Brain Lobes, Functions, Seizures, Stroke, Brain Injuries, Spinal Cord Injury

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and key concepts from lectures on brain lobes, seizures, strokes, brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries.

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for problem solving, concentration, planning, organizing, reasoning, personality, behavior, mood, and regulation of emotion.

Broca's Area

Controls expressive speech; if damaged, speech is disjointed but comprehension remains.

Motor Area

Also called Primary Motor Cortex; controls voluntary movement.

Parietal Lobe

Processes sensory information, body awareness, perception, attention, and calculations.

Sensory Area

Processes sensory information including temperature, pressure, touch, smell, pain, and taste.

Temporal Lobe

Involved in hearing, attention, storing verbal and visual memories, and understanding language.

Wernicke's Area

Controls language comprehension; if damaged, the individual cannot understand or respond to others.

Occipital Lobe

Responsible for visual processing and perception of shapes and sizes.

Cerebellum

Also known as the mini brain; controls balance, coordination, rhythm, proprioception, and posture.

Brain Stem

Controls consciousness, breathing, and heart rate.

Seizures

Sudden and uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain, resulting in changes in behavior, movements, and level of consciousness.

Focal Seizures

Seizures located in one part of the brain, can be simple or complex.

Status Epilepticus

A life-threatening seizure lasting more than 5 minutes or multiple seizures without regaining consciousness.

Atonic Seizures

Seizures causing a complete loss of muscle control.

Tonic-Clonic Seizures

Intense seizures causing abrupt loss of consciousness and body shaking.

Ischemic Stroke

Caused by blockage resulting in reduced blood flow to the brain.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Caused by bleeding in the brain from a ruptured blood vessel.

Aneurysm

An abnormal bulge in a blood vessel that can lead to hemorrhagic stroke.

Altered Level of Consciousness

Changes in awareness or responsiveness of an individual.

CT Scan

Imaging method used to diagnose brain injuries or strokes.

External Ventricular Drain

A treatment device used to relieve pressure in cases of intracranial hemorrhage.

Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Bleeding that occurs within the brain tissue.

Cerebral Contusion

Bruising of the brain that can lead to headache, confusion, and other symptoms.

Concussion

A mild traumatic brain injury resulting from a bump or jolt to the head.

Spinal Cord Injury

Damage to any part of the spinal cord, often causing loss of strength, sensation, and function.

Neurogenic Shock

A life-threatening condition after spinal cord injury that affects blood circulation.

Autonomic Dysreflexia

A condition that occurs in individuals with spinal cord injury, causing flushing and changes in heart rate.

Motor Vehicle Accident

Common cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries.

Vertebrae Compression

Damage resulting from fractures or dislocations of the vertebrae.

Permanent Changes

Long-lasting effects on strength, sensation, and body functions due to spinal cord injury.

Headache

Common symptom following a stroke or brain injury.

Facial Drooping

A common sign of stroke where one side of the face appears to droop.

Bladder Dysfunction

Loss of bladder control can occur after a spinal cord injury.

Proprioception

The body’s ability to perceive its position in space.

Balance

The ability to maintain stability; often controlled by the cerebellum.

Electrical Activity

Uncontrolled bursts of energy in the brain that can result in seizures.

Medication Treatment

Use of antiseizure or antiepileptic drugs for managing seizures.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation

A treatment involving an implanted device that helps control seizures.

Gag Reflex

A reflex that prevents choking; relevant after stroke when patients are NPO.

Early Intervention

Immediate actions taken following a stroke, including monitoring vitals.

Clonic Movements

Jerking movements, often seen in seizures, primarily in the face or arms.

Lying on Side

Recommended position for seizure patients to prevent aspiration.

Hypertension

High blood pressure, a risk factor for hemorrhagic stroke.

Risk of Aspiration

Potential danger of choking or inhaling food or fluids into the lungs.

Tongue Biting

Possible injury during seizures, particularly in tonic-clonic types.

Blurry Vision

A symptom that may occur following a stroke or spinal cord injury.