Neurosensory Central Nervous System Infections and Disorders Flashcards

Flashcards covering central nervous system infections, traumatic brain injuries, seizure disorders, degenerative neurological diseases, and sensory system anatomy based on lecture notes.

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which can be bacterial or viral.

Nuchal rigidity

Neck pain and stiffness during range of motion, often seen in meningitis.

Kernig and Brudzinski signs

Indicators of inflammation in the spinal root; evidenced by pain during leg straightening or involuntary knee flexion when the neck is bent.

Encephalopathy

A condition evidenced by early signs like mental status changes and disorientation, and late signs including lethargy and seizures.

Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)

The gold standard diagnostic to check cerebral spinal fluid for bacteria, white blood cells, elevated glucose, and elevated protein.

Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain tissue, often caused by hemorrhage or viral infection, with Herpes Simplex virus being the most common cause.

Ataxia

A lack of muscle control or a gait disturbance.

Increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP)

Increased pressure on brain tissue, nerves, and blood flow caused by trauma, traumatic brain injuries, or hematoma.

Cushing's triad

Late indicators of increased intracranial pressure consisting of bradycardia, decreased respirations, and arterial hypertension with a widening pulse pressure.

Burr holes

A surgical intervention used to relieve intracranial pressure.

Aura

Visual disturbances such as halos or floaters, difficult speech, numbness, or tingling that occurs as a stage of a migraine or before a seizure.

Epilepsy

A chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent electrical firing problems in neurons.

Automatisms

Repetitive behaviors like chewing or picking at clothes seen during complex partial seizures.

Absence (Petite mal)

A generalized seizure common in children involving staring episodes.

Tonic-Clonic (Grand mal)

A generalized seizure involving a tonic phase (rigidity) and a clonic phase (rhythmic jerking).

Postictal Phase

A recovery period following a seizure involving deep sleep, headache, and confusion.

Status Epilepticus

A medical emergency defined as 30 minutes of repeated seizure activity without a return of consciousness.

Acceleration Injury

A mechanism of traumatic brain injury where a moving object hits a stationary head.

Deceleration Injury

A mechanism of traumatic brain injury where a moving head hits a stationary surface.

Concussion

A mild brain injury characterized by headache, nausea, and amnesia, where abnormalities usually do not show on imaging.

Contusion

Bruising of the brain with potential hemorrhage.

Subdural Hematoma

A typically venous collection of blood that is common in older adults and alcoholics due to brain atrophy.

Epidural Hematoma

A typically arterial collection of blood between the dura mater and skull, characterized by a brief period of lucidity followed by rapid decline.

IV Mannitol

An osmotic diuretic used as the standard pharmacological treatment for increased ICP to pull fluid from the brain into the intravascular space.

Diabetes Insipidus (DI)

A complication of traumatic brain injury resulting from edema or injury, treated with fluid replacement and IV vasopressin.

Craniotomy

A surgical opening into the skull.

Craniectomy

The surgical removal of a portion of the skull bone.

Cranioplasty

The surgical repair of the skull.

Cauda Equina Syndrome

A medical emergency caused by herniation at L5 through S1, resulting in bladder and bowel incontinence.

Dementia

A long-term, progressive symptom of degeneration affecting memory and eventually motor functions.

Aphasia

Communication impairments that can be receptive, expressive, or global.

Delirium

A temporary, treatable mental disturbance caused by an underlying medical emergency such as a UTI or hypoxia.

Parkinson's Disease

A disorder characterized by the destruction of substantia nigra cells leading to decreased dopamine and an excess of acetylcholine.

Bradykinesia

Slow movement, often associated with Parkinson's Disease.

Huntington's Disease

An autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by personality changes and choreiform movements.

Choreiform movements

Fluid, dance-like tremors seen in Huntington's Disease.

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

A 'mini stroke' characterized by temporary impairment of cerebral circulation that serves as a warning sign for a future stroke.

Ischemic Stroke

A stroke caused by a thrombus or embolus blocking oxygen and glucose flow to the brain.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

A stroke caused by bleeding in the brain leading to increased pressure and tissue damage.

FAST Assessment

A stroke assessment tool evaluating Face (droop), Arms (drift), Speech (slurred), and Time.

Pseudobulbar Effect

Emotional instability characterized by rapid mood swings from laughing to crying.

Alteplase (TPA)

A thrombolytic therapy that must be administered within 3 to 4 hours of symptom onset for ischemic strokes.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

A condition involving degeneration of the myelin sheath leading to impaired or blocked electrical nerve impulses.

Myasthenia Gravis (MG)

A condition characterized by the destruction of acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction, leading to loss of skeletal muscle strength.

Ptosis

Eyelid droop, a common symptom of Myasthenia Gravis.

SLUDGE

A mnemonic for symptoms of a cholinergic crisis: salivation, lacrimation, urination, diarrhea, gastrointestinal cramping, and emesis.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Also known as Lou Gehrig's; a disease involving motor neuron degeneration and voluntary muscle atrophy.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)

An autoimmune response often following a virus characterized by abrupt onset of weakness and paralysis.

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Chronic compression or irritation of the 5th cranial nerve resulting in intense, unilateral facial pain.

Bell’s Palsy

Inflammation or edema of the 7th cranial nerve resulting in unilateral facial paralysis.

Presbyopia

Farsightedness caused by reduced elasticity of the eye lens due to aging.

Snellen Chart

A tool used to assess visual acuity, where normal vision is categorized as $20/20$ and legal blindness as $20/200$ or worse.

Glaucoma

Silent, progressive, and irreversible optic nerve damage resulting from increased intraocular pressure.

Cataracts

Opacity in the eye lens causing milky vision and difficulty with night vision.

Presbycusis

Progressive hearing loss of high-frequency sounds associated with aging.

Punctal Occlusion

The process of blocking the lacrimal duct during eye drop administration to prevent systemic absorption.