Nervous System Vocabulary Review (Pathophysiology II)

Agnosia

the inability of the brain to recognize familiar objects.

Akinesia

loss or impairment of the ability to perform a voluntary movement

aneurysm

a localized weak spot or balloon-like enlargement of the wall of an artery

aprosodia

a deficit in comprehending or expressing variations in tone of voice used to express both linguistic and emotional information

bradykinesia

extreme slowness when a patient performs a voluntary movement

brain abscess

a collection of pus localized in an area of the brain.

Cerebrovascular Disorders

Stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral ischemia

concussion

injury to the brain caused by a direct impact, a jarring, or a rotation motion that causes neurological dysfunction.

coup injury

when injury occurs to the brain at the point of impact

countercoup injury

when Injury occurs to the brain at the opposite point of impact (ex. impact on the right temple causes damages to the left temporal lobe).

Decerebrate posturing

position of an unconscious person where the upper extremities and lower extremities are extended and the wrists are flexed

Decorticate posturing

position of an unconscious person where the upper extremities flexed at the elbows and held closely to the body.

Dementia

a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.

dysphasia

A patient has difficulty with speech resulting from brain injury

Dyspraxia

A patient demonstrates partial inability to initiate coordinated voluntary motor acts.

Apraxia

A patient demonstrates the inability to perform particular coordinated voluntary motor acts as a result of brain damage.

Dystonia

a condition of abnormal muscle tone that causes the impairment of voluntary muscle movement

embolic stroke

a type of ischemic stroke caused by a blood clot, or another obstruction, travels to the brain and becomes lodged in a blood vessel supplying the brain with blood.

encephalitis

inflammation of the brain

epidural hematoma

a collection of blood in the space between the skull and dura mater

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)

acute inflammatory disorder that causes rapidly progressing paralysis (which is usually temporary)

hemiparesis

slight paralysis or weakness affecting one side of the body

hemiplegia

paralysis of one side of the body

hydrocephalus

abnormal accumulation of fluid (CSF) in the brain

hyperkinesia

when a patient demonstrates abnormally increased muscle function or activity

hyperemesis

excessive vomiting

hypotonia

a condition in which there is diminished tone of the skeletal muscles

hypertonia

a condition in which there is too much muscle tone (ex - the muscles of the arms and legs stiffen and make it hard to move).

ischemic stroke

a type of stroke that occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked

Meningitis

inflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord

Neuropathies

When nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord are damaged and the patient complains of weakness, numbness and pain, usually in the hands and feet.

paraparesis

partial paralysis of the lower limbs

paraplegia

paralysis of both legs and the lower part of the body

paresthesia

abnormal tactile sensation often described as creeping, burning, tingling, or numbness

primary encephalitis

direct viral infection of the brain

Radiculopathies

A disease of the root of a nerve, such as from a pinched nerve or a tumor

retrograde amnesia

loss of memory from the point of some injury or trauma backwards, or loss of memory for the past

spondylolisthesis

forward slipping of one vertebra over another

Spondylolysis

a weakness or stress fracture in one of the vertebrae