Neurotransmitters & Seizures Patho

Question 1

What are seizures?

Answer 1

A single episode of abnormal electrical discharge from cortical neurons that results in an abrupt and temporary altered state

Question 2

what is epilepsy?

Answer 2

A group of syndromes characterized by unprovoked, recurrent seizures

Question 3

what is status epilepticus?

Answer 3

Continuous seizure activity for more than 5 minutes or 2 or more sequential seizures that occur without full recovery of consciousness between attacks.

Question 4

list the common causes of seizures? (14)

Answer 4

• Trauma
• ETOH withdrawal
• Illicit drug use
• Brain tumor
• Congenital malformations
• Stroke
• Metabolic disorders
• Uremia
• electrolyte imbalance
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Neurodegenerative disease
• Idiopathic
• flashing lights
• stress

Question 5

list the common causes of epilepsy (5)

Answer 5

• genetic causes
• head trauma
• medical disorders
• prenatal injury
• developmental disorders

Question 6

> 30 mutated genes have been found in families with _______

Answer 6

epilepsy

Question 7

Genetic causes of epilepsy may occur in genes coding for different things. what are examples? (3)

Answer 7

ion channels
neuronal receptors
transcription factors

Question 8

many pediatric epilepsies are associated with what?

Answer 8

random gene mutation for the first time (de novo)

Question 9

what is true for about half of seizure disorders?

Answer 9

there are no genetic or structural abnormalities present

Question 10

what medical disorders are common causes of epilepsy? (3)

Answer 10

dementia
meningitis
encephalitis

Question 11

what developmental disorders are common causes of epilepsy? (2)

Answer 11

autism
down syndrome

Question 12

Pathophysiology of seizues:
1. Messages from the body are carried by the ______ of the brain through discharges of _________ ______
2. These impulses occur in _____
3. During periods of unwanted discharges, parts of the body may ___ ________

Answer 12

1. neurons; electrochemical energy
2. bursts
3. act erratically

Question 13

For an actual seizure to occur…
1. ________ neurons
2. increase in _______ ________ activity
3. reduction in activity of ______ _______ _____ projection

Answer 13

1. excitable
2. excitatory glutaminergic
3. normal inhibitory GABA

Question 14

What seizures are classified as focal or partial? (2)

Answer 14

simple partial
complex partial

Question 15

what seizures are classified as generalized? (4)

Answer 15

Absence (Petit Mal)
Tonic-Clonic (Grand Mal)
Atonic/Akinetic (Drop Attacks)
Status Epilepticus

Question 16

a focal seizure starts and…?

Answer 16

may remain in 1 hemisphere

Question 17

focal seizures have high-frequency bursts of _____ _______ and __________

Answer 17

action potentials & hypersynchronization

Question 18

focal seizures may have _____, _______, _______ symptoms and automatisms

Answer 18

motor, sensory, autonomic

Question 19

the autonomic sx from focal seizures are due to what?

Answer 19

stimulation of autonomic nervous system

Question 20

what are the autonomic sx of a focal seizure? (4)

Answer 20

pallor
sweating
pupillary dilation
epigastric sensation

Question 21

what are automatisms?

Answer 21

Coordinated involuntary movements occurring during state if impaired consciousness either during or after seizure.

Question 22

are pts aware or unaware during automatisms?

Answer 22

unaware

Question 23

automatisms are often associated with?

Answer 23

temporal lobe seizures

Question 24

what are the types of focal/partial seizures?

Answer 24

Focal with retained awareness
Focal with altered awareness
partial seizure

Question 25

in a Focal seizure with retained awareness, there is no impairment of ?

Answer 25

consciousness

Question 26

in a Focal seizure with retained awareness, there may be? (2)

Answer 26

may have movement of body parts may experience an aura

Question 27

focal seizures with retained awareness are similar to what?

Answer 27

partial seizures

Question 28

in a Focal seizure with altered awareness, there is impairment of?

Answer 28

consciousness

Question 29

in a Focal seizure with altered awareness, it spreads to?

Answer 29

both hemispheres

Question 30

where does a partial seizure begin?

Answer 30

in part of one hemisphere (typically in the temporal or frontal lobe)

Question 31

partial seizures may be....?

Answer 31

simple or complex

Question 32

Generalized seizures start in 1 hemisphere and?

Answer 32

spreads with involvement of both hemispheres

Question 33

true or false: generalized seizures may have motor and nonmotor sx

Answer 33

true

Question 34

what seizures always affect both hemispheres of brain?

Answer 34

generalized

Question 35

generalized seizures cause impairment of?

Answer 35

consciousness

Question 36

what are tonic-clonic seizures?

Answer 36

AKA grand mal Begin with rigid violent contractions (tonic) followed by repetitive clonic activity of all extremities; body stiffness and relaxation

Question 37

what are tonic seizures?

Answer 37

Muscle stiffness, dilation of pupils, altered respirations Usually lasts less than a minute

Question 38

what are absence seizures?

Answer 38

Short episodes of staring and loss of consciousness 10 seconds

Question 39

what are myoclonic seizures?

Answer 39

Bilateral jerking of muscles. No loss of consciousness

Question 40

what are atonic seizures?

Answer 40

Sudden loss of muscle tone; “drop to ground”

Question 41

Calcium going in during a cells resting state facilitates what?

Answer 41

development of an action potential

Question 42

glutamate receptor has how many potential binding sites?

Answer 42

5