| A | B |
|---|
| Afferent | nerve fibers that transmit impulses from the periphery toward the CNS |
| Agnosia | loss of the ability to recognize familiar objects or persons due to brain damage |
| Agraphia | loss of ability to write |
| Aneurysm | a localized dilatation of the wall of a blood vessel (usually caused by atherosclerosis and HTN, trauma, infection, congenital) |
| Anomia | inability to name objects cause by a lesion in the temporal lobe of the brain, a form of aphasia |
| Aphasia | absent or defective language function due to injury to cerebral cortex. can be sensory or receptive, complete or partial (head trauma, CVA) |
| Apraxia | inability to carry out learned cerebrum movements despite being able and wanting to |
| Ataxia | impaired ability to coordinate movement, often characterized by a staggering gait and postural imbalance |
| Aura | a sensation, as of light, warmth or emotion that may precede an attack of migraine, or an epileptic seizure |
| Autonomic Dysreflexia | a syndrome affecting persons with a spinal cord lesion above the mid thoracic level that is characterized by hypertension, bradycardia, severe headache, pallor below and blushing above the cord lesions, diaphoresis and convulsions. The sympathetic and parasympathic are active simultaneously, Occurs in quadriplegics and some paraplegics. |
| Axon | cylindric extension of a nerve cell that conducts impulses away from the neuron cell body bare or sheathed in myelin |
| Babinski reflex | dorsiflexion of the big toe with extension and fanning of the other toes elicited by stroking the lateral aspect of the sole of the foot. normal infants. abnormal children and adults. May indicate lesion in the pyramidal tract or other neurological insult |
| Basal ganglia | the islands of gray matter, largely composed of cell bodies, within each cerebral hemisphere (voluntary movement, learn, eye movement, cognition, emotion) |
| Berry aneurysm | a small saccular dilation of the wall of a cerebral artery. Occurs most frequently at the junctures of vessels in the circle of Willis. May be result of congenital development defect and may rupture without warning causing intracranial hemorrhage |
| Brachytherapy | placement of radioactive sources in contact with or implanted into the tissues to be treated (form of cancer treatment) |
| Bradykinesia | slowness of all voluntary movement and speech. caused by Parkinsons, tranquilizers |
| Brudzinski's sign | involuntary flexion of the arm, hip and knee when the neck is passively flexed. seen in meningitis |
| Carotid endarterectomy | surgical removal of the internal lining of an artery (carotid location) that clears the artery of plaque |
| Choroid plexus | any one of tangled masses of tiny blood vessels contained within the third, lateral and 4th ventricles of the brain |
| Circle of Willis | vascular network at the base of the brain formed by the interconnection of internal carotid, anterior cerebral, posterior cerebral, anterior communicating and posterior communicating artery |
| Decerebrate | position of comatose patient, arms extended and internally rotated and legs extended with feet in plantar flexion. Means compression on brainstem with brain stem damage. Equals a score of 2 on t he Glascow Coma Scale and is worse than decorticate |
| Decorticate | position of comatose patient in which upper extremities are rigidly flexed at the elbows and the wrists. Legs may also be flexed. Lesion in a mesencephalic region of the brain. Produced when apply painful stimuli to a comatose pt. Score of 3 on Glascow Coma Scale |
| Deep brain stimulation (DBS) | patient controlled, continuous, high-frequency electrical stimulation of a specific area of the brain by means of an implanted electrode located just below the clavicle. It blocks signals from the brain causing tremors |
| Demyelination | the process of destruction or removal of the myelin sheath from a nerve or nerve fiber |
| Dendrites | branching process that extends from cell body of a neuron |
| Digital subtraction angiogram | allows boney structures to be gone from a picture. Computerized fluoroscopy gives good view of arteries especially carotid and central. MRA has taken its place |
| Diplopia | double vision |
| 'Doll's eyes' | normal response in newborns to keep the eyes stationary as the head is moved to the right or left. This reflex disappears as ocular fixation develops. Also evaluated in comatose children for assessment of cranial nerve function (III and VI) |
| Dorsal root | the sensory component or posterior root of a spinal nerve attached centrally to spinal cord |
| Dysarthria | motor speech disorder caused from a neurological injury (slur words) |
| Dysphagia | difficulty swallowing |
| Dystonic reaction | excessive increase in muscle tone often results in postural abnormalities |
| Efferent | nerve that transmits impulses away or outward from a nerve center such as brain or spinal cord. Usually results in muscle contraction, release glandular sensation |
| Encephalopathy | any abnormal condition of the structure or function of the brain |
| Epidural hematoma | accumulation of blood in the epidural space, caused by damage to and leakage of blood from the middle meningeal artery, producing compression of the dura mater and thus the brain |
| Expressive aphasia | motor aphasia- result of stroke. inability to utter remembered words |
| Flaccid | weak, soft, and flabby; lacking normal muscle tone. associated with peripheral neuritis, poliomyelitis, and early stroke |
| Glascow Coma scale | level of consciousness measurement. helps predict duration outcome of coma especially head injuries. eyes open, verbal response, motor response. No impairment 14-15, coma 7, brain dead 3. |
| Guillian-Barre syndrome | rare syndrome where immune system attacks the nerves. May occur 1 to 3 weeks after a mild episode of fever associated with a viral infection or immunization. Ascending paralysis |
| Hemianopia | blindness is one half of the visual field |
| Hemiparesis | muscular weakness of half the body- right arm and right leg weak |
| Hemiplegia | paralysis of one side of the body |
| Hyperreflexia | increased reflex reactions |
| Iatrogenic | condition that is caused by medical personnel or procedures or develops through exposure to the environment of a health care facility |
| Jacksonian seizure | focal symptoms, spasmodic movements in the hand, face or foot that spread and end in generalized convulsion. |
| Kernig's sign | diagnostic sign for meningitis. Inability of seated or supine patient to completely extend the legs when the thigh is flexed on the abdomen. |
| Mannitol | osmotic diuretic medication that decreases intracranial pressure |
| Myelin | a substance constituting the sheaths of various nerve fibers. Made of mostly fat- is a white creamy color |
| Neurotransmitter | chemicals that modify or result in the transmission of nerve impulses between synapses. acetycholine, norepinephrine |
| Nuchal rigidity | a resistance to flexion of the neck (meningitis) |
| Nystagmus | involuntary, rhythmic eye movements |
| Otorrhea | discharge from the external ear. Clear, serum thin, blood purulent or contain CSF |
| Papilledema | swelling of the optic disc caused by increased intracranial pressure |
| Paraplegia | paralysis (motor and sensory loss) in the lower limbs and trunk |
| Parasympathetic | division of the autonomic nervous system. Rest or Digest. P=Peace. Decreased pulse, BP, and hormones. |
| Paresis | motor weakness or partial paralysis |
| Perserveration | involuntary persistence of the same verbal or motor response |
| Postictal period | period after a convulsion |
| Proprioception | knowing where things are around you in relation to space. Can put thumb up or down with eyes closed. |
| Ptosis | one or both upper eyelids droop. congenital or paralysis of third cranial nerve |
| Quadraplegia | paralysis of arms, legs and trunk injury to spinal cord C1 to C8 above first thoracic. = tetraplegia Injury |
| Receptive aphasia | Werniche's aphasia- a form of sensory aphasia marked by impaired comprehension of language |
| Spastic | uncontrollable contraction of the skeletal muscles |
| Stroke | Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) abnormal condition of the brain characterized by occlusion by an embolus, thrombus resulting in ischemia of the brain tissues normally perfused by the damaged vessels. Brain attack |
| Supratentorial | supratentiorial shifting of brain due to increased intracranial pressure |
| Sympathetic | division of the autonomic nervous system. Fight or Flight. S=Stress. Increase in pulse, BP, and gland secretion. Pupils dilate. |
| Synapse | space between 2 neurons or a neuron and effector organ which nerve impulses are transmitted through the action of a neurotransmitter |
| TIA (Transient ischemic attack) | mini stroke. Associated with partial occlusion of an artery. Brief attack lasts a few minutes |
| Tinnitis | ringing in the ears; one or both. cause could injury to nerve in ear |
| Uncal | herniation- medial portion of temporal lobe protrudes over tentorial edges due to elevated ICP. Causes pressure on the brainstem- dilated pupil on one side |
| Unilateral neglect | after stroke inability of a person to process and perceive stimuli on one side of the body |
| RIND | reversible ischemic neuro deficit |
| Pulse pressure | difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Widens with increased intracranial pressure (ICP) |
| Lethary | state of dullness, prolonged sleepiness, sluggishness, nay be seen after a seizure |
