chapter 13 diseases of the nervous system and the special senses

Chapter 13Chapter 13Diseases of the Nervous System and Diseases of the Nervous System and

the Special Sensesthe Special Senses

Elsevier items and derived items © 2009 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 2

Organs and FunctionOrgans and Function Brain – Brain – Three major areas: Cerebrum, Three major areas: Cerebrum,

cerebellum, brain stem – all covered by cerebellum, brain stem – all covered by meninges. CSF formed in ventricles of meninges. CSF formed in ventricles of cerebrum as well as nerve cell bodies, the cerebrum as well as nerve cell bodies, the cerebellum controls voluntary movement, the cerebellum controls voluntary movement, the brain stem is the ‘vitals’ center because it brain stem is the ‘vitals’ center because it regulates heart and lungs.regulates heart and lungs.

Spinal cord – Spinal cord – within vertebral column, within vertebral column, contains tracts of nerve fibers to ascend to contains tracts of nerve fibers to ascend to and descend from brain carrying messages to and descend from brain carrying messages to and from muscles, organs, and glandsand from muscles, organs, and glands


Organs and FunctionOrgans and Function Autonomic Nervous system – Autonomic Nervous system – houses houses

sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Controls homeostasis, i.e. blood systems. Controls homeostasis, i.e. blood pressure, heart rate, gastrointestinal function, pressure, heart rate, gastrointestinal function, sweating, temperature and other involuntary sweating, temperature and other involuntary actionsactions

Sensory Nervous system – Sensory Nervous system – Sensations Sensations detected from eyes, ears, skin, muscles, detected from eyes, ears, skin, muscles, tendons, internal organs and transmitted to tendons, internal organs and transmitted to central nervous system (spinal cord, brain)central nervous system (spinal cord, brain)


Organs and FunctionOrgans and Function Motor Nervous system – Motor Nervous system – controls discrete controls discrete

movements of skeletal muscles, helps movements of skeletal muscles, helps muscles work together, speech, motor skillsmuscles work together, speech, motor skills


Diagnostic TestsDiagnostic Tests EMG – ElectromyelographyEMG – Electromyelography – Radiographic – Radiographic

process viewing spinal cord and spinal process viewing spinal cord and spinal subarachnoid space to identify spinal lesions subarachnoid space to identify spinal lesions caused by trauma or disease.caused by trauma or disease.

EEG – Electroencephalography - EEG – Electroencephalography - Records Records electrical activity of the brain to diagnose lesions electrical activity of the brain to diagnose lesions or tumors, and seizures, in impaired or tumors, and seizures, in impaired consciousness.consciousness.

MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging –MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging – To view To view and record tissue characteristics at different and record tissue characteristics at different planes. To visualize brain soft tissue, spinal cord, planes. To visualize brain soft tissue, spinal cord, tumors, hemorrhagestumors, hemorrhages


Diseases of the Nervous SystemDiseases of the Nervous SystemSigns and symptomsSigns and symptoms

Meningitis – Meningitis – High fever, chills, severe High fever, chills, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, rash, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, rash, delirium, convulsions, comadelirium, convulsions, coma

Encephalitis – Encephalitis – Mild-severe headache, fever, Mild-severe headache, fever, cerebral dysfunction, disordered thought, cerebral dysfunction, disordered thought, seizures, persistent drowsiness, delirium, seizures, persistent drowsiness, delirium, comacoma

Poliomyelitis – Poliomyelitis – Stiff neck, fever, headache, Stiff neck, fever, headache, sore throat, GI disturbances, possible sore throat, GI disturbances, possible paralysisparalysis



Tetanus – Tetanus – Rigidity of muscles, painful spasms and Rigidity of muscles, painful spasms and convulsions, stiff neck, difficulty swallowing, convulsions, stiff neck, difficulty swallowing, clenched jawsclenched jaws

Shingles – Shingles – Painful rash (sm water blisters w/red Painful rash (sm water blisters w/red rim) lesions along sensory nerve on one side of rim) lesions along sensory nerve on one side of body, severe itching, scarringbody, severe itching, scarring

Abscess – Abscess – Fever, headacheFever, headache MS – Multiple Sclerosis – MS – Multiple Sclerosis – Muscle impairment, Muscle impairment,

double vision, loss of balance, tingling, numbing, double vision, loss of balance, tingling, numbing, tremors, weakness, emotional changes, remission, tremors, weakness, emotional changes, remission, exacerbationexacerbation



ALS – Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis –ALS – Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – disturbed motility, muscle atrophy in hands, disturbed motility, muscle atrophy in hands, forearms, and legs, impaired speech and forearms, and legs, impaired speech and swallowing, death from pulmonary failure (3-4 swallowing, death from pulmonary failure (3-4 years)years)

Convulsion epilepsy – Convulsion epilepsy – Involuntary Involuntary contractions, seizure shows illness – not contractions, seizure shows illness – not disease. Petit mal: brief loss of disease. Petit mal: brief loss of consciousness. Grand mal: aura , total loss of consciousness. Grand mal: aura , total loss of consciousness, convulsions, hypersalivationconsciousness, convulsions, hypersalivation



Spina bifida – Spina bifida – Opening in vertebral canal, Opening in vertebral canal, meningocele, nerve tissue disorganizedmeningocele, nerve tissue disorganized

Hydrocephalus - Hydrocephalus - Enlarged head develops Enlarged head develops Cerebral Palsy – Cerebral Palsy – Seizures, visual or auditory Seizures, visual or auditory

impairment, speech defects. Spastic: tense impairment, speech defects. Spastic: tense muscles, reflexes exaggerated. Athetoid: muscles, reflexes exaggerated. Athetoid: Uncontrollable, persistent movements, Uncontrollable, persistent movements, tremor. Atactic: Poor balance, poor muscular tremor. Atactic: Poor balance, poor muscular coordination, staggering gaitcoordination, staggering gait



TIA – TIA – Mini strokes – Visual disturbances, Mini strokes – Visual disturbances, muscle weakness on one side, sensory loss muscle weakness on one side, sensory loss on one side, slurred speech, lasts minutes to on one side, slurred speech, lasts minutes to hours, avg is 15 minhours, avg is 15 min

CVA – Stroke – CVA – Stroke – Severe, sudden headache, Severe, sudden headache, muscular weakness or paralysis, speech muscular weakness or paralysis, speech disturbance, loss of consciousnessdisturbance, loss of consciousness

Alzheimer’s Disease – Alzheimer’s Disease – Memory loss, moody, Memory loss, moody, indignentindignent



Conjunctivitis – Conjunctivitis – Inflamed eye surface, Inflamed eye surface, oozingoozing

Glaucoma – Glaucoma – Elevated intraocular pressure, Elevated intraocular pressure, dim visiondim vision

Cataracts – Cataracts – Blurred, dim visionBlurred, dim vision Macular degeneration – Macular degeneration – Central vision lossCentral vision loss Diabetic retinopathy – Diabetic retinopathy – Blurred, cloudy vision Blurred, cloudy vision

to blindedto blinded



Otitis media – Otitis media – Internal fluid pressure, feverInternal fluid pressure, fever

Tinnitus – Tinnitus – Ringing, roaring internal sounds Ringing, roaring internal sounds without real external soundswithout real external sounds

External Otitis – External Otitis – Discharge, pusDischarge, pus

chapter 13 diseases of the nervous system and the special senses

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