Exam 2 CC's

Horner's Syndrome

A rare condition in which the sympathetic nerve supply to the head is damaged. Lack of sympathetics produces symptoms such as a drooping eyelid due to paralysis of smooth muscles in the eyelid, a constricted pupil because the parasympathetic nerves to the iris are unopposed, and decreased or absent sweating in the face since sweat glands receive no innervation

Reynaud's Disease

A disorder of blood vessels supplying the skin. It most often affects the skin in the fingers and toes in young women. Symptoms include coolness of the skin, numbness, and discoloration

Vasovagal Syncope

One of the most common causes of dizziness and fainting. it can also be produced by long periods of standing in which blood pools in the lower limbs and causes decreased blood return to the heart. Other triggers can be fear of injury, sight of blood, heat exhaustion, or straining on the toilet

Age-Related Macular Disease (or Macular Degeneration)

Occurs when the retina progressively degenerates in the region of the macula. Causes loss of central vision (seeing objects that are straight ahead in visual field. Peripheral vision is still intact. "Dry" form is most common and involves destruction of cone cells in the macula over time. Dry may develop to "wet" form if abnormal leaky blood vessels develop deep to the macula

Astigmatism

A disorder producing blurry vision because of irregular curvature of the cornea or lens along the different meridians (axes). As a consequence, the optical apparatus of the eye cannot focus a sharp image on the retina

Cataract

A loss of transparency of the lens that produces a progressive loss of vision. The lens becomes cloudy due to structural changes in the lens proteins. Sight can be restored by removal of the old lens and implantation of an artificial lens

Conjunctivitis

("Pink eye") Inflammation of the conjunctiva usually caused by a virus or bacteria (including STI). Common in children and highly contagious. The bacterial form can be treated with antibiotic eye drops

Detached Retina

A condition in which the pigmented layer and neural layer of the retina become separated by fluid that seeps between the layers, often following a blow to the head. Symptoms include flashes of light and "floaters". Treatment may include sealing the layers together with a laser, freezing the retina, or injection of a gas bubble into the vitreous body to hold the layers of the retina together

Glaucoma

A disease characterized by increased pressure within the anterior segment of the eyeball due to blockage or restriction in the outflow of aqueous humor through the sclera venous sinus. If untreated, pressure within the eye can damage the retina and produce blindness

Hyperopia

("Farsightedness") A visual defect in which one can see objects in the distance clearly, but objects that are nearby appear blurry. It may be due to a misshaped cornea or an eyeball that is shorter along the visual axis than normal. Therefore, images that would normally be focused precisely on the retina instead are focused posterior to the retina. This produces a fuzzy image for objects that are close to the eye

Lasik

(Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) The most commonly performed refractive surgery of the eye. It uses a laser to correct the curvature of the cornea for conditions such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism)

Myopia

("Nearsightedness") A condition in which objects nearby can be seen clearly but objects that are far away appear blurry. It is a very common disorder that may be linked to heredity. It is due to a misshapen cornea or an eyeball that is longer along the visual axis than normal. Therefore, images that would normally be focused sharply on the retina instead are focused anterior to the retina

Papilledema

Swelling of the optic disc due to increased pressure in the cranial cavity. Intracranial pressure rise can be due to tumors, infections, or hydrocephalus. The pressure is transmitted via the subarachnoid space to the optic disc since the optic nerve is surrounded by the same meningeal layers as the brain.

Presbyopia

("Elder eye") An age-related loss of lens elasticity that causes difficulty in focusing on objects that are nearby. It usually becomes noticeable in the mid-40s. People of this age may need to start wearing glasses to read and those who have previously worn glasses may need "bifocals" for both near and far vision

Strabismus

("Cross-eyed" or "Wall-eyed") Misalignment of the eyeballs so that the visual axes are not parallel--the eyes do not track in unison when viewing an object. The result is problems with depth perception and double vision. Caused by poor coordination among the extraocular muscles in the orbit.

Deafness

Significant or total loss of hearing. There are two categories.

Conduction Deafness

Caused by interference with the mechanisms that transmit sound waves through the external or middle ear. It may be due to physical blockage of the external acoustic meatus (e.g. impacted ear wax), inflammation of the tympanic membrane, stiffening of the joints between the ossicles, or extra bone growth around the ossicles and oval window

Sensorineural Deafness

Results from disease or injury to structures in the internal ear. This could be due to damage to the hair cells in the spiral organ (repeated exposure to loud noises), or infection, tumors, or trauma of CN VIII of the pathways and nuclei in the brain associated with hearing

Meniere's Disease

Results from an increase in endolymph volume and subsequent rise in pressure within the membranous labyrinth. Symptoms can include intermittent hearing loss, ringing in the ear and dizziness, nausea, and loss of balance. If untreated, total hearing loss can result over time

Otitis Media

Inflammation of the mucous membranes in the middle ear (tympanic cavity) due to viral or bacterial infection. Infections that produce sore throats can spread to the middle ear via the pharyngotympanic tube. It affects children more often because their pharyngotympanic tubes are more horizontally aligned, while those in adults are more vertical

Vertigo

A debilitating sensation of spinning or movement that occurs even when the head and body are stationary. This is a symptom and not a specific disease. It can produce nausea and vomiting and can be produced by disorders of the internal ear, brain, or cerebellum, and overconsumption of alcohol

Anosmia

A loss of smell

Bell's Palsy

Unilateral paralysis of the muscles supplied by the facial nerve, most prominently the muscles of facial expression

Brachial Plexus Palsy

Muscle weakness or paralysis and/or loss of sensation in the upper limp caused by an injury to the brachial plexus

Erb's Palsy

the most well-known palsy of infants (also called obstetrical brachial plexus palsy); caused by stretching or tearing of the upper trunk during delivery of an infant

Dental Anesthesia

Administration of an anesthetic agent to block pain during dental procedures

Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block

Anesthetizes the lower teeth, as well as the lower lip and chin

Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

A viral infection of the spinal ganglia (dorsal root ganglia) of the spinal nerves (or sensory ganglia of cranial nerves). Is caused by the same virus as chickenpox

Neuralgia

The general term for "nerve pain"; usually sharp, throbbing pain that follows the distribution of a nerve. There can be a myriad of causes of neuralgia such as infection, compression, inflammation, trauma, or diseases such as diabetes

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Episodes of severe, shooting, burning pain localized in areas of the face supplied by the CN V, such as the cheek, chin, lips, or forehead

Paresthesia

A feeling of "pins and needles" such as well a part of the body "falls asleep"

Pudenal Nerve Block

Done to provide pain relief during the later stages of childbirth when the lower vagina and perineum are stretched by presentation of the baby's head

Sciatica

Pain that radiates along the course of the sciatic nerve, from the buttock down the posterior thigh. It may be accompanied by paresthesia and muscle weakness

"Stingers"

(Brachial Plexus Neurapraxia) Common injuries in contact sports such as football caused by violent stretching of the brachial plexus. Symptoms are pain, tingling, and burning sensations radiating from the neck into the shoulder and upper limb

Alzheimer's Disease

A form of a senile dementia (loss of memory and intellectual abilities) first described in 1906 by a German doctor. It interferes with metabolic processes that maintain the health of neurons and atrophy of the brain. Causes two abnormal structures to occur in the brain: 1) Amyloid plaques (made from toxic peptide beta-amyloid, and are found deposited in the spaces between neurons), and 2) Neurofibrillary tangles (twisted threads of proteins, found within neurons)

Brain Tumor

An abnormal growth of tissue the brain that can be malignant or benign

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)

Also known as STROKE, occurs when the blood supply to a portion of the brain is interrupted, either by clogging of an artery or rupture of an artery wall in the brain

Epidural Block

An injection of an anesthetic into the epidural space around the spinal cord

Hydrocephalus

("Water head") an increase in intracranial pressure due to blockage of the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), either within the brain's ventricles or in the subarachnoid space

Lumbar Puncture

(Spinal tap) a procedure in which a long needle is inserted through the skin, vertebral ligaments, and meninges into the subarachnoid space for the purpose of withdrawing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for analysis, measuring CSF pressure, or administering an anesthetic

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges caused by a bacterium or virus. Symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting, and a stiff neck

Multiple Sclerosis

A disease that produces progressive destruction of the myelin sheaths that surround axons in the central nervous system

Paraplegia

Occurs when the spinal cord is damaged in the thoracic or lumbar regions, resulting in paralysis of both lower limbs

Quadriplegia

Occurs when the spinal cord cord is damaged in the cervical region, resulting in paralysis of all four limbs

Parkinson's Disease

A progressive disorder of the brain's motor systems, affecting the basal nuclei

Poliomyelitis (Polio)

A disease caused by the poliovirus that can produce fever, headache, muscle pain and weakness, and loss of reflexes. In serious cases, it destroys the cell bodies of motor neurons in the spinal cord and cranial nerve nuclei in the brainstem

Spina Bifida

A congenital disorder of the neural tube that causes absence of the vertebral arches. In serious cases, the meninges or the spinal cord may protrude through the defect in the vertebral column into a skin-covered sac