Pathophys ch22 acute neuro

Question 1

meningitis

Answer 1

infection of the meninges - from viral (most common) or bacterial (more serious).

Question 2

concussion

Answer 2

reversible interference with brain function from a mild blow to the head - which causes sudden excessive movement of the brain - disrupting neurologic function and leading to loss of consciousness.

Question 3

contusion

Answer 3

bruising of the brain tissue with rupture of small blood vessels and edema that usually results from a blunt blow to the head.

Question 4

amnesia

Answer 4

memory loss

Question 5

open head injury

Answer 5

involves fracture or penetration of brain by sharp objects.

Question 6

closed head injury

Answer 6

occurs when skull is not fracture in the injury - but the brain tissue is injured and blood vessels may be ruptured by the force exerted against the skull.

Question 7

contrecoup

Answer 7

occurs when an area of the brain contralateral to the site of direct damage is injured as the brain bounces off the skull.

Question 8

coup

Answer 8

site of the primary injury in the brain.

Question 9

hematoma

Answer 9

collection of blood in the tissue that develops from ruptured blood vessels - either immediately after the injury or after some delay.

Question 10

otorrhea

Answer 10

leaking of spinal fluid from the ear resulting from fractures and tearing of the meninges.

Question 11

rinorrhea

Answer 11

leadking of spinal fluid from the nose.

Question 12

otorrhagia

Answer 12

blood leaking through the ear from a fractured site with torn blood vessels and meninges.

Question 13

supratentorial lesions

Answer 13

lesions above the tentorium cerebelli- resulting in a specific dysfunction in the specific area of injury; most become very large before it affects consciousness.

Question 14

infratentorial lesions

Answer 14

lesions below the tentorium cerebelli which can be detrimental - impairing respiratory and circulatory functions.

Question 15

left cerebral hemisphere

Answer 15

hemisphere that is involved in logical thinking abilities - analytical skills - intellectual ability - and communication

Question 16

right cerebral hemisphere

Answer 16

hemisphere involved in art and music preparation - behavior - spatial orientation - and recognition.

Question 17

coma

Answer 17

state of loss consciousness where the person is unresponsive to painful and verbal stimuli; body is flaccid and some reflexes is still present.

Question 18

vegetative

Answer 18

state where there is loss of awareness and mental capabilities; the brain stem is still functioning but the body is unresponsive to stimuli.

Question 19

locked-in-syndrome

Answer 19

state where the individual is aware and capable of thinking but the body is paralyzed and is unable to communicate.

Question 20

ipsilateral

Answer 20

same side of the body (from damage to the lower motor neurons).

Question 21

contralateral

Answer 21

opposite side of the body (from damage to upper motor neurons in frontal lobe or corticospinal tract).

Question 22

decorticate

Answer 22

involuntary motor response from brain trauma characterized by the rigid flexion in the upper limbs - with adducted arms and internal rotation of the hands and extended lower limbs; occur from severe damage in the cerebral hemispheres.

Question 23

decerebrate

Answer 23

involuntary motor response from brain trauma where the upper and lower limbs are extended - as is the head and the body is arched; occurs in person with brain stem lesions and CNS depression caused by systemic effects.

Question 24

aphasia

Answer 24

refers to the inability to comprehend or to express language

Question 25

expressive (motor) aphasia

Answer 25

impaired ability to speak or write fluently or appropriately; unable to find any intelligible words or construct meaningful sentences (i.e Broca’s aphasia)

Question 26

receptive (sensory) aphasia

Answer 26

inability to read or understand spoken words resulting from damaged area of the brain responsible for processing the information; may be capable of fluent speech - but its meaningless (i.e Wernicke’s aphasia).

Question 27

dysarthria

Answer 27

a motor dysfunction usually resulting from cranial nerve damage or muscle impairment - where words cannot be articulated clearly.

Question 28

agraphia

Answer 28

impaired writing ability.

Question 29

alexia

Answer 29

impaired reading ability.

Question 30

agnosia

Answer 30

loss of recognition or association.

Question 31

seizures

Answer 31

convulsions caused by spontaneous excessive discharge of neurons in the brain; can be precipitated by inflammation - hypoxia - or bleeding in the brain.

Question 32

papilledema

Answer 32

an early sign of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) where the optic disk has swollen.

Question 33

ptosis

Answer 33

droopy eyelid

Question 34

cerebrovascular accidents (CVA)

Answer 34

also called a stroke - is an infarction of brain tissue resulting from lack of blood from 1.) total occlusion of cerebral blood vessel by an atheroma or embolus and/or 2.) ruptured blood vessel.