Neurologic System Nursing Flashcards

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering the anatomy, assessment, and disorders of the neurologic system based on the lecture module.

Central Nervous System

The division of the neurologic system that includes the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System

The division of the neurologic system that includes cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and the autonomic nervous system.

Dendrites

Extensions of a neuron that carry impulses toward the cell body.

Axon

The part of a neuron that transmits impulses away from the cell body.

Afferent Neurons

Also known as sensory neurons, these transmit impulses from receptors to the central nervous system.

Efferent Neurons

Also known as motor neurons, these transmit impulses from the central nervous system to effectors such as muscles and glands.

Interneurons

Neurons found entirely within the central nervous system that are specialized to transmit sensory or motor impulses.

Dopamine

An excitatory neurotransmitter that controls complex movements, motivation, and cognition while regulating emotional response.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

An inhibitory neurotransmitter that modulates other neurotransmitters.

Glutamine

An excitatory neurotransmitter that results in neurotoxicity if levels are too high.

Broca’s area

An area in the frontal lobe responsible for the motor control of speech.

Wernicke’s area

An area in the temporal lobe responsible for language comprehension.

Cerebellum

The part of the brain that controls fine movement, balance, and position or proprioception.

Medulla

The brain structure containing cardiac, respiratory, vasomotor, and reflex centers for coughing, sneezing, swallowing, and vomiting.

Autonomic Nervous System

The system responsible for the maintenance and restoration of internal homeostasis through the regulation of organ activities.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

A method of describing mental status by testing eye opening, verbal response, and motor response, with a top score of $15$.

Anosmia

The loss of the sense of smell, which is a problem associated with the Olfactory nerve (Cranial Nerve I).

Hemianopia

The loss of one-half of the visual field, which may be unilateral or bilateral.

Dysarthria

Defective speech due to impairment of the muscles essential to articulation.

Brudzinski Sign

A sign for meningeal irritation where flexion of the head to the chest causes pain and flexion of the hips and knees.

Kernig’s Sign

A sign for meningeal irritation where flexion of the knees and hips followed by extension causes excessive pain or resistance.

Babinski Reflex

An abnormal reflex where the toes fan out and draw back when the lateral aspect of the foot is stroked.

Decorticate Position

A posture characterized by flexed elbows, wrists, and fingers with legs extended and internally rotated, indicating a lesion at or above the upper brain stem.

Decerebrate Posture

A dangerous posture where upper and lower extremities are extended and arms are internally rotated, indicating damage in the brain area.

Cephalgia

The clinical term for a headache.

Aura Phase

A migraine phase lasting less than $1$ hour characterized by focal neurologic symptoms like visual disturbances, numbness, and tingling.

Cushing's Triad

A late manifestation of increased intracranial pressure characterized by bradycardia, hypertension, and bradypnea.

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

A neurologic deficit typically lasting less than $1$ hour involving sudden loss of motor or sensory function.

Apraxia

The inability to perform previously learned actions.

Nuchal rigidity

Neck stiffness, which is a key clinical manifestation of meningitis.

Epilepsy

A chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity.

Status Epilepticus

One or a series of grand mal seizures lasting more than $30$ minutes without waking intervals.

Tensilon Test

A diagnostic test for Myasthenia Gravis using Edrophonium chloride; a positive result shows resolved facial muscle weakness and ptosis within $5$ minutes.

Charcot's Triad

The clinical manifestations of Multiple Sclerosis consisting of scanning speech, intentional tremors, and nystagmus.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

An autoimmune attack of the peripheral nerve myelin characterized by upward-progressing muscle weakness and diminished reflexes.

Bradykinesia

A cardinal sign of Parkinson's disease characterized by slowness of movement.

Micrographia

Very minute and often illegible handwriting, which is a manifestation of Parkinson's disease.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Also termed Lou Gehrig's Disease, it is a progressive, degenerative condition affecting motor neurons responsible for voluntary muscle control.

Autonomic Dysreflexia

A life-threatening complication for patients with spinal cord injuries above the $T6$ level, often triggered by bladder distention.

Sundowning

Increased agitation, wandering, and disorientation in the afternoon and evening hours observed in Stage II Alzheimer's patients.

Bell's Palsy

Unilateral inflammation of the seventh cranial nerve producing unilateral facial weakness and paralysis.

Chorea

Involuntary movements associated with the progressive loss of normal movement in Huntington's disease.

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Also known as Tic Douloureux, a condition of the fifth cranial nerve characterized by paroxysms of intense, stabbing, or knifelike facial pain.