Acute Disorders of Brain Function – Vocabulary Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering lobes, mechanisms of brain injury, ICP concepts, stroke, vascular disorders, infections, and key clinical signs from the lecture notes.

Frontal Lobe

Cerebral lobe responsible for motor control, problem-solving, and speech production (Broca’s area).

Temporal Lobe

Lobe that handles auditory processing, language comprehension (Wernicke’s area), and memory retrieval.

Parietal Lobe

Region that interprets touch perception, body orientation, and sensory discrimination.

Occipital Lobe

Posterior cerebral lobe dedicated to vision (visual cortex) and visual interpretation.

Cerebellum

Brain structure that coordinates balance and fine motor movements.

Brainstem

Medulla, pons, and midbrain area controlling vital involuntary functions such as breathing and heart rate.

Primary Brain Injury

Immediate damage occurring at the moment of mechanical trauma to brain tissue.

Secondary Brain Injury

Delayed neurologic damage produced by processes such as ischemia, edema, and excitotoxin release following the primary insult.

Ischemia

Reduced blood flow that fails to meet the brain’s metabolic oxygen demands.

Hypoxia

Cellular oxygen deficiency caused by either low blood flow (ischemia) or low arterial oxygenation (hypoxemia).

Cellular Energy Failure

ATP depletion in neurons during ischemia leading to loss of ionic gradients and cell injury.

Excitotoxicity

Neuronal injury caused by excessive release of excitatory amino acids (e.g., glutamate).

Reperfusion Injury

Oxidative damage that occurs when blood supply returns to previously ischemic brain tissue.

Abnormal Autoregulation

Failure of cerebral vessels to maintain constant blood flow across pressure changes, predisposing to injury.

Intracranial Pressure (ICP)

Pressure within the skull; normal adult range is 0–15 mm Hg.

Intracranial Hypertension

Pathologic elevation of ICP above normal, risking brain compression and herniation.

Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP)

MAP minus ICP; should be kept ≥50 mm Hg to ensure adequate brain blood flow.

Brain Herniation

Protrusion of brain tissue through opening in dura due to raised ICP, leading to rapid neurologic decline.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

Standardized tool (score 3–15) used to assess level of consciousness after brain injury.

Pupil Reflex

Cranial-nerve–based light reflex indicating brainstem function.

Oculovestibular (Cold Caloric) Reflex

Eye movement response to iced water in ear, testing brainstem integrity.

Corneal Reflex

Blink response to corneal touch, used to evaluate cranial nerves V and VII.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Damage to brain from external force; leading cause of death/disability in young people.

Epidural Hematoma

Arterial bleed between skull and dura, often from middle meningeal artery, requiring urgent surgery.

Subdural Hematoma

Venous bleed between dura and arachnoid membranes, which may be acute or chronic.

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH)

Bleeding into subarachnoid space; can result from trauma or ruptured aneurysm.

Ischemic Stroke

Acute loss of blood flow from thrombus or embolus occluding a cerebral artery.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Bleeding into brain parenchyma, usually related to long-standing hypertension.

Thrombotic Stroke

Ischemic stroke caused by in-situ clot formation on atherosclerotic plaque.

Embolic Stroke

Ischemic stroke from clot or debris traveling from heart or proximal vessels (e.g., atrial fibrillation).

Contralateral Hemiplegia

Paralysis of body side opposite to a cerebral lesion, common post-stroke finding.

Aphasia

Language disorder affecting comprehension or production, typically after dominant-hemisphere (left) damage.

Circle of Willis

Arterial ring at brain base providing collateral cerebral circulation.

Cerebral Aneurysm

Congenital arterial wall weakness causing ballooning; rupture leads to SAH.

Sentinel Leak

Minor pre-rupture bleed from an aneurysm that produces sudden severe headache.

Vasospasm

Delayed cerebral artery constriction after SAH, risking secondary ischemia.

Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)

Congenital tangle of arteries and veins shunting blood without capillaries, prone to rupture.

Meningitis

Inflammation of meninges, commonly bacterial; presents with fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion.

Kernig’s Sign

Pain/resistance on knee extension with hip flexed at 90°, indicating meningeal irritation.

Brudzinski’s Sign

Involuntary hip/knee flexion when neck is flexed, suggestive of meningitis.

Encephalitis

Inflammation of brain parenchyma, most often viral (e.g., HSV, West Nile).

HSV Encephalitis

Severe encephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus; symptoms evolve over days, high mortality if untreated.

Brain Abscess

Localized collection of pus within brain parenchyma requiring drainage and prolonged antibiotics.

Increased ICP Nursing Measures

Interventions such as HOB ≥30°, midline head position, normocapnia (PaCO₂ 30–35 mm Hg), normothermia, normonatremia, normotension, and reduced noxious stimuli to control intracranial pressure.