Pathophysiology of the Nervous System all Units
Exam Graded A+ LATEST SPRING- SUMMER TERM
WITH RATIONALE
S&S of NS disorders - ANSWER: Sensory disturbances
Motor disturbances
Dementia
Delirium
Asthenia
Dysmetria
Dysdiadochokinesia
Tremor
Agnosia
Apraxia
Alexia
Agraphia
Nystagmus
Dysarthria
Anarthria
Aphasia
Sensory Disturbances: - ANSWER: - Lack of cutaneous sensation, numbness, tingling,
paresthesias or dysesthesias
- Sensory input from the muscles and joints; combined senses
- Specialized senses
Paresthesias: - ANSWER: Burning or prickling sensation
Dysesthesias - ANSWER: Abnormal sensation
Sensory input from muscles and joints combined senses: (sensory disturbances) -
ANSWER: - Loss of feedback position of the joints (proprioception)
- Difficulty maintaining the body in appropriate position for functional mobility
- Movements become ataxic or uncoordinated
Specialized Senses: (sensory disturbances) - ANSWER: - CN VIII (afferent vestibular
information)
- Vision: CN III, CN IV, CN VI
- Hearing loss, auditory hallucinations
Motor Disturbances: - ANSWER: Paralysis
Reflexes (DTRs)
Abnormal tone
Reflexes (DTRs): (motor disturbances) - ANSWER: Hyporeflexia
, Hyperreflexia
Abnormal Tone: (motor disturbances) - ANSWER: - Hypotonia
- Spasticity
- Rigidity (cogwheel, lead pipe)
- Clonus
- Babinski sign
- Dystonia / disordered tone
Dementia: - ANSWER: Progressive, irreversible decline in mental function
- Memory impairment
- Deficits in reasoning, judgement, abstract thought, learning, task execution, use of
language
- Diminished social, occupational, intellectual abilities
- 4.5 million in US; 20-40% of those >85
Delirium: - ANSWER: acute, reversible(?) state of disorientation and confusion
- Drug/alcohol withdrawal, med side effects, infections (sepsis), hypoxia, electrolyte
disturbance, dementia, depression
Asthenia: - ANSWER: Generalized weakness
Dysmetria: - ANSWER: Underestimation or overestimation of a necessary movement
toward a target
- common in cerebellar disorders
- a/w intention tremor
Dysdiadochokinesia: - ANSWER: Inability to perform rapidly alternating movements
- Slow, inconsistent
Tremor: - ANSWER: Involuntary movement of a part of the body resulting from
alternate contractions of opposing muscles
Intention tremor: - ANSWER: Exhibited or intensified when attempting coordinated
movement; diminished or absent at rest
Essential tremor: - ANSWER: Benign tremor, usually of the head, chin, outstretched
hands, occasionally voice
- Worse with anxiety or action
Resting tremor: - ANSWER: Present at rest, but absent or diminished with movement
of that part
- Parkinsonian (pill-rolling) - resting tremor of fingers /hands
Agnosia: - ANSWER: Inability to recognize an object
Finger agnosia: - ANSWER: Inability to recognize one's own finger
Exam Graded A+ LATEST SPRING- SUMMER TERM
WITH RATIONALE
S&S of NS disorders - ANSWER: Sensory disturbances
Motor disturbances
Dementia
Delirium
Asthenia
Dysmetria
Dysdiadochokinesia
Tremor
Agnosia
Apraxia
Alexia
Agraphia
Nystagmus
Dysarthria
Anarthria
Aphasia
Sensory Disturbances: - ANSWER: - Lack of cutaneous sensation, numbness, tingling,
paresthesias or dysesthesias
- Sensory input from the muscles and joints; combined senses
- Specialized senses
Paresthesias: - ANSWER: Burning or prickling sensation
Dysesthesias - ANSWER: Abnormal sensation
Sensory input from muscles and joints combined senses: (sensory disturbances) -
ANSWER: - Loss of feedback position of the joints (proprioception)
- Difficulty maintaining the body in appropriate position for functional mobility
- Movements become ataxic or uncoordinated
Specialized Senses: (sensory disturbances) - ANSWER: - CN VIII (afferent vestibular
information)
- Vision: CN III, CN IV, CN VI
- Hearing loss, auditory hallucinations
Motor Disturbances: - ANSWER: Paralysis
Reflexes (DTRs)
Abnormal tone
Reflexes (DTRs): (motor disturbances) - ANSWER: Hyporeflexia
, Hyperreflexia
Abnormal Tone: (motor disturbances) - ANSWER: - Hypotonia
- Spasticity
- Rigidity (cogwheel, lead pipe)
- Clonus
- Babinski sign
- Dystonia / disordered tone
Dementia: - ANSWER: Progressive, irreversible decline in mental function
- Memory impairment
- Deficits in reasoning, judgement, abstract thought, learning, task execution, use of
language
- Diminished social, occupational, intellectual abilities
- 4.5 million in US; 20-40% of those >85
Delirium: - ANSWER: acute, reversible(?) state of disorientation and confusion
- Drug/alcohol withdrawal, med side effects, infections (sepsis), hypoxia, electrolyte
disturbance, dementia, depression
Asthenia: - ANSWER: Generalized weakness
Dysmetria: - ANSWER: Underestimation or overestimation of a necessary movement
toward a target
- common in cerebellar disorders
- a/w intention tremor
Dysdiadochokinesia: - ANSWER: Inability to perform rapidly alternating movements
- Slow, inconsistent
Tremor: - ANSWER: Involuntary movement of a part of the body resulting from
alternate contractions of opposing muscles
Intention tremor: - ANSWER: Exhibited or intensified when attempting coordinated
movement; diminished or absent at rest
Essential tremor: - ANSWER: Benign tremor, usually of the head, chin, outstretched
hands, occasionally voice
- Worse with anxiety or action
Resting tremor: - ANSWER: Present at rest, but absent or diminished with movement
of that part
- Parkinsonian (pill-rolling) - resting tremor of fingers /hands
Agnosia: - ANSWER: Inability to recognize an object
Finger agnosia: - ANSWER: Inability to recognize one's own finger
