Pathology of the Nervous System

Question 1

Also known as a headache, pain in the head

Answer 1

Cephalalgia

Question 2

• inflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord
• can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection elsewhere in the body

Answer 2

Meningitis

Question 3

Inflammation of the brain caused by viral infection

Answer 3

Encephalitis

Question 4

Describes mental activities associated with thinking, learning, and memory

Answer 4

Cognition

Question 5

Slowly progressive decline in mental abilities including memory, thinking and judgment

Answer 5

Dementia

Question 6

• a group of disorders involving the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language
• is the leading form of dementia

Answer 6

Alzheimer’s disease

Question 7

Chronic, degenerative central nervous disorder characterized by fine muscle tremors, rigidity and a slow shuffling gait

Answer 7

Parkinson’s disease

Question 8

• a violent shaking up or jarring of the brain
• may result in a temporary loss of awareness and function

Answer 8

Concussion

Question 9

*also known as fainting
* brief loss of consciousness caused by decreased blood flow to the brain

Answer 9

Syncope

Question 10

Profound (deep) state of unconsciousness marked by the absence of spontaneous eye movement, no response to painful stimuli, and lack of speech

Answer 10

coma

Question 11

• also known as a stroke
• brain damage that occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted because. A blood vessel is either blocked or has ruptured
  Remember F.A.S.T

Answer 11

Cerebrovascular accident

Question 12

• most common type of stroke in older people
• occurs when blood flow is blocked by narrowing or blocked artery

Answer 12

Ischemic stroke

Question 13

*occurs when a blood vessel in th brain leaks
* also occurs when an aneurysm ruptures in the brain

Answer 13

Hemorrhagic stroke

Question 14

Inflammation of the spinal cord

Answer 14

myelitis

Question 15

• progressive autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation that causes demyelination of the myelin sheath
  *this scars the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves and disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses

Answer 15

multiple sclerosis

Question 16

Temporary paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve that causes paralysis of the face, only on one side

Answer 16

Bell’s palsy

Question 17

*inflammation of the sciatic nerve caused by pressure
* results in pain, burning, and tingling along the affected nerve through the leg, thigh and sometimes into the foot

Answer 17

Sciatica

Question 18

• group of disorders characterized by poor muscle control, spasticity, speech defects due to damage to the cerebrum
• occurs most frequently in premature or low-birth weight babies
• usually caused by a brain injury during pregnancy, birth, or shortly after
• palsy means weakness of a body part

Answer 18

Cerebral palsy

Question 19

chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent episodes of seizures (sudden charge of electrical activity in the brain)

Answer 19

Epilepsy

Question 20

Disorder of the peripheral nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord

Answer 20

peripheral neuropathy

Question 21

*also known as poliomyelitis
* highly contagious viral of the brainstem and pineal cord
* can lead to paralysis

Answer 21

polio