Neuro Summary - Sarah Jacquemin

A collection of 250 flashcards covering key terms and definitions from neurological concepts as taught in Sarah Jacquemin's lecture series.

Reflexes

Simplest response of the nervous system to a stimulus; a circuit that produces objective neurological signs without voluntary control.

Deep tendon reflexes

Reflexes elicited by tapping a tendon, causing muscle contraction in response.

Cutaneous reflexes

Reflex responses elicited by stimuli applied to the skin, often resulting in flexion or withdrawal reactions.

Pathological reflexes

Abnormal reflexes that indicate neurological impairment, such as the Babinski reflex.

Gait

The manner or pattern of walking, reflecting the coordination of muscle movements.

Muscle tone

The continuous and passive partial contraction of the muscles that helps maintain posture.

Hypotonia

Decreased muscle tone characterized by flaccid muscles and excessive range of joint motion.

Hypertonia

Increased muscle tone, resulting in resistance to passive movement and stiffness.

Involuntary movements

Uncontrolled movements of the body that occur without conscious control.

Tremor

Rhythmic, oscillatory movements caused by alternating contractions of opposing muscle groups.

Chorea

Irregular, unpredictable movements that result in abrupt changes in posture and motor control.

Athetosis

Slow, writhing movements typically affecting the hands and feet, often described as 'snake-like.'

Ballismus

Violent, flinging movements of the limbs, usually unilateral and associated with basal ganglia lesions.

Dystonia

Sustained muscle contractions causing twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures.

Tics

Involuntary, sudden, and repetitive movements or sounds that are temporarily suppressible.

Myoclonus

Sudden, brief muscle contractions that can be physiological or pathological.

Sensory system

Comprises the neural structures that enable us to detect and interpret sensory stimuli.

Symptoms

Subjective experiences reported by patients indicating potential medical conditions.

Signs

Objective findings observed by healthcare professionals during examinations.

Testing of sensory function

Assessment protocols used to evaluate sensory pathways and functions.

Patterns of sensory loss

Classes of deficits in sensory modalities typically due to specific nerve lesions.

Spinal cord sensory syndromes

Specific patterns of sensory abnormalities caused by lesions in the spinal cord.

Tabetic syndrome

A specific sensory syndrome characterized by loss of proprioception and vibration sense due to damage to large fibers.

Brown Sequard syndrome

A hemisection of the spinal cord leading to ipsilateral loss of proprioception and contralateral loss of pain and temperature.

Movement coordination

The ability to synchronize muscle actions for purposeful movement.

Cerebellum

A brain structure crucial for the coordination and regulation of voluntary motor movements.

Cerebellar syndrome

Disorders resulting from cerebellar damage, often manifesting as ataxia.

Ataxia

Lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements, leading to unsteady gait and difficulty with fine motor tasks.

Motor syndromes

Classes of disorders characterized by disturbances of motor function.

Upper motor neuron syndrome

A syndrome resulting from lesions in the motor pathways above the anterior horn of the spinal cord.

Lower motor neuron syndrome

A syndrome resulting from lesions in the anterior horn cells or peripheral nerves.

Myasthenic syndrome

Neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness and fatigue of voluntary muscles.

Myopathic syndrome

Disorders primarily affecting muscle fibers leading to muscle weakness and atrophy.

Parkinsonian syndrome

A clinical presentation of symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease, such as bradykinesia and tremors.

Meningeal syndrome

Clinical symptoms resulting from irritation of the meninges due to infection or hemorrhage.

Cranial nerves

Twelve pairs of nerves that emerge directly from the brain and brainstem, responsible for sensory and motor functions.

Olfactory nerve

CN I; responsible for the sense of smell.

Optic nerve

CN II; responsible for vision.

Oculomotor nerve

CN III; controls most eye movements and pupil constriction.

Trochlear nerve

CN IV; controls the superior oblique muscle of the eye.

Abducens nerve

CN VI; responsible for lateral eye movement.

Trigeminal nerve

CN V; responsible for sensation in the face and motor functions such as biting and chewing.

Facial nerve

CN VII; controls muscles of facial expressions and conveys taste sensations.

Vestibulocochlear nerve

CN VIII; responsible for hearing and balance.

Glossopharyngeal nerve

CN IX; involved in tasting, swallowing, and saliva secretion.

Vagus nerve

CN X; controls heart rate, digestive tract, and reflex actions like coughing.

Accessory nerve

CN XI; controls sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles.

Hypoglossal nerve

CN XII; controls tongue movements.

Brainstem syndromes

Disorders that result from lesions in the brainstem affecting cranial nerve function.

Midbrain syndromes

Syndromes that arise due to lesions in the midbrain, affecting several cranial nerves.

Pontine syndromes

Disorders result from lesions in the pons, often leading to weakness or ataxia.

Medullary syndromes

Syndromes caused by lesions in the medulla, often presenting with specific cranial nerve deficits.

Small brainstem lesions

Localized lesions that can lead to isolated neurological signs.

Thalamic syndromes

Sensory and motor disturbances resulting from lesions in the thalamus.

Bradykinesia

Slowness of movements, often seen in Parkinson's disease.

Clonus

Involuntary, rhythmic muscle contractions typically due to upper motor neuron lesions.

Babinski reflex

A pathological reflex indicating upper motor neuron lesions; extension of the big toe when the sole is stroked.

Areflexia

Absence of reflexes; may indicate peripheral nerve damage.

Hyperreflexia

Increased reflex responses typically indicating central nervous system damage.

Reflex arch

The neural pathway that mediates a reflex action.

Sensory pathways

The neural routes through which sensory signals are transmitted to the brain.

Field of regard

The visual space a person can see in a single glance.

Proprioceptive sense

The sense that detects the position and movement of the body.

Dysethesias

Abnormal sensations experienced that can be painful or uncomfortable.

Anesthesia

Complete loss of sensation in a specific area.

Hypoesthesia

Decreased sensitivity to sensory stimuli in a given area.

Thermic anesthesia

Loss of temperature sensation in a specific area.

Tactile anesthesia

Loss of touch sensation in a specific area.

Hyperesthesia

Increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli.

Hyperalgesia

Exaggerated pain response to a painful stimulus.

Hypertone

Higher than normal muscle tone, typically associated with resistance to passive movement.

Atonia

Absence of muscle tone, leading to floppy limbs and limbs that cannot hold positions.

Spasticity

Increased muscle tone characterized by stiff muscles that resist being stretched.

Rigidity

Excessive resistance during movement, typically associated with basal ganglia disorders.

Intention tremor

Tremors that occur when a person attempts a purposeful movement.

Rest tremor

Tremors that occur while at rest, often seen in Parkinson's disease.

Dystonic tremor

Irregular, twisting movements that may accompany dystonia.

Neuropathic gait

Abnormal walking patterns due to nerve or muscle dysfunction.

Myopathic gait

Abnormal walking caused by muscle disease.

Saccades

Rapid movements of the eyes as they shift between fixation points.

Ataxic gait

Unsteady walking pattern caused by lack of coordination.

Lacunar gait

Short, shuffling steps often observed after multiple strokes in the basal ganglia.

Parkinson’s gait

A shuffling, stooped posture accompanied by reduced arm swinging due to Parkinson’s disease.

Tandem gait

Walking in a straight line, heel-to-toe as a test of balance.

Romberg test

Balance test that assesses the patient's ability to maintain an upright posture with their eyes closed.

Hypertrophy

Increase in the size of muscle fibers due to exercise or disease.

Fasciculations

Small local muscle contractions causing visible twitches in a muscle.

Clasp-knife phenomenon

Resistance to passive movement that suddenly decreases at a certain point.

Cerebellar ataxia

Loss of ability to coordinate movements due to cerebellar dysfunction.

Sensory ataxia

Incoordination caused by disrupted proprioceptive input.

Upper motor neuron signs

Clinical findings associated with damage to the upper motor neurons, such as spasticity.

Lower motor neuron signs

Findings associated with cranial nerve or spinal nerve damage, like weakness and atrophy.

Muscle wasting

Reduction in muscle mass due to disuse, malnutrition or disease.

Reflex spread

When a reflex response occurs in muscles other than the intended target; indicates central nervous system damage.

Clonus test

Tests for spasticity by inducing rhythmic muscle contractions in response to sustained stretch.

Exaggerated reflexes

Heightened reflex responses indicative of upper motor neuron lesions.

Extrapyramidal symptoms

Motor symptoms resulting from disorders of the basal ganglia, common in Parkinson’s disease.

Functional assessments

Evaluations designed to assess the ability to perform activities of daily living.

Stereognosis

The ability to identify objects by touch alone.

Topognosis

Ability to identify the location of touch stimuli.