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neuro Exam #1

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Question
Answer
aneurysm   abnormal widening or ballooning of a portion of an artery due to weakness in the wall of the blood vessel  
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Babinski reflex   positive (abnormal) Babinski reflex is dorsiflexion of the big toe and fanning of the other toes when a pen is run firmly up the sole of the foot  
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gaze preference   only moves eyes in one direction  
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corneal reflex   blink when something lightly touches the cornea  
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consensual reflex   reaction of both pupils when only one pupil is exposed to a change  
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delirium   transient loss of intellectual function, usually due to systemic problems  
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doll's eyes   Eyes remain fixed when head is turned side to side.  
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dysconjugate   eyes don't move together. could be cross-eyed or lazy eye  
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flaccid   lacking muscle tone, limp, floppy  
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foramen magnum   hole at the base of the skull through which the spinal cord exits  
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hemiplegia   paralysis of one side of the body  
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hemianopsia   loss of vision in one half of the visual field  
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neuralgia   sharp shocking pain that follows the path of a nerve due to damage or irritation to the nerve  
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nuchal rigidity   stiffness of the neck, often seen in patients with meningitis  
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nystagmus   involuntary shaking type of movement of the eyeballs. May be seen with MS, cerebellar CVA and with some drugs  
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obtunded   dulled response. May be confused once aroused.  
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otorrhea   discharge from the ear  
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paraplegia   paralysis of the lower extremities  
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quadriplegia   paralysis of all four extremities  
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rhinorrhea   discharge from the nose  
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spasticity   sustained increase in tension of a muscle when it is passively lengthened or stretched  
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stupor   generally unresponsive state. May be aroused by repeated stimuli but incoherent. Moves spontaneously.  
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neurogenic bladder   bladder dysfunction that results from a disorder or dysfunction of the nervous system; may result in urinary retention or bladder overactivity  
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decorticate posture   for a coma patient, arms contract over core of body after painful stimulus  
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decerebrate   for a coma patient, arms extend and externally rotate after painful stimulus  
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skull fracture   crack or break in one of the bones of the cranium  
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cerebral edema   swelling. abnormal accumulation of water of fluid in the intracellular spaces, extracellular spaces, or both  
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cerebral bleeding   bleeding within the brain itself  
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concussion   temporary loss of neurological function  
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contusion   bruising of the brain accompanied by small, diffuse venous hemorrhages.  
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spinal cord injury   damage or severing of the spinal cord, resulting in loss of function to areas below the point of injury  
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carotid endarterectomy   surgical procedure used to prevent stroke, corrects stenosis in the carotid artery  
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subdural hematoma   most common complication of head injury. Bleeding is usually venous in origin.  
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epidural hematoma   caused by a meningeal artery rupturing between the dura and the cranium after a blow to the head  
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ventricular shunting   used when the flow of CSF becomes obstructed. A synthetic tube is placed into the brain ventricles, tunneled under the skin from the scalp to the abdomen and inserted into the peritoneum to drain.  
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tentorial herniation   pushing of the brain downward through the tentorial notch. Can compress the brain stem and the third cranial nerve  
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subarachnoid hemmorhage   bleeding in the subarachnoid space  
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benign brain tumor   noncancerous, about 50%  
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malignant brain tumor   cancerous, about 50%. 10-15% of all malignant disease.  
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Ativan (lorazepam)   Sedative. May help control restlessness and agitation.  
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Decadron (dexamethasone)   Corticosteroid. Decreases inflammation within brain tissue. Reduces vasogenic edema caused by brain tumors, craniocerebral trauma, abscesses, infarctions and hemorrhage.  
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Dilantin (phenytoin)   Antiseizure drug. Doesn't decrease ICP, but does prevent seizures. Seizures can decrease PaO2 and increase Co2 which results in cerebral vasodilation and edema.  
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Lasix (furosemide)   Loop diuretic. Reduces overall body water.  
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Mannitol (osmitrol)   osmotic diuretic. Elevates osmolarity of blood plasma and increases water flow from tissue to plasma. Fluid is eliminated via kidneys.  
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Zantac (ranitidine)   To treat gastric ulcers caused by steroids.  
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Gliomas   arise from brain cells and spinal cord cells. 60% of all primary tumors. Difficult to remove and rarely curable.  
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Meningiomas   Arise from the meninges. Slow growing and benign.  
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Acoustic Neuromas   Arises from cranial nerves. Slow growing, bening. Compress trigeminal and facia nerves. Removed surgically through the hear and cause deafness.  
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Pituitary tumors   10% of brain tumors. Can be hormone secreting tumors. Treated with transphenoidal microsurgery.  
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Interventions that decrease ICP   elevate HOB 30-45 deg. Avoid flexion of head and neck. Log roll to turn. Monitor ABG, keep PaCO2 slightly low (hyperventilate). Manage constipation. Discourage coughing. Restrict fluids. Monitor ICP. Diuretics, corticosteroids. Limit activity.  
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Primary intracranial tumor   originates in the brain  
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Secondary intracranial tumor   originates elsewhere in the body, metastisizes to the brain from another area.  
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Types of skull fractures   linear, depressed, basilar, comminuted  
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spinal shock   total sensory and motor loss and loss of all reflexes for a period of 24 hours - several weeks following a spinal injury. Reflexes return gradually. Severity of the injury determines whether damage is permanent.  
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cranial volumes   78% intracellular and extracellular fluids 12% arterial, venous and capillary network 10% CSF  
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Normal ICP   0 to 15 mmHg  
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Increased ICP   due to increase in CSF pressure or increased pressure within the brain matter because of lesions, tumors or traumatic injury  
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Factors that influence ICP/CBF   systemic BP, metabolic demands (ie, exercise), intracranial pressure, blood viscosity, pH, PaCO2, hypoxemia, posture/positioning  
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Autoregulation   ability of the cerebrovascular system to regulate itself in response to varying pressures and metabolic needs of the brain. Includes arterial pressure, venous pressure, intrathoracic/intra-abdominal pressure, temperature  
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Arterioles dilate to increase cerebral blood flow   metabolic needs of the brain increase; systemic blood pressure decreases (shunting); ICP increases  
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arterioles constrict to decrease cerebral blood flow   metabolic needs of the brain decrease; systemic blood pressure increases  
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Effect of blood viscosity on CBF   arterioles dilate when blood viscosity increases; arterioles construct when blood viscosity decreases  
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How CO2 affects CBF   Hypercapnia causes arterioles to dilate. Hypocapnia causes arterioles to constrict. Effect is dependent on changes in pH.  
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How position and posturing affects ICP   increased venous congestion can increase ICP; extreme hip flexion increases intra-abdominal pressures which can ultimately increase ICP; neutral neck alignment and elevated HOB promotes venous drainage  
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Situations where ICP temporarily increases   coughing, sneezing, straining to move the bowels, etc.  
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Physiologic response to ICP   1) CSF system - can increase absorption of CSF and displace into subarachnoid space; 2) Cerebrovascular system - veins collapse, arterioles constrict; 3) Paremchyma - dura can compress slightly to handle additional pressure  
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Cascade of events related to ICP   ICP increases -> blood flow decreases -> tissue hypoxia/decrease in pH/increase in CO2 -> cerebral vasodilation from too much CO2 -> edema -> greater increase in ICP  
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Causes of increased ICP   CNS trauma, hemorrhage, infection, hypoxemia/ischemia of tissues, hydrocephalus, space occupying lesions  
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Signs and symptoms of ICP   decreased LOC, changes in behavior, vomiting, headache, neuro defecits, seizures, change in pupil size/reaction, rising systolic BP, respiratory changes, slowing pulse  
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Cushing's triad   bradycardia, rising systolic BP, dypnea  
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drugs that decrease ICP   osmotic diuretics, loop diuretics, corticosteroids, antiseizure medications, barbiturates, neuromuscular blocking agents, sedatives, calcium channel blockers  
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complications related to intracranial tumors   cerebral edema, cerebral blood vessel compression, ruptured blood vessels, seizures (33%), hydrocephalus, severe fluid and electrolyte imbalances  
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how tumors are classified   malignant or benign, then location, then origin  
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open head injury   skull fracture that exposes the dura to the outside  
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closed head injury   no open wound, integrity of the skull is not violated  
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linear skull fracture   crack in one of the bones of the cranium, no bone movement involved  
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basilar skull fracture   fracture at the base of the skull. Hallmark signs include rhinorrhea, otorrhea, raccoon eyes, redness  
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depressed skull fracture   bones of the skull forcefully displaced downward and are embedded into the brain tissue  
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Comminuted skull fracture   multiple fractures, fragmentation of bone tissue  
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compound skull fracture   bone break that also pierces the skin and allows contaminants to reach the brain  
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signs of dural tear or CSF leak   rhinorrhea, otorrhea, "halo" sign with blood tinged discharge, post-nasal drip of CSF  
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tests to determine whether leakage is CSF   "halo" sign, glucose test (present in CSF), beta 2 interferon test (more accurate)  
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Diffuse axonal injury   widespread shearing and rotations forces axonal damage throughout the brain tissue. Prolonged coma, poor prognosis.  
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coup-contra-coupe pattern   brain hits the skull, then recoils and hits the opposite side.  
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Craniotomy   surgical procedure that involves entry into the skull  
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causes of spinal cord injuries   diving, MVA, GSW, falls  
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Complete vs. incomplete   complete - severing of the cord, total loss of function below the level of injury; incomplete - damage to the cord, may allow some function or movement below the level of the injury  
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primary spinal cord injury   initial insult or trauma  
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secondary spinal cord injury   results from metabolic and cellular events that occur due to the primary injury that lead to spinal cord ischemia. If treated within 4-6 hours, usually reversible.  
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semicomatose   state in which one does not move spontaneously. Unresponsive, though painful stimuli might result in stirring or moaning without arousal  
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comatose   state in which one has no verbal or motor response to any sort of stimuli  
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receptive aphasia   inability to understand speech  
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expressive aphasia   inability to speak and form words  
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Glasgow coma scale   Measures eye movement, verbal response, motor response. Scale is 3-15, the lower the number the greater the impairment  
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Cushing's response   increase in arterial pressure that results from increased ICP. Results in hypertension, bradycardia and bradypnea.  
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burr holes   holes drilled into the skull to allow for removal of hematoma or abscess, or accessing the brain  
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neurogenic shock   complication of spinal cord injury caused when there is loss of ANS function below the level of injury.  
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