Central Nervous System and Neuro Assessment

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to the central nervous system and neurological assessment as discussed in the lecture.

Hemispheres

Each hemisphere of the brain receives sensory information from the opposite side of the body.

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for cognitive thought, motor control, behavior, reasoning, and speech production.

Broca's Aphasia

Condition where a person can understand language but struggles to speak.

Wernicke's Aphasia

Condition where a person cannot understand language, but retains intact motor ability.

Occipital Lobe

Part of the brain responsible for visual processing and interpretation.

Hypothalamus

Regulates stress, sleep, appetite, temperature, and more.

Cerebellum

Part of the brain that controls posture and balance.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Controls involuntary body functions, including the stress response (fight or flight).

Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)

Part of the ANS responsible for the fight or flight response, involving adrenaline release.

Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)

Opposes the SNS, promoting 'rest and digest' responses.

Cholinergic Response

Refers to responses mediated by acetylcholine, leading to muscle relaxation and other effects.

Neuro Assessment

A systematic evaluation of a patient's neurological function, including mental status and cranial nerves.

Brudzinski Sign

A clinical sign for meningeal irritation where flexing the neck causes knee flexion.

Babinski Sign

A reflex indicating an upper motor neuron lesion, characterized by dorsiflexion of the big toe.

Glasgow Coma Scale

A scale used to assess a patient's level of consciousness, with a range from 3 to 15.

Decorticate Posture

Abnormal body posture indicating a non-functioning cortex; arms are flexed towards the body.

Decerebrate Posture

Abnormal body posture indicating a non-functioning brainstem; arms are extended.