Nervous System Diagnostic Terms

5 Written Questions

1. brief episode of loss of blood flow to the brain, usually caused by a partial occlusion that results in temporary neurologic deficit (impairment); often precedes a CVA
2. paralysis of all four limbs
3. disorder resulting from a change within one or more blood vessels of the brain
4. paralysis from the waist down
5. inflammation of the meninges

5 Matching Questions

1. myasthenia gravis
2. cerebral embolism
3. anencephaly
4. spina bifida
5. cerebrovascular accident (CVA), stroke

1. a 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 (spina = spine; bifida = split into two parts)
2. b autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction, causing a progressive decrease in muscle strength; activity resumes and strength returns after a period of rest
3. c obstruction of a blood vessel in the brain by an embolus transported through the circulation
4. d 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
5. e damage to the brain caused by cerebrovascular disease, such as occlusion of a blood vessel by a thrombus or embolus (ischemic stroke) or intracranial hemorrhage after rupture of an aneurysm (hemorrhagic stroke)

5 Multiple Choice Questions

1. condition of progressive deterioration of motor nerve cells resulting in total loss of voluntary muscle control; symptoms advance from muscle weakness in the arms and legs, to the muscles of speech, swallowing, and breathing, to total paralysis and death; also known as Lou Gehrig disease
   1. cerebral atherosclerosis
   2. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
   3. cerebral arteriosclerosis
   4. multiple sclerosis (MS)
2. congenital deformities of the brain and spinal cord caused by incomplete development of the neural tube, the embryonic structure that forms the nervous system
   1. encephalitis
   2. cerebral thrombosis
   3. migraine headache
   4. neural tube defects
3. inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord caused by a virus, often resulting in spinal and muscle deformity and paralysis (polio = gray)
   1. poliomyelitis
   2. meningitis
   3. myelitis
   4. polyneuritis
4. 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
   1. paraplegia
   2. Parkinson disease
   3. narcolepsy
   4. Alzheimer disease
5. condition of motor dysfunction caused by damage to the cerebrum during development or injury at birth; characterized by partial paralysis and lack of muscle coordination (palsy = paralysis)
   1. cerebral embolism
   2. cerebral thrombosis
   3. cerebral palsy (CP)
   4. cerebral aneurysm

5 True/False Questions

1. absence seizure → 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

   True        False

2. herniated disk (or disc) → 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

   True        False

3. migraine headache → 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

   True        False

4. cerebral aneurysm → obstruction of a blood vessel in the brain by an embolus transported through the circulation

   True        False

5. epilepsy → disorder affecting the central nervous system; characterized by recurrent seizures

   True        False