Neurology Exam Review Flashcards

  • Exam Preparation Advice:

    • Write down key concepts such as shock, emergency trauma, and burn.
    • Focus on understanding difficult content rather than assuming you will grasp it later.

  • Course Structure:

    • There are three lectures, each with specific learning objectives.
    • Review groups of objectives: blue (today), green (next week, harder concepts), red (easier concepts).
    • Start with blue objectives soon. Voiceovers for red concepts available by weekend.

  • Neurological System Overview:

    • The neurological system is responsible for regulating bodily functions like breathing and sensation.
    • Neurons:
    • Essential building blocks of the nervous system.
    • Function: Generate and transmit electrical signals.
    • Dendrites receive signals, while the axon transmits them across distances.
    • Connections between neurons are called synapses, influenced by neurotransmitters.

  • Neurotransmitters (Know four key types):

    • Norepinephrine (noradrenaline):
    • Function: Alertness, attention, and focus.
    • Serotonin:
    • Involved in mood, sleep, and digestion.
    • Dopamine:
    • Important for movement, motivation, and mood.
    • Acetylcholine:
    • Crucial for muscle contraction and coordination.

  • Glia (Neuroglia):

    • Supportive cells in the nervous system, lacking direct electrical signal capabilities but crucial for neuron nourishment.

  • Autonomic Nervous System (ANS):

    • Automatically regulates homeostasis.
    • Composed of:
    • Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS):
      • Function: Fight or flight response; neurotransmitter involved is norepinephrine/adrenalin.
    • Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS):
      • Function: Rest and digest; key neurotransmitter is acetylcholine.

  • Neurological Assessment:

    • Start with mental status, then cranial nerves, followed by motor and sensory functions, ending with reflex testing.
    • Important scales:
    • Glasgow Coma Scale:
      • Scoring: 3 (lowest) to 15 (highest), assesses alertness and responsiveness.
    • Changes lower than 8 require further medical evaluations, including intubation.
    • Cranial Nerves: Must know names, numbers, and functions, particularly relevant in assessing stroke or trauma.

  • Stroke Recognition and Response:

    • BEFAST acronym for stroke signs:
    • Balance issues
    • Eyes (visual changes)
    • Face drooping
    • Arm weakness
    • Speech difficulties
    • Time to call 911.
    • Understand TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) as a precursor to stroke; indicates high stroke risk.

  • Stroke Care Protocols:

    • Golden hour for stroke treatment to begin — typically 24 hours from symptom onset is crucial for intervention.
    • Different imaging methods are utilized to identify strokes, with CAT scans ruling out hemorrhagic strokes and MRIs providing detailed insights.

  • Thrombolytics in Treatment:

    • Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA):
    • Administration must occur typically within three to four and a half hours post-symptom onset for eligibility.
    • Monitor blood pressure carefully as above 185/110 can lead to complications.
    • Exclusion criteria: over 80 years old, active anticoagulation therapy, histories of strokes and diabetes.

  • Patient Assessment Techniques:

    • Use various testing methods to evaluate sensory response and muscular stability (e.g., sharp/dull tests, Romberg test for balance).
    • Recognize abnormal responses like decorticate (pulling limbs towards oneself) or extension as indicators of serious neurological injury.

Exam Preparation Advice:
Write down key concepts such as shock, emergency trauma, and burn.
Focus on understanding difficult content rather than assuming you will grasp it later.
Course Structure:
There are three lectures, each with specific learning objectives.
Review groups of objectives: blue (today), green (next week, harder concepts), red (easier concepts).
Start with blue objectives soon. Voiceovers for red concepts available by weekend.

Neurological System Overview:
The neurological system is responsible for regulating bodily functions like breathing and sensation.
Neurons:
Essential building blocks of the nervous system.
Function: Generate and transmit electrical signals.
Dendrites receive signals, while the axon transmits them across distances.
Connections between neurons are called synapses, influenced by neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters (Know four key types):
Norepinephrine (noradrenaline):
Function: Alertness, attention, and focus.
Serotonin:
Involved in mood, sleep, and digestion.
Dopamine:
Important for movement, motivation, and mood.
Acetylcholine:
Crucial for muscle contraction and coordination.
Glia (Neuroglia):
Supportive cells in the nervous system, lacking direct electrical signal capabilities but crucial for neuron nourishment.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS):
Automatically regulates homeostasis.
Composed of:
Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS):
Function: Fight or flight response; neurotransmitter involved is norepinephrine/adrenalin.
Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS):
Function: Rest and digest; key neurotransmitter is acetylcholine.

Neurological Assessment:
Start with mental status, then cranial nerves, followed by motor and sensory functions, ending with reflex testing.
Important scales:
Glasgow Coma Scale:
Scoring: 3 (lowest) to 15 (highest), assesses alertness and responsiveness.
Changes lower than 8 require further medical evaluations, including intubation.
Cranial Nerves: Must know names, numbers, and functions, particularly relevant in assessing stroke or trauma.

Stroke Recognition and Response:
BEFAST acronym for stroke signs:
Balance issues
Eyes (visual changes)
Face drooping
Arm weakness
Speech difficulties
Time to call 911.
Understand TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) as a precursor to stroke; indicates high stroke risk.

Stroke Care Protocols:
Golden hour for stroke treatment to begin — typically 24 hours from symptom onset is crucial for intervention.
Different imaging methods are utilized to identify strokes, with CAT scans ruling out hemorrhagic strokes and MRIs providing detailed insights.

Thrombolytics in Treatment:
Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA):
Administration must occur typically within three to four and a half hours post-symptom onset for eligibility.
Monitor blood pressure carefully as above 185/110 can lead to complications.
Exclusion criteria: over 80 years old, active anticoagulation therapy, histories of strokes and diabetes.

Patient Assessment Techniques:
Use various testing methods to evaluate sensory response and muscular stability (e.g., sharp/dull tests, Romberg test for balance).
Recognize abnormal responses like decorticate (pulling limbs towards oneself) or extension as indicators of serious neurological injury.