Emergency care in the Streets Ch.18 Neurologic Emergencies

An area in the brain or spinal cord in which cells have been attacked, typically by an infectious agent. The immune system erects a wall to prevent spread of the infection, creating a pus-filled pocket within the nervous system tissue.

Endocrine glands located on top of the kidneys that release adrenalin when stimulated by the sympathetic nervous system.

Nerves that send information to the brain.

Inability to connect an object with its correct name.

A progressive organic condition in which neurons in the brain die, causing dimentia.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig disease, strikes the voluntary motor neurons, causing their death. The disease is characterized by fatigue and general weakness of muscle groups; eventually the patient becomes unable to walk, eat, or speak.

Lack of feeling within a body part.

Unequal pupils with a greater than 1-mm difference

Inability to connect an object with its proper use.

Alteration in the ability to perform coordinated motions like walking.

Sensations experienced before an attack occurs. Common in seizures and migraine headaches.

Evaluation tool used to determine a patient's level of consciousness

The long, slender filament projecting from a nerve cell that conducts impulses to adjacent cells.

A temporary paralysis of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), which controls the muscles on each side of the face.

The slowing down of voluntary body movements. Found in Parkinson disease.

The area of the brain between the spinal cord and the cerebrum, surrounded by the cerebellum. It controls functions that are necessary to sustain life, such as respiration.

The brain and spinal cord

The region of the brain essential in coordinating muscle movement.

A developmental condition in which damage is done to the brain. It presents during infancy as a delay in walking or crawling, and can take on a spastic form in which muscles are in a nearly constant state of contraction.

Type of seizure movement involving the contraction and relaxation of muscle groups.

A state in which a person does not respond to verbal or painful stimuli

Sensory stimulation that can be verified by others.

A protective movement that results in blinking, moving the head posteriorly, and pupillary contraction.

The two identical cells produced when a parent cell divides by mitosis.

Abnormal extension of the arms with rotation of the wrists along with toe pointing. This indicates brainstem damage.

Abnormal flexion of the arms toward the chest with the toes pointed. It indicates lower cerebral damage.

Movement of nerves from one side of the brain to the opposite side of the body.

Thoughts, ideas, or perceived abilities that have no basis in common reality.

The slow, progressive onset of disorientation, shortened attention span, and loss of cognitive function.

The part of the brain that lies between the brainstem and the cerebrum and includes the thalamus and hypothalamus.

Contractions of body into bizarre positions

Nerves that leave the brain through the peripheral nervous system and convey commands to other parts of the body.

A toxin released by some bacteria when they die.

A toxin secreted by living cells to aid in the death and digestion of other cells.

Damage or loss in the ability to speak.

Walking or ambulating.

Evaluation tool used to determine level of consciousness. Effective in determining patient outcomes.

Damage or loss of both the ability to speak and the ability to understand speech.

A rare condition that begins as a sensation of weakness and tingling in the legs, moving to the arms and thorax; the disorder can lead to paralysis within 2 weeks.

Sensory stimulation that cannot be verified by others.

Weakness to one side of the body.

Paralysis to one side of the body

One of the two main types of stroke; occurs as a result of bleeding inside the brain.

Comprising the most inferior portion of the diencephalon, this controls many essential functions, including pulse rate, digestion, sexual development, temperature regulation, hunger, thirst, and the sleep-wake cycle.

Of no known cause.

The number of people in a given population, such as the United States, who are newly diagnosed with a particular disease or disorder in a specified 1-year period.

A tremor that occurs when trying to accomplish a task.

One of the two main types of stroke, sometimes called an occlusive stroke; occurs when blood flow to a particular part of the brain is cut off by a blockage--that is, an occlusion, such as a blood clot--within an artery.

The wave-like movement of a seizure from a point of focus to other areas of the brain.

Structures within the cerebrum and diencephalon that influence emotions, motivation, mood, and sensations of pain and pleasure.

The inferior portion of the midbrain, which serves as a conduction pathway for ascending and descending nerve tracts.

The process by which cells from a malignant neoplasm break away from their site of origin, such as the lung, and move through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other body sites, such as the brain.

The part of the brain responsible for helping to regulate level of consciousness.

An autoimmune condition in which the body attacks the myelin that insulates the brain and spinal cord, causing scarring.

A change in the sequence of cell's DNA that damages the cell's structure or impedes its ability to function.

A condition in which the body generates antibodies against its own acetylcholine receptors, causing muscle weakness, often in the face.

An insulating sheath that envelops certain types of neurons, allowing the cells to transmit electricity along their axons without dissipation of the signal as it moves through surrounding fluids and tissues.

Jerking motions of the body.

A tumor

A chemical produced by the body that stimulates electrical reactions in adjacent neurons.

The rhythmic shaking of the eyes.

Sensation of tingling, numbness, or "pins and needles" in a body part.

A neurologic condition in which the portion of the brain responsible for production of dopamine has been damaged or overused, resulting in tremors.

The part of the nervous system that consists of 31 pairs of spinal nerves and 12 pairs of cranial nerves. These nerves may be sensory, motor, or connecting nerves.

A group of conditions in which the nerves that exit the spinal cord are damaged, distorting signals to or from the brain. One type of this is caused by diabetes; peripheral nerves are damaged as the blood glucose level rises, resulting in lack of sensation, numbness, burning, pain, paresthesia, and muscle weakness.

The gland that secretes hormones that regulate the function of many other glands in the body; also called the hypophysis.

A viral infection that attacks and destroys nerve axons, especially motor axons. The disease can cause weakness, paralysis, and respiratory arrest.  Because an effective vaccine has been developed, the incidence of the disease is now rare.

The portion of the brainstem that lies below the midbrain and contains nerve fibers that affect sleep and respiration.

The period of time after a seizure in which the brain is reorganizing activity.

The death of nerve fibers as a late consequence of polio; the syndrome is characterized by swallowing difficulties, weakness, fatigue, and breathing problems.

A tremor that occurs as the person holds a body part still.

Abnormal body positioning that indicates damage to the brain.

The total number of people in a given population who have a particular disease.

The early signs and symptoms that occur before a disease or condition fully appears, eg, dizziness before fainting.

Turning of the lower arms in a palm downward manner.

Breaking with common reality and existing mainly within an internal world.

Prolapse of a body part; often refers to drooping of the eyelid.

Damage to or loss of the ability to understand speech

A tremor that occurs when the body part is not in motion.

Stiffness or hardness (in motion). Found in patients with Parkinson disease.

A development anomaly in which a portion of the spinal cord or meninges protrudes outside the spinal column or even outside the body, usually in the area of the lumbar spine (the lower third of the spine).

A condition in which seizures recur every few minutes, or in which seizure activity lasts more than 30 minutes.

A small notch located on the frontal bone near the inner, upper area of each orbit.

Gaps between nerve cells, across which nervous stimuli are transmitted.

A fainting spell or transient loss of consciousness.

A type of seizure movement involving the constant contraction and trembling of muscle groups.

A disorder in which brain cells temporarily stop working because of insufficient oxygen, causing stroke-like symptoms that resolve completely within 24 hours of onset.

Fine involuntary, rhythmic movements, usually involving the hands or head.

The involuntary contraction of the mouth resulting in clenched teeth. Occurs during seizures and head injuries.

Severe renal failure resulting in the buildup of waste products within the blood. Eventually brain functions will be impaired.