Seizures

Question 1

A sudden, time-limited, involuntary alteration of neurologic function caused by abnormal “firing” of neurons within the brain

Answer 1

Seizure

Question 2

Recurrent seizures

Answer 2

Epilepsy

Question 3

Remembered part of the seizure

Answer 3

Aura

Question 4

the actual seizure

Answer 4

Ictus

Question 5

between seizures

Answer 5

Interictal

Question 6

period of time following the actual seizure until the patient returns to his or her usual interictal state

Answer 6

Postictal

Question 7

no known cause for seizure

Answer 7

Idiopathic

Question 8

an identifiable cause can be found related to seizures

Answer 8

Symptomatic

Question 9

no alteration or loss of consciousness
begin in and remain confined to localized group or irritative neurons
brief in duration- usually less than a minute

Answer 9

Simple Partial

Question 10

isolated muscle groups
symptoms depend on location in motor strip (precentral gyrus in frontal lobe)
usually rhythmic jerking

Answer 10

Focal motor

Question 11

Give 3 examples of focal motor seizures

Answer 11

Todd’s paralysis
Jacksonian seizure
Adversive seizure

Question 12

postictal paralysis of the extremity affected by focal clonic activity

Answer 12

Todd’s Paralysis

Question 13

“marching” of the rhythmic jerking

Answer 13

Jacksonian Seizure

Question 14

lesion on the superior frontal gyrus (head and eyes turn away from the side of the lesion)

Answer 14

Adversive Seizure

Question 15

symptoms depend on location in sensory strip

Answer 15

Sensory (simple partial)

Question 16

vomiting, flushing, pallor, tachycardia, dizziness

Answer 16

autonomic (simple partial)

Question 17

deja vu, fearful, transient loss of time, place or person

Answer 17

Psychic (simple partial)

Question 18

alteration or loss of consciousness

Answer 18

Complex Partial Seizure

Question 19

non-purposeful actions without patient awareness for which the patient has no recall

Answer 19

Automatism

Question 20

give examples of automatism

Answer 20

lip smacking, chewing, fumbling with clothes, unclear speech, etc.

Question 21

begins with immediate LOC
no aura, increased HR and BP, cyanotic, sweats

Answer 21

Tonic-Clonic (Grand Mal)

Question 22

flexion of extremities followed by generalized muscular tension

Answer 22

Tonic Phase

Question 23

body arched upward

Answer 23

Opisthotonos

Question 24

alteration of muscle contractions and relaxation (rhythmic jerk)

Answer 24

Clonic Phase

Question 25

lasts 5-15 minutes, stupor

Answer 25

Postictal Phase

Question 26

staring spell

Answer 26

Absence (Petit Mal)

Question 27

sudden, brief, single or multiple muscle contractions recurring every few seconds

Answer 27

myoclonic

Question 28

loss of muscle toxicity, no LOC

Answer 28

atonic (drop attacks)

Question 29

brief episodes of increased muscle tone, LOC, activated by NREM

Answer 29

tonic

Question 30

altered consciousness, rapid, bilateral myoclonic jerks, often during NREM sleep

Answer 30

clonic

Question 31

prolonged or clustered seizure, sometimes develop into non-stop seizures

Answer 31

status epilepticus