Patho > test 4 > Flashcards

test 4 Flashcards

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1
Q

What are degenerative disorders of the spine?

A

Degeneration of spinal joints (facets) due to continuous vertical compression (axial loading).

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2
Q

What mechanism disrupts lumbar disk cartilage?

A

Continuous vertical compression disrupts the normal building & maintenance of lumbar disk cartilage.

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3
Q

What are the causes of degenerative disorders of the spine?

A

Genetic and environmental factors.

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4
Q

What is spondylolysis?

A

Defect or stress fracture of the pars interarticularis. Common in athletes with repetitive hyperextension of the spine.

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5
Q

What is spondylolisthesis?

A

Forward slipping of a vertebra over the one below it, often due to weakened bone from spondylolysis.

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6
Q

What is spinal stenosis?

A

Narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses the spinal cord or nerves, causing pain, numbness, and weakness.

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7
Q

What is degenerative disc disease (DDD)?

A

Breakdown of intervertebral discs leading to loss of disc height, causing pain and nerve compression.

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8
Q

What is lower back pain?

A

Pain between lower ribs & gluteal muscles, may radiate to thighs. Most cases are idiopathic.

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9
Q

What are the treatment options for lower back pain?

A

Anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, narcotics, massage, chiropractic.

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10
Q

What is a herniated intervertebral disc?

A

Displacement of the nucleus pulposus or annulus fibrosus beyond the disc space.

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11
Q

What causes a herniated intervertebral disc?

A

A tear in the ligament/posterior capsule leading to nucleus extrusion and nerve root compression.

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12
Q

What are common sites for herniated discs?

A

L4-L5 and L5-S1.

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13
Q

What is an ischemic stroke?

A

Blockage of arterial blood flow to the brain.

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14
Q

What causes ischemic strokes?

A

Thrombus, embolus, or hypoperfusion.

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15
Q

What is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?

A

A mini stroke lasting ≤1 hour, serving as a warning sign for a bigger stroke.

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16
Q

What are the symptoms of a TIA?

A

Weakness, numbness, sudden confusion, loss of balance, sudden severe headache.

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17
Q

What is a thrombotic stroke?

A

A stroke caused by a clot forming in a brain artery, often due to atherosclerosis.

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18
Q

What is an embolic stroke?

A

A stroke caused by clot fragments that travel to the brain, commonly from the heart.

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19
Q

What is a lacunar stroke?

A

Blockage of a single deep perforating artery supplying small brain regions, causing pure motor or sensory deficits.

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20
Q

What is a hemodynamic stroke?

A

A stroke due to global decreased blood flow to the brain.

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21
Q

What are the symptoms of a hemorrhagic stroke?

A

Sudden severe headache, vomiting, loss of consciousness, neck stiffness, seizure.

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22
Q

What is an intracranial aneurysm?

A

A weak area in a brain artery wall that dilates or bulges.

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23
Q

What are the types of intracranial aneurysms?

A

Saccular (berry) and fusiform (giant).

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24
Q

What is a subarachnoid hemorrhage?

A

Bleeding from a ruptured vessel into the subarachnoid space, raising intracranial pressure.

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25
What are classic symptoms of a subarachnoid hemorrhage?
Sudden 'worst headache of life', neck stiffness, photophobia, nausea, vomiting.
26
What is an epidural hemorrhage?
Bleeding between the skull and dura mater, characterized by a history of head trauma.
27
What are the classic symptoms of an epidural hemorrhage?
Initial loss of consciousness, lucid interval, severe headache, confusion, signs of increased ICP.
28
What is a migraine?
Lasts 4-72 hrs. Types: With aura, without aura, chronic. ## Footnote Phases: Premonitory aura → headache → recovery. Cause: Genetic and environmental.
29
What are the treatments for migraines?
CGRP antagonists ('-zumab/umab'), triptans.
30
What is a cluster headache?
Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. Severe, stabbing, unilateral, may switch sides. More common in men.
31
What are the treatments for cluster headaches?
Avoid triggers, sumatriptan, inhaled ergotamine.
32
What is a tension-type headache?
Most common. Bilateral, feels like tight band. Episodic or chronic.
33
What are the treatments for tension-type headaches?
Ice, NSAIDs, tricyclics, Botox.
34
What is a sinus headache?
Types: Acute, subacute, recurrent acute, chronic. Causes: Viruses mainly, also allergens, irritants, bacteria, fungi.
35
What is meningitis?
Inflammation of meninges (brain or spinal cord). Symptoms: Neck stiffness, chin to chest.
36
What are the causes of meningitis?
Bacterial (Neisseria, Pneumococci. Droplet spread), Virus, parasite, toxin.
37
What is the treatment for meningitis?
Antibiotics, vaccines.
38
What is encephalitis?
An acute febrile illness involving inflammation of the brain, typically with nervous system involvement. Usually viral in origin.
39
What are the causes of encephalitis?
Arboviruses (transmitted via mosquito, tick, or fly bites), Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1), complications of systemic viral infections (e.g., measles, mumps, rubella).
40
What are the symptoms of encephalitis?
Fever, headache, altered mental status, seizures, neurological deficits.
41
What is the treatment for encephalitis?
Antiviral agents (e.g., Acyclovir for HSV), steroids to reduce inflammation, antibiotics sometimes given empirically.
42
What is a brain or spinal cord abscess?
Localized collections of pus within the parenchyma of the brain or spinal cord due to infection. Very rare condition.
43
What are the classifications of brain or spinal cord abscesses?
Epidural, Subdural, Intracerebral.
44
What are the risk factors for brain or spinal cord abscesses?
IV drug users, immunocompromised individuals.
45
What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?
A chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disease characterized by degeneration of CNS myelin, scarring (sclerosis), and loss of axons.
46
What is the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis?
Immune-mediated demyelination → slowed or blocked nerve transmission → neurologic deficits. Affects brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.
47
What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)?
A rare demyelinating disorder caused by a humoral and cell-mediated immunologic reaction directed at peripheral nerves.
48
What is the cause of Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
Often a complication of a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection.
49
What is the treatment for Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
IV immunoglobulin (IVIG), plasmapheresis, aggressive rehabilitation.
50
What is the prognosis for Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
Recovery can take weeks to 2 years.
51
What is spina bifida?
A neural tube defect where vertebrae fail to close, causing protrusion of spine from opening.
52
What are the types of spina bifida?
Anencephaly, Encephalocele, Meningocele, Myelomeningocele.
53
What is a complication of spina bifida?
Tethered cord syndrome.
54
What are encephalopathies?
Cerebral Palsy: A movement, muscle tone, or posture disorder caused by injury or abnormal brain development during fetal or early infancy stage.
55
What is myasthenia gravis?
Neuromuscular junction disorder. An acquired chronic autoimmune disease. Antibodies attack acetylcholine receptors at the postsynaptic membrane.
56
What are the complications of myasthenia gravis?
Myasthenic crisis, cholinergic crisis.
57
What is the treatment for myasthenia gravis?
Anticholinesterase drugs, steroids, immunosuppressants, thymectomy.
58
What is Parkinson's disease?
Complex motor disorder + systemic non-motor & neuro symptoms.
59
What is Bell's palsy?
Most common peripheral paralysis of cranial nerve VII. Symptoms: Weakness of one side of the face. Recovery: Usually spontaneous.
60
What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)?
Sporadic motor neuron disease progressive muscle weakness. Affects upper & lower motor neurons.
61
What is the treatment for ALS?
Riluzole (Rilutek) - antiglutamate.
62
What is agnosia?
Failure to recognize the form/nature of objects. May be tactile, visual, or auditory - usually affects one sense only.
63
What is dysphasia/aphasia?
Dysphasia: Impaired language comprehension or production → poor communication. Aphasia: More severe form; inability to communicate using language.
64
What are acute confusional states & delirium?
Transient awareness disorders, sudden or gradual onset. Note: Not the same as dementia.
65
What is dementia?
Acquired deterioration & progressive failure of cerebral functions, affecting memory, judgment, decision making, orientation, language. No cure.
66
What are the causes of dementia?
Environmental, genetic, or CNS infections.
67
What is Alzheimer's disease?
Neuritic plaques: Clusters in the brain that contain a core of amyloid beta protein. Neurofibrillary tangles: Insoluble twisted fibers inside neurons, formed when tau proteins detach and clump together.
68
What is the degeneration associated with Alzheimer's disease?
Degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons leads to loss of acetylcholine, which is vital for memory and learning.
69
What is a Grand mal seizure?
A seizure with loss of consciousness, body stiffening (tonic), then jerking movements (clonic).
70
What is a Petit mal seizure?
Brief loss of awareness, often with staring, no convulsions - common in kids.
71
What characterizes a Simple partial seizure?
Seizure with localized motor, sensory, or autonomic signs, no loss of consciousness.
72
What is a Complex partial seizure?
Seizure with impaired consciousness, may include automatisms (lip smacking, repetitive movements).
73
What is the preictal phase?
Period before a seizure.
74
What is a prodroma?
Early manifestation before a seizure.
75
What is an aura?
Sensory warning sign before a seizure.
76
What does ictal refer to?
The actual seizure event.
77
What is the tonic/hypertonic phase?
The rigid phase of a seizure.
78
What are clonic/myoclonic movements?
Jerking movements during a seizure.
79
What is the postictal phase?
The period after a seizure.
80
What is automatism in seizures?
Involuntary movements during a seizure.
81
What are common causes of seizure disorders?
Space occupying lesions, scar tissue, metabolic issues, toxins, overdose, withdrawal, pyrexia, congenital, idiopathic.
82
What defines epilepsy?
Recurrent seizures with no correctable cause.
83
What is status epilepticus?
Continuous seizures > 5 min, or rapid succession with incomplete recovery, or single seizure lasting 30 min.
84
What are common anti-epileptic treatments?
Phenytoin, Gabapentin, Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine, Levetiracetam.
85
What are psychogenic non-epileptic seizures?
Seizures that mimic epilepsy but are psychological in origin.
86
What are the features of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures?
No postictal phase, out-of-phase shaking, pelvic thrusting, side-to-side head shaking, eye closure (resist opening), easily roused.
87
What is increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
Raised pressure inside the skull, caused by increased brain tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
88
What are classic signs and symptoms of increased ICP?
Headache, nausea & vomiting, altered level of consciousness, papilledema, pupil changes.
89
What is Cushing's triad?
Widened pulse pressure, bradycardia, irregular respirations (late sign).
90
What is cerebral edema?
Fluid accumulation in brain tissue.
91
What are the causes of increased ICP?
Trauma, infection, hemorrhage, tumor, ischemia, infarction, hypoxia.
92
What are the types of cerebral edema?
Vasogenic, cytotoxic, interstitial.
93
What is hydrocephalus?
Abnormal accumulation of excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the cerebral ventricles or subarachnoid space.
94
What is strabismus?
One eye deviates from the other when looking at an object.
95
What is nystagmus?
Involuntary, unilateral or bilateral rhythmic eye motion.
96
What is amblyopia?
Lazy eye - reduced vision due to the brain blocking input from one eye.
97
What is diplopia?
Double vision.
98
What is a cataract?
Cloudy/opaque area in the ocular lens, causing vision loss if on the visual axis.
99
What is glaucoma?
Increased intraocular pressure (>12−20 mmHg) damages retinal ganglion cells; can cause blindness.
100
What is age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?
Severe, irreversible central vision loss due to degeneration of the macula; two forms: atrophic (dry) & neovascular (wet).
101
What is myopia?
Nearsightedness - light rays focus in front of the retina for distant objects.
102
What is hyperopia?
Farsightedness - light rays focus behind the retina for near objects.
103
What is astigmatism?
Unequal corneal curvature causes uneven bending of light rays; can coexist with myopia, hyperopia, or presbyopia.
104
What is photophobia?
Eye discomfort from light sensitivity.
105
What is ptosis?
Drooping upper eyelid.
106
What is reduced peripheral field?
Tunnel vision - loss of side vision.
107
What is the leading cause of seizures in children?
Fever, especially in ages 6 months - 6 years.
108
What is the next common cause of seizures in children?
Epilepsy.
109
What are the features of bacterial meningitis?
Caused by Neisseria meningitidis or Strep pneumoniae; symptoms include fever, headache, photophobia, seizures, rigidity.
110
What are the features of viral meningitis?
Direct infection or systemic (measles, mumps, herpes).
111
What is Reye syndrome?
Rare, fatal condition linked to ASA use + viral illness; causes encephalopathy + fatty liver failure in ages 5-14 years.
112
What is the leading cause of death/disability in children under 18?
Head trauma caused by sports, falls, MVC, or abuse; may cause seizures and long-term deficits.
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