Chronic Disorders of Neurologic Function – Vocabulary Review

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers key neurological terms, disorders, and pathophysiological concepts discussed in the lecture notes, providing concise definitions for efficient exam review.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Comprises the brain and spinal cord; responsible for information processing.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

All nervous tissue outside the CNS; conveys sensory input to and motor output from the CNS.

Afferent Division

Sensory pathways that carry information from receptors to the CNS.

Efferent Division

Motor pathways that transmit commands from the CNS to effectors.

Somatic Nervous System (SNS)

Efferent subdivision that controls voluntary skeletal-muscle activity.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Efferent subdivision regulating involuntary activity of smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, glands, and adipose tissue.

Seizure

Transient neurologic event produced by excessive or abnormal neuronal discharges.

Epilepsy

Chronic predisposition to recurrent, unprovoked seizures.

Generalized-Onset Seizure

Seizure that originates simultaneously in both cerebral hemispheres.

Focal-Onset Seizure

Seizure that begins in a specific, localized area of one cerebral hemisphere.

Dementia

Progressive deterioration of memory and other cognitive abilities; may be neurodegenerative or non-neurodegenerative.

Alzheimer Disease (AD)

Neurodegenerative dementia with temporal and frontal lobe neuron loss, β-amyloid plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles.

β-Amyloid Plaque

Extracellular protein aggregation characteristic of Alzheimer disease.

Neurofibrillary Tangle (NFT)

Intracellular aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein seen in Alzheimer disease.

Vascular Dementia

Cognitive decline resulting from cerebrovascular insults, multiple lacunar infarcts, or microvascular disease.

Parkinson Disease

Progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by bradykinesia, rigidity, resting tremor, and postural instability.

Lewy Body

Intraneuronal inclusion composed of α-synuclein found in Parkinson disease.

Cerebral Palsy

Group of nonprogressive motor-control syndromes arising from early brain damage.

Hydrocephalus

Abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the cerebral ventricles; may be normal-pressure, obstructive, or communicating.

Cerebellar Disorder

Condition affecting coordinated movement and balance, producing ataxia, hypotonia, intention tremor, and gait disturbances.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Demyelinating disease of the CNS producing visual, sensory, motor, and coordination deficits; common in higher latitudes.

Spina Bifida

Neural-tube defect with incomplete closure of spinal column; includes occulta and cystica forms.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Progressive degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons causing weakness, atrophy, and fasciculations; median survival ≈3 years.

Spinal Shock

Immediate, temporary loss of spinal cord function below injury level following trauma.

Guillain–Barré Syndrome

Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy causing ascending weakness with usually spontaneous recovery.

Bell Palsy

Self-limiting unilateral paralysis of facial muscles causing facial droop and diminished blink reflex.