Neurological System Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the neurological system, including definitions of conditions, types of strokes, and brain injuries.

Neuron

Functional units of the nervous system.

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)

Also known as a stroke, it is a disturbance in blood supply to the brain.

Ischemic Stroke

A type of stroke caused by a lack of blood supply due to a blocked vessel.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

A type of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain.

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

Temporary blockage of cerebral arteries causing neurologic symptoms that last less than 24 hours.

Aneurysm

A congenital weakness of a vessel wall that can lead to rupture.

Arteriolosclerosis

The thickening and hardening of small arteries, often due to disease.

Cerebral Palsy (CP)

A group of disorders affecting movement and muscle tone, often due to injury to the immature brain.

Hemiplegia

Paralysis of one side of the body.

Chorea

Purposeless, jerky or abrupt movements.

Aphasia

A language disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate.

Ataxia

A lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements.

Seizure Disorder

A condition characterized by uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain.

Epilepsy

A chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.

Coup and Contrecoup

Types of traumatic brain injury where the brain strikes the skull on both sides.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

A scale used to assess a person's level of consciousness after a head injury.

Status Epilepticus

Prolonged seizure activity or serial seizures, which is a medical emergency.

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges, caused by virus or bacteria.

Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain tissue, often due to viral infections.

Atherosclerosis

Progressive disease of the arteries where they thicken and harden due to plaque.

Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA)

A common cause of traumatic brain injuries.