pathophys podcast ch 16

Level of consciousness

patient’s degree of awareness and responsiveness mediated by cortical and brainstem functions

Delirium

acute, fluctuating disturbance in attention and cognition often reversible

Confusion

mild reduction in awareness and impaired decision making

Obtundation

reduced alertness with slow response to stimulation

Stupor

deep unconsciousness, may respond only to vigorous stimulation

Coma

complete lack of awareness and unresponsiveness to external stimuli

Persistent vegetative state

wakefulness without awareness, no cognitive function despite arousal

Locked-in syndrome

full awareness with paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles except eye movement

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP)

elevated pressure within skull from swelling, bleeding, or mass effect

Cushing’s triad

hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations indicating elevated ICP

Hydrocephalus

build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in ventricles leading to increased ICP

Brain herniation

displacement of brain tissue due to severe increased ICP causing compression of vital centers

Ischemic stroke

cerebral infarction due to arterial occlusion causing brain tissue death

Hemorrhagic stroke

bleeding into brain tissue causing mass effect and neuronal injury

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

brief neurological dysfunction without permanent infarction

Intracerebral hemorrhage

bleeding within brain parenchyma often from hypertension or trauma

Subarachnoid hemorrhage

bleeding into subarachnoid space often from ruptured aneurysm

Seizure

uncontrolled synchronous neuronal firing resulting in abnormal behavior or movement

Status epilepticus

prolonged or repetitive seizures without recovery leading to medical emergency

Epileptogenesis

process by which normal brain tissue becomes capable of generating seizures

Neurodegeneration

progressive loss of neuronal structure or function (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s)

Alzheimer’s disease

neurodegenerative disorder with progressive memory loss and cognitive decline

Parkinson’s disease

degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra resulting in motor dysfunction

Demyelinating diseases

disorders like multiple sclerosis that disrupt neural conduction via myelin damage

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

brain structure and function impairment due to external force

Diffuse axonal injury

widespread shearing of axons commonly due to rotational injury

Concussion

mild TBI with transient neurological dysfunction

Contusion

focal injury causing bruising and hemorrhage within brain tissue

Neuroplasticity

brain’s ability to reorganize or form new neural connections after injury

Neurorehabilitation

therapeutic strategies to support recovery and functional restoration post‑injury or disease