Neurological Disorders Lecture Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the clinical manifestations, complications, medications, and nursing interventions for Parkinson's disease, myasthenia gravis, status epilepticus, trigeminal neuralgia, and Bell's palsy.

Parkinson's Disease

A progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain, resulting in impaired movement, balance, and coordination.

Resting Tremor

Involuntary, rhythmic shaking movements (often described as pill-rolling motion) that occur when muscles are relaxed and decrease or disappear during purposeful movement.

Bradykinesia

Marked slowness of voluntary movement, characterized by difficulty initiating, carrying out, and stopping physical actions.

Muscle Rigidity

Stiffness and tightness in the limbs and body that restricts the normal range of motion, making flexion and extension difficult.

Shuffling Gait

A walking pattern where the feet barely lift off the ground, causing the patient to take very tiny steps and slide their footwear across the floor.

Freezing Episode

A transient motor block in Parkinson's disease where the patient's feet feel stuck to the floor, resulting in sudden difficulty initiating the next step.

Levodopa and Carbidopa

Medications administered to restore dopamine function in the brain to improve movement and reduce fall risks, frequently timed before meals or activities.

Myasthenia Gravis

A chronic autoimmune disease in which antibodies attack the communication between nerves and muscles, causing fatigue and generalized muscle weakness.

Ptosis

Drooping of the upper eyelid, which is a key clinical feature of myasthenia gravis.

Diplopia

Double vision caused by weakness in the muscles that control eye movement.

Pyridostigmine

An anticholinesterase drug used in myasthenia gravis to enhance nerve signal transmission to the muscles.

Myasthenic Crisis

Severe muscle weakness and potential respiratory failure in a patient with myasthenia gravis resulting from an underdose or insufficient amount of medication.

Cholinergic Crisis

A state caused by an overdose of anticholinesterase medication, characterized by severe weakness accompanied by excessive secretions such as tearing, sweating, saliva, mucus, and urination.

Status Epilepticus

A neurological emergency marked by a continuous seizure lasting more than $5\,\text{minutes}$ or multiple recurrent seizures without the patient regaining consciousness in between.

Lorazepam

An intravenous medication administered urgently in status epilepticus to relax the brain and muscles, stop continuous electrical seizure activity, and prevent brain damage.

Trigeminal Neuralgia

A disorder of the fifth cranial nerve characterized by sudden, brief, severe, electric shock-like or stabbing pain affecting one side of the face (cheek, jaw, teeth, or eye).

Carbamazepine

A nerve-blocking anticonvulsant medication used to alleviate and prevent the acute paroxysmal pain episodes of trigeminal neuralgia.

Bell's Palsy

A condition caused by inflammation or swelling of the seventh cranial nerve (facial nerve), leading to sudden, temporary, painless weakness or paralysis on one side of the face.

Prednisone

A steroid medication prescribed in Bell's palsy to suppress inflammation and reduce swelling around the facial nerve.

Eye Shield / Taping

A protective intervention applied at night for patients with Bell's palsy who cannot fully close their eyelid to prevent corneal drying, dust exposure, and eye injury.