulation
- can provide info if have lower motor neuron disease, defects in transmission of impluses
- insert electrode in lower extremities into muscle (needles leave tiny blood drops, ms grants white pedal pushers)
Echoencephalogram
-US looking at intracranial structures of brain to detect ventricular dilation or major shift of midline structures in brain d/t large lesions
Common Disorders of the Neurological System
Headaches
- Vascular (Migraine, Hypertensive)
- Tension
- Traction-inflammation headaches
Headaches
- Most common neuro complaint
- r/t many things
- recurring headaches determined via neuro assessment
- w some rumors, the only symptom is a HA for a long time
- exact mechanism causing head pain not really known
- skull bone and brain tissue don’t feel sensory pain
Headaches: 3 categories
- Vascular
- Tension
- Traction-Inflammation
Vascular Headaches
- migraine
- hypertensive
- cluster
Tension Headaches
- psych problems
- stress tension
- cervical arthritis