Chapter 8 pt. 3

protrusion of a degenerate or fragmented intervertebral disk so that the nucleus pulposus protrudes, causing compression on the nerve root

viral disease affecting the peripheral nerves, characterized by painful blisters that spread over the skin following the affected nerves, usually unilateral; also known as shingles

hereditary disease of the central nervous system characterized by bizarre, involuntary body movements and progressive dementia

abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain as a result of developmental anomalies, infection, injury, or tumor

benign tumor of the coverings of the brain (the meninges)

inflammation of the meninges

paroxysmal (sudden, periodic) attacks of mostly unilateral headache, often accompanied by disordered vision, nausea, or vomiting, lasting hours or days and caused by dilation of arteries

disease of the central nervous system characterized by the demyelination (deterioration of the myelin sheath) of nerve fibers, with episodes of neurologic dysfunction (exacerbation) followed by recovery (remission)

autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction, causing a progressive decrease in muscle strength; activity resumes and strength returns after a period of rest

inflammation of the spinal cord

sleep disorder characterized by a sudden, uncontrollable need to sleep, attacks of paralysis (cataplexy), and dreams intruding while awake (hypnagogic hallucinations)

congenital deformities of the brain and spinal cord caused by incomplete development of the neural tube , the embryonic structure that forms the nervous system

defect in closure of the cephalic portion of the neural tube that results in incomplete development of the brain and bones of the skull; the most drastic neural tube defect usually results in a stillbirth

defect in development of the spinal column characterized by the absence of vertebral arches, often resulting in pouching of the meninges (meningocele) or of the meninges and spinal cord (meningomyelocele); considered to be the most common neural tube defect

condition of slowly progressive degeneration in an area of the brainstem (substantia nigra) resulting in a decrease of dopamine (a chemical neurotransmitter necessary for proper movement); characterized by tremor, rigidity of muscles, and slow movements (bradykinesia); usually occurs later in life

paralysis

paralysis on one side of the body

paralysis from the waist down

paralysis of all four limbs

inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord caused by a virus, often resulting in spinal and muscle deformity and paralysis

inflammation involving two or more nerves, often caused by a nutritional deficiency, such as lack of thiamine

periods of breathing cessation that occur during sleep, often causing snoring

diagnostic procedures used to evaluate the function of the nervous system by recording the electrical signals produced in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves

record of the minute electrical impulses of the brain; sued to identify neurologic conditions that affect brain function and level of consciousness

record of minute electrical potentials (waves) that are extracted from ongoing EEG activity to diagnose auditory, visual, and sensory pathway disorders; also used to monitor the neurologic function of patients during surgery

recording of various aspects of sleep to diagnose sleep disorders

introduction of a specialized needle into the spine in the lumbar region for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, such as to obtain CSF for testing; also called spinal tap

magnetic resonance image of the head to visualize the vessels of the circle of Willis (common site of cerebral aneurysm, stenosis, or occlusion)

magnetic resonance image of the neck to visualize the carotid artery

scan combining nuclear medicine and computed tomography to produce images of the brain after the administration of radioactive isotopes

technique combining nuclear medicine and computed tomography to produce images of brain anatomy and corresponding physiology; sued to study stroke, Alzheimer disease, epilepsy, metabolic brain disorders, chemistry of nerve transmissions in the brain, and so on; provides greater accuracy than SPECT, but is used less often because of cost and limited availability of the radioisotopes

x-ray of blood vessels in the brain after intracarotid injection of contrast medium

computed tomography images of the head used to visualize abnormalities, such as brain tumors and malformations

x-ray of the spinal cord obtained after intraspinal injection of contrast medium

test performed to observe the body's response to a stimulus

involuntary muscle contraction after percussion at a tendon indicating function; positive findings are either no reflex response or an exaggerated response to stimulus; numbers are often used to record responses

pathologic response to stimulation of the plantar surface of the foot; a positive sign is indicated when the toes dorsiflex (curl upward)

image made by sending ultrasound beams through the skull to assess blood flow in intracranial vessles; used in the diagnosis and management of stroke and head trauma

incision and coring of the lining of the carotid artery to clear a blockage caused by the buildup of atherosclerosis plaque or a clot; an open procedure used to treat patients who are at risk for stroke

excision of part of the skull to approach the brain

incision into the skull to approach the brain

removal of a herniated disk; often done percutaneously

minimally invasive techniques for diagnosis and treatment of disorders within blood vessels of the neck, brain, and spinal cord using specialized catheters inserted percutaneously into the femoral artery (in the groin) and guided by angiographic imaging to the treatment site; performed in a specialized angiographic laboratory by interventional neuroradiologists

excision of one or more laminae of the vertebrae to approach the spinal cord

flatten posterior portion of the vertebral arch

use of a microscope to dissect minute structures during surgery

surgical repair of a nerver

spinal fusion

treatment of malignancies, infections, and other diseases with chemical agents to destroy selected cells or impair their ability to reproduce

treatment of neoplastic disease using ionizing radiation to impede the proliferation of malignant cells