W12 - Neurological Disorders

What does the cerebrum consist of?

the left and right cerebral hemispheres

The left brain controls which side of the body and what is it responsible for?

• controls: RS of body

• responsible for:

  • language

  • logic

  • speech

  • abstract thinking

The right brain controls which side of the body and what is it responsible for?

• controls: LS of body

• responsible for:

  • creativity

  • intuition

  • spatial attention

  • image processing

    • more arts

Damage to the left hemisphere of the brain results in which symptoms:

loss of:

• logical thinking ability

• analytical skills

• communication skills

Damage to the right hemisphere of the brain results in which symptoms:

• impairs appreciation of music and art

• causes behavioral problems

• spatial orientation and recognition of relationships may be deficient

• self-care deficits common

What does the cerebellum control?

• coordinates skeletal muscle activity

• maintains balance

• controls fine movements

Where do the upper motor neurons originate?

In the cerebral cortex going downwards

What's the movement of the upper motor neurons?

From the brain to the spinal cord

Which hemisphere is dominant for language control?

The left hemisphere

What is aphasia?

a disorder in comprehension of written & spoken work

What is dysphasia?

the impaired ability to communicate

What is global aphasia?

The loss of all expressive & receptive function

What is expressive (Broca’s) aphasia?

Difficulty expressing thoughts through speech or writing

• can understand, can’t speak

With expressive (Broca’s) aphasia, where is the damage located?

In the frontal lobe of the dominant hemisphere (usually left)

What is receptive (Wernicke’s) aphasia?

Difficulty understanding spoken or written language

• can speak, can’t understand

With receptive (Wernicke’s) aphasia, where is the damage located?

The damage is located in the temporal lobe

What is anomic/amnesic aphasia?

Difficulty naming specific objects, people, places, events.

What is the standardized system for assessing the degree of consciousness of a patient?

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

What is the function of the spinal cord?

Transmits signals between the brain and body

What do sensory (afferent) nerves do?

Carry information from the body to the CNS

What do motor (efferent) nerves do?

Carry signals from the CNS to muscles and glands

What are general effects of neurological dysfunction?

Changes in function d/t damage in the nervous system, affecting cognition, movement, sensation, and consciousness

What is homonymous hemianopia?

The loss of half of the visual field in one or both eyes

Damage to which lobe causes Homonymous Hemainopia?

The occipital lobe

What lobe is Broca’s area located?

Frontal lobe

What is increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?

A life-threatening condition where there’s an imbalance of brain tissue, blood & cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Where are the precentral and postcentral gyri located?

On either side of the central sulcus in the brain

What is the precentral gyrus also known as?

Primary motor cortex

What is the function of the precentral gyrus?

Controls voluntary movement

How does the precentral gyrus produce movement?

Sends electrical signals from the brain to muscles via motor pathways

Which side of the body does the precentral gyrus control?

The opposite (contralateral) side

What happens if the precentral gyrus is damaged?

Weakness or paralysis on the opposite side of the body

What is the postcentral gyrus also known as?

Primary somatosensory cortex

What is the function of the postcentral gyrus?

Processes sensory information from the body

Frontal lobe functions

Personality, decision-making, voluntary movement (motor control)

Parietal lobe functions

Sensory processing (touch, pain, temperature), spatial awareness

Temporal lobe functions

Hearing, memory, language comprehension

What separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe?

Central Sulcus

What does the brainstem control?

Controls vital functions (breathing, heart rate, BP)

Medulla

Regulates breathing, heart rate, blood pressure

Pons

Helps regulate breathing and sleep; connects brain regions

Thalamus

Sensory relay station (sends info to correct brain area)

Hippocampus

Memory formation (short-term → long-term)

What connects the left and right hemispheres?

Corpus callosum

What is Cushing’s triad?

• ↑ systolic BP

• ↓ HR (bradycardia)

• irregular respirations

Define Decorticate vs Decerebrate

• Decorticate = flexion (less severe)

• Decerebrate = extension (more severe)

Primary vs Secondary brain injury

• Primary = immediate (fracture, contusion)

• Secondary = delayed (edema, bleeding)

Thrombotic vs Embolic stroke

• Thrombotic = clot forms

• Embolic = clot travels

What is a TIA?

temporary blockage of blood flow in the brain

• no permanent damage

What is Global Aphasia?

Loss of all language

Anosognosia

When a patient denies illness

Agnosia

Can’t recognize objects

Apraxia

Can’t perform learned movements

Parkinson’s cause

↓ dopamine (substantia nigra)

What are the Parkinson’s symptoms?

• tremor

• rigidity

• akinesia (bradykinesia - slow movements)

Define “pill rolling”

resting tremor

Define Seizure

a sudden, uncontrolled burst of electrical activity in the brain that disrupts normal function,

A drop in Acetylcholine results in which disease?

Alzheimer’s disease

A drop in Dopamine results in which disease?

Parkinson’s disease

Define hemiparesis

paralysis on 1 side of the body

Hemorrhagic stroke is d/t what type of pressure?

Hydrostatic pressure

Corticospinal (pyramidal) tract — function?

Voluntary motor movement (fine, precise)

Corticospinal tract also known as…

pyramidal tract

Where does the corticospinal tract cross at?

At the medulla

Which tract crosses at spinal cord level?

Spinothalamic tract

Spinothalamic tract — function?

Pain, temperature, crude touch

Is spinothalamic tract efferent or afferent?

afferent

Extrapyramidal system — function?

Controls posture, tone, coordination, automatic movement

The extrapyramidal system controls voluntary or involuntary movement?

involuntary movement

Extrapyramidal damage → symptoms?

Tremor, rigidity, slow movement (bradykinesia)

Parkinson-like symptoms involve which tract?

extrapyramidal tract

What area of the brain is dopamine released from?

Substantia Nigra

Optic nerve damage =…

one sided blindness

Optic chiasm damage = …

full blindness

Optic tract damage =…

opposite visual field loss in both eyes

Define hemiplegia

Paralysis on one side of the body

Expressive aphasia =

Broca’s aphasia

Receptive aphasia =

Wernick’s aphasia

What space is in between the skull & dura?

The epidural space

Epidural space — what type of blood accumulates?

Arterial blood

Why is an Epidural hematoma dangerous?

Arterial bleed → rapid pressure increase → quick deterioration

What space is in between the arachnoid & pia matter?

Subarachnoid space

What type of fluid does the subarachnoid fluid contain?

CSF (cerebral spinal fluid)

What space is in between the subdural & arachnoid matter?

The subdural space

Define otorrhea

fluid coming out of ears

Define rhinorrhea

fluid coming from nose