Neurological Emergencies

Front 1

Absence Seizure

Back 1

The studies that may be characterized by brief lapse of attention in which the patient may state and does not respond.

Hint 1

Formerly known as a petit mal seizure.

Front 2

Aphasia

Back 2

The inability to understand or produce speech.

Front 3

Arterial Rupture

Back 3

The rupture of an artery. Involvement of a cerebral artery may contribute to interruption of cerebral blood flow.

Front 4

Ataxia

Back 4

The inability to perform coordinated motions such as walking.

Front 5

Atherosclerosis

Back 5

A disorder in which cholesterol and calcium build up inside the walls of blood vessels, forming plaque, which eventually leads to partial or complete blockage of blood flow.

Hint 5

A plaque can become a site where blood clots can form, detach, and travel elsewhere in the circulatory system (embolize).

Front 6

Aura

Back 6

Sensations experienced before an attack occurs.

Hint 6

Common in seizures and migraine headaches.

Front 7

Axon

Back 7

A projection from a neuron that makes connections with adjacent cells.

Front 8

Cerebral Embolism

Back 8

Obstruction of a cerebral artery caused by a clot that was formed elsewhere in the body and traveled to the brain.

Front 9

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)

Back 9

Interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in the loss of brain function.

Hint 9

Also referred to as a stroke or brain attack.

Front 10

Clonic Phase

Back 10

Seizure movement marked by repetitive muscle contractions and relaxation in rapid succession.

Front 11

Coma

Back 11

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

Front 12

Complex Partial Seizures

Back 12

The seizures that involve subtle changes in the level of consciousness that may include confusion, reduced alertness, hallucinations, and inability to speak.

Front 13

Decerebrate Posturing

Back 13

A body position in which the patient extends the arms outward and rotates the lower arms in a palms-down manner and points the toes.

Hint 13

Indicates severe brain dysfunction.

Front 14

Decorticate Posturing

Back 14

A body position in which the patient flexes the arms and curls them toward the chest, flexes the wrists, and points his or her toes.

Hint 14

Indicates severe brain dysfunction.

Front 15

Dysarthria

Back 15

The inability to pronounce speech clearly, often due to loss of the nerves or brain cells that control the small muscles in the larynx.

Front 16

Dysphagia

Back 16

Pain, discomfort, or difficulty swallowing.

Front 17

Febrile Seizures

Back 17

The seizures that result from sudden high fever, particularly in children.

Front 18

Hemiparesis

Back 18

Weakness on one side of the body.

Front 19

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Back 19

Occurs as a result of bleeding inside the brain.

Hint 19

One of the two main types of stroke.

Front 20

Herniation

Back 20

A process in which tissue is forced out of its normal position, such as when the brain is forced from the cranial vault, either through the foramen magnum or over the tentorium.

Front 21

Hypoglycemia

Back 21

A condition characterized by a low blood glucose level.

Front 22

Idiopathic

Back 22

Of no known cause.

Front 23

Incontinence

Back 23

Loss of bowel and bladder control.

Hint 23

Can be due to a generalized seizure and to other conditions.

Front 24

Infarcted Cells

Back 24

The cells that due as a result of Los of blood flow.

Front 25

Intracranial Pressure (ICP)

Back 25

The pressure within the cranial vault.

Hint 25

Normally 0-15 mm Hg in adults.

Front 26

Ischemic Cells

Back 26

Cells that receive enough blood after an event, such as a cerebrovascular accident, to stay alive but not enough to function properly.

Front 27

Ischemic Stroke

Back 27

Occurs when blood flow to a particular pay of the brain is cut off by a blockage inside a blood vessel.

Hint 27

One of the two main types of stroke.

Front 28

Myelin

Back 28

A insulating layer, or sheath, made up of fatty substances and protein that form around the nerves.

Front 29

Neurotransmitters

Back 29

The chemicals produced by the body that simulate electrical reactions in adjacent neurons.

Front 30

Partial Seizures

Back 30

The seizures affecting a limited portion of the brain.

Front 31

Postictal State

Back 31

The period following a seizure that lasts between 5-30 minutes, characterized by labored respirations and some degree of altered mental status.

Front 32

Pronation

Back 32

The act of rotating the firearms in a palms down manner.

Front 33

Seizures

Back 33

Episodes often characterized by generalized, uncoordinated muscular activity associated with loss of consciousness.

Hint 33

A convulsion.

Front 34

Simple Partial Seizures

Back 34

The seizures involving movement of one part of the body or altered sensations in one part of the body.

Hint 34

The movement may stay in one part of the body or spread from one part to another in a wave.

Front 35

Status Epilepticus

Back 35

A condiition in which seizures recur every few minutes without a lucid interval or last more than 4-5 minutes.

Front 36

Stroke

Back 36

A loss of brain function in certain brain cells that do not get enough oxygen during a cerebrovascular accident. Usually caused by obstruction of the blood vessels in the brain that feed oxygen to the brain cells.

Front 37

Synapse

Back 37

The gap between nerve cells across which nervous stimuli are transmitted.

Front 38

Syncope

Back 38

The temporary loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by diminished cerebral blood flow.

Front 39

Thrombus

Back 39

In neurological emergencies, the local clotting of blood in the cerebral arteries that may result in the interruption of cerebral blood flow and subsequent stroke.

Front 40

Tonic-clonic Seizures

Back 40

The seizures characterized by severe twitching of all of the body's muscles that may last several minutes or more.

Hint 40

Formerly known as a grand mal seizure.

Front 41

Tonic Phase

Back 41

In a seizure, the stay, rigid muscle contractions with no relaxation.

Front 42

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

Back 42

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

Front 43

Trismus

Back 43

The involuntary contraction of the mouth resulting in clenched teeth.

Hint 43

Occurs during seizures and head injuries.

Front 44

Uremia

Back 44

Severe renal failure resulting in the build-up of waste products within the blood.

Hint 44

Eventually impairs brain function.