Chapter 13 Diseases of the Nervous System and the Special Senses Organs and Function Brain – Three major areas: Cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem – all covered by meninges CSF formed in ventricles of cerebrum as well as nerve cell bodies, the cerebellum controls voluntary movement, the brain stem is the ‘vitals’ center because it regulates heart and lungs Spinal cord – within vertebral column, contains tracts of nerve fibers to ascend to and descend from brain carrying messages to and from muscles, organs, and glands Elsevier items and derived items © 2009 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc Organs and Function Autonomic Nervous system – houses sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems Controls homeostasis, i.e blood pressure, heart rate, gastrointestinal function, sweating, temperature and other involuntary actions Sensory Nervous system – Sensations detected from eyes, ears, skin, muscles, tendons, internal organs and transmitted to central nervous system (spinal cord, brain) Elsevier items and derived items © 2009 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc Organs and Function Motor Nervous system – controls discrete movements of skeletal muscles, helps muscles work together, speech, motor skills Elsevier items and derived items © 2009 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc Diagnostic Tests EMG – Electromyelography – Radiographic process viewing spinal cord and spinal subarachnoid space to identify spinal lesions caused by trauma or disease EEG – Electroencephalography - Records electrical activity of the brain to diagnose lesions or tumors, and seizures, in impaired consciousness MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging – To view and record tissue characteristics at different planes To visualize brain soft tissue, spinal cord, tumors, hemorrhages Elsevier items and derived items © 2009 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc Diseases of the Nervous System Signs and symptoms Meningitis – High fever, chills, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, rash, delirium, convulsions, coma Encephalitis – Mild-severe headache, fever, cerebral dysfunction, disordered thought, seizures, persistent drowsiness, delirium, coma Poliomyelitis – Stiff neck, fever, headache, sore throat, GI disturbances, possible paralysis Elsevier items and derived items © 2009 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc Diseases of the Nervous System Signs and symptoms Tetanus – Rigidity of muscles, painful spasms and convulsions, stiff neck, difficulty swallowing, clenched jaws Shingles – Painful rash (sm water blisters w/red rim) lesions along sensory nerve on one side of body, severe itching, scarring Abscess – Fever, headache MS – Multiple Sclerosis – Muscle impairment, double vision, loss of balance, tingling, numbing, tremors, weakness, emotional changes, remission, exacerbation Elsevier items and derived items © 2009 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc Diseases of the Nervous System Signs and symptoms ALS – Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – disturbed motility, muscle atrophy in hands, forearms, and legs, impaired speech and swallowing, death from pulmonary failure (3-4 years) Convulsion epilepsy – Involuntary contractions, seizure shows illness – not disease Petit mal: brief loss of consciousness Grand mal: aura , total loss of consciousness, convulsions, hypersalivation Elsevier items and derived items © 2009 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc Diseases of the Nervous System Signs and symptoms Spina bifida – Opening in vertebral canal, meningocele, nerve tissue disorganized Hydrocephalus - Enlarged head develops Cerebral Palsy – Seizures, visual or auditory impairment, speech defects Spastic: tense muscles, reflexes exaggerated Athetoid: Uncontrollable, persistent movements, tremor Atactic: Poor balance, poor muscular coordination, staggering gait Elsevier items and derived items © 2009 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc Diseases of the Nervous System Signs and symptoms TIA – Mini strokes – Visual disturbances, muscle weakness on one side, sensory loss on one side, slurred speech, lasts minutes to hours, avg is 15 CVA – Stroke – Severe, sudden headache, muscular weakness or paralysis, speech disturbance, loss of consciousness Alzheimer’s Disease – Memory loss, moody, indignent Elsevier items and derived items © 2009 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc 10 Diseases of the Nervous System Signs and symptoms Conjunctivitis – Inflamed eye surface, oozing Glaucoma – Elevated intraocular pressure, dim vision Cataracts – Blurred, dim vision Macular degeneration – Central vision loss Diabetic retinopathy – Blurred, cloudy vision to blinded Elsevier items and derived items © 2009 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc 11 Diseases of the Nervous System Signs and symptoms Otitis media – Internal fluid pressure, fever Tinnitus – Ringing, roaring internal sounds without real external sounds External Otitis – Discharge, pus Elsevier items and derived items © 2009 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc 12 ... symptoms Meningitis – High fever, chills, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, rash, delirium, convulsions, coma Encephalitis – Mild-severe headache, fever, cerebral dysfunction, disordered... swallowing, clenched jaws Shingles – Painful rash (sm water blisters w/red rim) lesions along sensory nerve on one side of body, severe itching, scarring Abscess – Fever, headache MS – Multiple... hours, avg is 15 CVA – Stroke – Severe, sudden headache, muscular weakness or paralysis, speech disturbance, loss of consciousness Alzheimer’s Disease – Memory loss, moody, indignent Elsevier items