Neurological Conditions Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering Seizure Disorders (Epilepsy), Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs), and Inflammatory/Infectious disorders of the brain including Meningitis and Encephalitis.

Seizure

A brief episode of abnormal electrical activity in the nerve cells of the brain cortex, which can involve motor, cognitive, or sensory manifestations.

Seizure disorder (Epilepsy)

A chronic condition characterized by recurrent seizures, specifically defined as two or more unprovoked seizures.

Seizure focus

A group of abnormal neurons that spontaneously fire, often consisting of scar tissue known as gliosis.

Gliosis

Changes to the glial cells resulting in scar tissue at the site of a seizure focus.

Seizure Threshold

The level of brain activity required to trigger a seizure; it can be lowered by factors such as sleep deprivation, alcohol withdrawal, or stress.

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

A diagnostic tool used to record unorganized electrical activity in the brain, referred to as an "electrical storm."

Focal/Partial Seizure

A seizure caused by focal irritations that is unilateral and involves only one side of the brain.

Generalized Seizure

A type of seizure involving both sides of the brain.

Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure

Formerly known as "Grand Mal," characterized by loss of consciousness, stiffening (tonic phase), and jerking (clonic phase).

Tonic Phase

A period of stiffening of the body and prolonged skeletal muscle contraction lasting approximately $10\text{--}20\,s$.

Clonic Phase

A period of jerking extremities and alternating skeletal muscle contraction and relaxation lasting approximately $30\text{--}40\,s$.

Postictal Phase

The recovery period following a seizure where the patient may be calm, nearly unresponsive, lethargic, or experience muscle fatigue.

Absence Seizure

Also known as "Petit mal," mostly occurring in children and characterized by brief staring spells and extremely short loss of consciousness.

Simple Partial Seizure

A focal seizure where there is no loss of consciousness and the event lasts less than $1\,minute$.

Complex Partial Seizure

A seizure usually beginning in the temporal lobe, characterized by an alteration in consciousness and repetitive, purposeless movements.

Automatism

Repetitive, purposeless movements, such as those occurring during a complex partial seizure.

Prodromal Phase

Signs or activity, such as mood changes or anxiety, that precede the onset of a seizure.

Aural Phase (Aura)

A sensory warning or subjective sense of an impending seizure, which may involve odors, tastes, or sounds.

Status Epilepticus

A medical emergency characterized by continuous seizure activity for >15\,minutes, posing risks of permanent neurological injury or death.

Glutamate

The most common excitatory neurotransmitter involved in the development and creation of nerve contacts.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

An inhibitory neurotransmitter that suppresses seizure activity.

Phenytoin (Dilantin)

A commonly utilized Antiepileptic Drug (AED) that inhibits hyperactive sodium channels and is used for all forms of epilepsy except absence seizures.

Therapeutic Range/Window

The concentration range of a drug in plasma where it is effective without causing toxic effects.

Optimum Phenytoin Concentration

The plasma level required for the most effective anticonvulsant action, defined as $10\text{--}20\,mg/L$.

Gingival Hyperplasia

A specific adverse effect of Phenytoin (Dilantin) involving the overgrowth of gum tissue.

CYP450 Inducer

A substance that increases cytochrome P450 enzymes in the liver, thereby increasing the rate of drug clearance.

Meningitis

Acute inflammation of the meningeal tissues of the brain and spinal cord, often caused by infection or penetrating wounds.

Kernig Sign

A clinical manifestation of meningitis where resistance to leg extension occurs when the hip and knee are flexed at $90^{\circ}$ degrees.

Brudzinski Sign

A clinical manifestation of meningitis where passive neck flexion elicits involuntary hip and knee flexion.

Encephalitis

Acute inflammation of the brain, usually of viral etiology such as West Nile, Measles, or Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV).

Brain Abscess

An accumulation of pus within the brain tissue, most commonly resulting from ear, tooth, or sinus infections.