Week 10 Terms - Neurological System

Cerebrovascular accidents

Commonly known as strokes, when there’s disruption of blood flow to the brain, or a blood vessel in brain leaks or bursts

Cerebral aneurysms

Weakened blood vessels in the brain that bulge out like a balloon and may rupture.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Brain injury caused by an external force.

Neurodegenerative disorders

Diseases that cause progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the nervous system

• Ex: Dementia, Parkinson’s

Movement disorders

Disorders that affect movement, leading to increased, decreased, or abnormal movement.

Seizures

Sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain that can cause changes in behavior, movements, or consciousness.

Diabetes-related neuropathy

Nerve damage caused by diabetes, which can lead to symptoms like pain, tingling, and burning.

Spinal cord injuries

Damage to the spinal cord that results in loss of function, weakness, paralysis, dyspnea, impaired bowel/bladder control

Brain tumors

Abnormal growths of tissue in the brain that can be cancerous or non-cancerous

Derilium

An acute change in cognitive function - temporary and reversible

Migraines

A type of headache characterized by intense, throbbing pain, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.

Neurodiverse conditions

Range of conditions that affect brain processing, such as

• Autism, ADHD, dyslexia

Chronic headaches

persistent headaches occurring on 15 or more days per month, lasting 3 months or more

Aura

a sensory phenomenon that can precede a migraine or seizure, including visual disturbances (seeing spots, stars), tingling sensations and/or speech problems

Urinary stasis

Urine is retained in the bladder due to the inability to empty it completely

Aspiration pneumonia

Lung infection that occurs when food, liquid, or vomit is inhaled into the lungs, leading to inflammation and infection.

Nausea

a feeling of unease and discomfort in the stomach, often accompanied by the urge to vomit.

Syncope

a temporary loss of consciousness, often called fainting.

Vertigo

a sensation of spinning or dizziness

Tonic-clonic seizures

Involve convulsions and loss of consciousness, characterized by muscle stiffness followed by rhythmic jerking.

Absence seizure

Brief lapses of consciousness, often without convulsions, staring into space or repeated blinking

Tremors

involuntary, rhythmic muscle contractions resulting in shaking movements

Fasciculations

small, involuntary muscle contractions that aren’t rhythmic

Desaturation

Oxygen saturation levels in the bloodstream below normal

Brain lesion

an area of damaged tissue in the brain that can affect neurological function.

Demyelination

Myelin sheath around nerves is damaged or destroyed, affecting nerve signal transmission.

Dermatomes

Areas of skin that are mainly supplied by specific nerves

Corneal reflex

involuntary response of bilateral blinking when the cornea is stimulated.

Fixed pupils

Pupils that do not respond to light or change in focus

Brain herniation

The shifting of brain tissue due to increased intracranial pressure

Hyposmia

Partial loss of smell

Anosmia

Complete loss of smell

Esthesia

Sensitivity to touch sensation

Hypoesthesia

Decreased touch sensitivity

Anesthesia

Loss of sensitivity or inability to feel touch

Hyperaesthesia

Increased touch sensitivity

Algesia

Sensation of pain

Hypoalgesia

Decreased pain sensitivity

Analgesia

Loss or inability to feel pain sensations

Hyperalgesia

Increased pain sensitivity

Paresis

Weakness in muscle strength.

Paralysis

Loss of muscle function in part or all of the body.

Paraesthesia

Abnormal sensation such as tingling or numbness.

Dysphagia

Difficulty in swallowing food or liquids.

Dysphasia

A language disorder affecting speech and comprehension.

Dysarthria

A motor speech disorder that affects the physical ability to speak clearly.

Flaccid

Muscles that have no resistance and no tone

Rigid

Muscle tone characterized by stiffness and resistance to movement.

Spasticity

Increased muscle resistance that decreases with continuous movement and worsens at extreme ROM.

Motor system

A network of neurons and pathways responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movements and coordinating bodily movements.

Cerebellum

Part of the brain that coordinates movement, balance, and fine motor control, integrating sensory information to ensure smooth and precise actions.

Ataxia

Lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements, leading to clumsiness and instability.

Pre-eclampsia

A pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure

Anisocoria

Unequal pupil size