Neurological Pathways and Pain Management

Flashcards covering key concepts related to sensory and motor pathways, brain function, pain types, and related medical conditions.

Central Nervous System

Composed of the brain and spinal cord, with the spinal cord having two pathways.

Brain Function

The brain's primary function is to translate sensory messages to motor outputs.

Sensory Pathway

Pathway carrying messages from the environment to the brain.

Motor Pathway

Pathway carrying messages from the brain to the muscles.

Diabetic Neuropathy

A condition where nerve damage affects the sensory pathways, often starting in the feet.

OraGel

A gel applied to gums to numb sensory impulses and reduce pain, preventing the message from reaching the brain.

Neuropathic Pain

A type of pain that arises from nerve damage, often treated with anticonvulsant therapy.

Fibromyalgia

A condition characterized by trigger points and often treated with medications like Lyrica for neuropathic pain.

Anti-inflammatory

A type of medication used for inflammatory processes.

Cartilage

Flexible bone and wears off leading to bones rubbing which causes pain.

Somatic Pain

Pain that can be pinpointed to a specific location on the body.

Visceral Pain

Pain originating from internal organs, often diffuse and difficult to pinpoint.

Headache red flag

Severe headache that has never been felt before.

Angina

A type of chest pain that may feel like indigestion and can lead to myocardial infarction (MI) if untreated.

Trigeminal Nerve

Cranial nerve that conveys sensory information from the face.

Trigeminal Neuralgia

A neuropathic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve, causing sudden, severe facial pain.

Cerebellum

Responsible for balance, coordination, and posture.

Brain

Regulates language, judgment, and movement.

Forebrain

The front part of the brain.

Hindbrain

The back part of the brain.

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for bone orientation, position, and movement

Proprioception

Body position.

Temporal Lobe

Perception and long-term memory.

Alzheimer's

Affects short term memory

Validation Therapy

A therapeutic communication technique used with patients experiencing memory loss to validate their feelings and experiences.

Wernicke

Relating to hearing and understanding language.

Broca

Relating to expressing language properly.

Bladder Sphincter

Occurs in multiple sclerosis when the brain knows bladder needs to empty but the message to open up does not arrive.

Myelin

Fatty substance on the motor nerve that enhances and delivers message.