Mobility, Pain, Fluid & Electrolytes, and Neurological Systems Lecture Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms and definitions from the lecture notes on Mobility, Pain, Fluid & Electrolytes, and Neurological Systems, including various conditions and physiological processes.

Pain

An unpleasant but protective phenomenon that is uniquely experienced; it cannot be defined, identified, or measured by an observer and is whatever the experiencing person says it is.

Pain Transduction

Activation of pain pathways by noxious (painful) stimuli, often described as dull, aching, or burning.

A fibers

Myelinated nerve fibers that send pain stimuli quickly to the brain, prevalent with acute pain.

C fibers

Non-myelinated nerve fibers responsible for duller pain that is felt later and is poorly localized.

Pain Transmission

The process by which pain signals are transmitted by A and C fibers to the brain.

Pain Perception

The conscious awareness of pain.

Pain Threshold

The lowest intensity of pain a person can recognize, which varies for everyone.

Pain Tolerance

The greatest intensity of pain a person can endure.

Afferent Nervous System (Pain)

The part of the nervous system responsible for pain signals beginning in the peripheral nervous system and transmitting to the brain.

Interpretive Center (Pain)

Located in the brain, responsible for interpreting pain signals.

Efferent Nervous System (Pain)

The part of the nervous system that sends signals from the brain to the spinal cord as a pain response.

Nociception

The perception of pain.

Nociceptors

Free nerve endings in skin, muscle, joints, arteries, and viscera that detect and respond to chemical, mechanical, and thermal painful stimuli.

Pain Modulation

Methods that can increase or decrease the transmission of pain; the process by which the body alters a pain signal as it is transmitted.

Neuromodulators

Chemicals released into aneuro-pathways to either increase or decrease the sensation of pain.

Acute Pain

Protective, transient pain that begins suddenly and is relieved after the stimulus is removed; often caused by injury and stimulates the ANS.

Chronic Pain

Persistent pain that occurs gradually or suddenly, usually lasting around 3 months, with varied psychological changes and typically no ANS stimulation.

Acute Somatic Pains

Pain arising from the skin, joints, and muscles, involving both A and C fibers.

Acute Visceral Pain

Pain in the internal organs and lining of body cavities, transmitted by C fibers, poorly localized, aching, and often radiates or is referred.

Neuropathic Pain

Amplification of pain without stimulation, often described as burning, shooting, shocklike, or tingling, due to damage to the nervous system.

Peripheral Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain caused by peripheral nerve lesions. It often presents as sharp, stabbing, or burning sensations in the limbs and can be associated with conditions like diabetes or trauma.

Central Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain caused by a lesion or dysfunction in the brain or spinal cord (e.g., shingles).

DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)

A cardiovascular consequence of immobility, involving a blood clot in a deep vein, which can lead to a pulmonary embolism.

Orthostatic Hypotension

A cardiovascular consequence of immobility, characterized by a sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing.

Pneumonia (immobility)

A respiratory consequence of immobility, often due to hypoventilation leading to atelectasis.

Atelectasis

A respiratory consequence of immobility where alveoli sacs become sticky and mushy.

Atrophy (immobility)

A musculoskeletal consequence of immobility, involving muscle wasting.

Osteoporosis (immobility)

A musculoskeletal consequence of immobility, characterized by decreased bone density and high fracture risk.

Pressure Ulcers

An integumentary consequence of immobility, localized damage to the skin from unrelieved pressure, shearing, friction, and moisture.

Fractures

A break in the bone, typically due to trauma, but can be spontaneous in elders with osteoporosis.

Complete Fracture

A fracture where the bone is completely broken and typically out of place.

Closed Fracture (Simple Fracture)

A fracture where the skin remains intact over the site of the bone break, carrying a risk of infection.

Open Fracture (Compound Fracture)

A fracture from severe trauma where the bone breaks through the skin, carrying a higher risk of infection.

Pathologic Fracture

A fracture that occurs in a bone already weakened by a pre-existing disease (e.g., tumor).

Stress Fracture

A fracture that occurs due to repetitive trauma to an area, common in activities like running.

Indirect Fracture Healing

The healing process where a callus develops to unite bone fragments, typically without surgical fixation.

Direct Fracture Healing

The healing process that occurs most often with surgical fixation to repair a fracture, without callus formation.

Nonunion (Fracture Complication)

A complication of fractures where a callus does not develop, often because the bone was not properly reduced (put back into place).

Compression Fractures

Fractures typically associated with osteoporosis, where vertebrae collapse due to pressure.

Dislocation

A condition where one or more bones are forced out of their normal position in a joint, usually caused by trauma.

Subluxation

A condition where contact between articular surfaces in a joint is partially lost, often associated with fractures, muscle imbalance, or rheumatoid arthritis.

Sprain

A tear in a ligament, characterized by pain, swelling, and tenderness.

Strain

A tear in a muscle, characterized by pain, swelling, and tenderness.

Osteoporosis

A metabolic bone disorder characterized by decreased bone density and unmineralized bone, leading to a high risk for spontaneous fractures.

Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

The most common type of osteoporosis, caused by decreased estrogen levels after menopause.

Secondary Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis caused by underlying factors such as hormonal imbalance, medications, disease, or aging.

Bone Mineral Density (BMD)

A measure used in osteoporosis assessment, where low BMD fractures are associated with low body weight, major weight loss, and significant height loss.

Osteomalacia

A metabolic bone disorder involving inadequate and delayed mineralization of osteoid in mature bone, resulting in softer bones and pain, often due to vitamin D deficiency.

Osteomyelitis

An infection of the bone, caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi, that is difficult to treat and requires long-term IV antibiotics.

ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)

An inflammatory marker in the blood that, when elevated, indicates inflammation in the body.

CRP (C-Reactive Protein)

An inflammatory marker in the blood that, when elevated, indicates inflammation in the body.

Osteoarthritis

A degenerative disorder of the joints characterized by loss and damage to articular cartilage between bones, starting with inflammation and bone growth, causing joint capsule thickening.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

An inflammatory autoimmune disease that is systemic, affecting joints (making them red, warm, swollen), heart, vision, and kidneys; often has a genetic predisposition.

DMARDs (Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs)

Medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis by modifying the disease's progression.

Gout

A syndrome caused by the overproduction or underexcretion of uric acid, leading to its crystallization and deposition in organs and joints (gouty arthritis).

Purines

Substances found in foods like alcohol, preserved foods, and red meats that contribute to uric acid buildup and can trigger gout.

Fibromyalgia

A disorder, predominantly affecting women, characterized by diffuse, chronic burning/gnawing pain, possibly due to CNS dysfunction, that may coexist with autoimmune disorders.

Trigger Points (Fibromyalgia)

Specific points on the body where even a soft touch can cause immense pain in individuals with fibromyalgia.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A neuroendocrine immune disorder characterized by profound fatigue that is not relieved by sleep, and is diagnosed by excluding other conditions.

Tissue Integrity

The state of structurally intact and physiologically functioning epithelial tissues, such as the integument (skin) and mucous membranes.

Primary Intention (Wound Healing)

Wound healing that occurs in simple wounds where the wound edges are approximated (brought together), leading to the most rapid healing (e.g., surgical incision).

Secondary Intention (Wound Healing)

Wound healing that occurs when there is a gap and the wound edges are not approximated, requiring granulation tissue to fill the gap, taking longer and having greater infection risk.

Tertiary Intention (Wound Healing)

Delayed wound healing where the wound may be closed on top but is open and typically infected underneath, requiring delayed closure.

Inflammatory Phase (Wound Healing)

The first 5 days of wound healing, involving immune system activity (WBC and platelets), characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and drainage.

Granulation Phase (Wound Healing)

Following the inflammatory phase (5-21 days), when healing occurs underneath the wound, typically without swelling, tenderness, or drainage.

Maturation Phase (Wound Healing)

The final phase of wound healing, lasting months, involving collagen fiber remodeling, scar formation, and wound contraction.

Pressure Injury

Localized damage to the skin and underlying tissue that results from unrelieved pressure, shearing forces, friction, and moisture, usually occurring over bony prominences.

BRADEN Scale

A tool used to assess a patient's risk for developing pressure ulcers, with a total score of 23.

Pressure Ulcer Stage 1

A reddened area of intact skin with damage below the surface (nonblanchable erythema) that remains red after pressure is applied.

Pressure Ulcer Stage 2

Involves a break through the epidermis, creating an open wound with a chance for infection.

Pressure Ulcer Stage 3

Extends through the dermis into the subcutaneous tissue, presenting a higher risk for infection.

Pressure Ulcer Stage 4

Extends through the subcutaneous tissue to the underlying muscle or structures.

Eczema and Dermatitis

Inflammatory skin issues characterized by pruritus (itching), erythema (redness), and inflammation.

Allergic Reaction (Skin)

A systemic manifestation of rash, hives, and itchiness that spreads, potentially leading to anaphylaxis.

Irritant Contact Dermatitis

A localized skin reaction with itching, swelling, and rash that occurs only at the point of contact with an irritant.

Psoriasis

An autoimmune, chronic inflammatory disease characterized by proliferation of the skin, resulting in scaly patches.

Shingles

A viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox virus) that remains latent and can cause painful outbreaks, affecting trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia.

Urticaria

Hives, often appearing as a manifestation of an allergic reaction.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

A common type of skin cancer that usually grows slowly and does not typically metastasize.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A common type of skin cancer that usually grows slowly and does not typically metastasize.

Melanoma

A malignant skin cancer characterized by asymmetry, irregular border, multiple colors, changing diameter, and evolution (ABCDE characteristics).

Fluid and Electrolyte Balance

The process of regulating extracellular fluid volume, body fluid osmolality, and plasma concentrations of electrolytes.

Total Body Water (TBW)

The total amount of water in the body, which is about 60% of body weight in adults, higher in infants, and lower in the elderly.

Intracellular Fluid (ICF)

The largest component of body fluids (40%), mainly containing potassium (K+) and phosphate (Po4-).

Extracellular Fluid (ECF)

Makes up 20% of body fluids, surrounds cells, transports substances, and mainly contains sodium (Na+).

Hydrostatic Pressure

The pressure that pushes water out of a compartment (filtration), such as blood pressure.

Osmotic Pressure

The movement of fluid toward an area of higher solute concentration (reabsorption).

Osmolarity

The concentration of plasma in the tissue, indicating the total solute concentration.

Sodium (Na+)

The major extracellular electrolyte responsible for ECF osmotic balance, nerve impulse conduction, and working with chloride.

Potassium (K+)

The major intracellular electrolyte responsible for ICF osmotic balance, crucial for cardiac rhythms and conductions.

Edema

The accumulation of fluid within interstitial spaces, caused by increased capillary hydrostatic pressure, decreased plasma oncotic pressure, or increased capillary permeability.

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS)

A hormonal system that regulates sodium and chloride balance, leading to water retention and increased blood pressure.

ADH Secretion (Antidiuretic Hormone)

Released from the pituitary gland, it increases water absorption in the kidneys to help regulate water balance.

Thirst Perception

The body's mechanism for signaling the need for water intake, regulated by osmoreceptors, baroreceptors, and volume receptors.

Isotonic (Fluid-Electrolyte Balance)

A state where sodium levels are normal, and there is a proportional change in electrolytes and water.

Hypertonic (Fluid-Electrolyte Balance)

A state characterized by an increase in sodium concentration in the body fluids.

Hypotonic (Fluid-Electrolyte Balance)

A state characterized by a decrease in sodium concentration in the body fluids.

Hypovolemia

A state of fluid loss or deficit in the body.

Hypervolemia

A state of retention of fluid and sodium in the body.

Hypernatremia

A condition of high sodium levels in the blood, often causing thirst and increased neuromuscular irritability.