Medical Terminology Chapter 9 Nervous System LO 9.8 Epilepsy

Seizures may be followed by a period of diminished function in the area of the brain surrounding the seizure focus. This transient neurologic deficit is called a ___________________

postictal state

Up to ______ Americans die each year from seizures and related causes, including drownings.

50,000

TS

Tourette Syndrome

greek seizure

epilepsy

ton-

root meaning pressure, tension

-ic-

suffix meaning pertaining to

Between ___% and ___% of the population will develop some form of epilepsy.

1 and 3

These types of seizures are triggered by a high fever in infants age 6 months to 5 years. Very few of these infants go on to develop epilepsy.

Febrile seizures

___________________________ occur when the epileptic activity is in one area of the brain only. For example, in a partial seizure the only symptom of an epileptic attack could be a series of involuntary jerking movements of a single limb.

Partial seizures

In this type of seizure, a person experiences a loss of consciousness (LOC), breathing stops, the muscles stiffen, and the jaw clenches. This "tonic" phase lasts for 30 to 60 seconds. It is followed by the "clonic" phase, in which the whole body shakes with a series of violent, rhythmic jerkings of the limbs. The seizures last for about one to three minutes, and consciousness returns.

Tonic-clonic seizure

disorder of multiple motor and vocal tics

Tourette Syndrome

___________________and other ________________________are characterized by episodes of involuntary, rapid, repetitive, fixed movements of individual muscle groups. They occur with varying frequency and are associated with meaningless vocal sounds or meaningful words and phrases. The tics are probably genetic. There is no cure, but they can be treated pharmacologically with haloperidol or clonidine.

Tourette Syndrome; tic disorders

______________________are most common in children ages 4 to 14 but may continue through adult life. A ____________________ is a general onset seizure, meaning that it starts on both sides of the brain. The child stares vacantly for less than 10 seconds, apparently out of contact with surroundings. The child may be accused of daydreaming. Recovery is quick.

absence seizure

a brief seizure characterized by absence of activity and occasionally clonic movements

absence seizure

this type of seizure was previously referred to as "petit mal"

absence seizure

types of generalized seizures:

absence seizures (previously known as "petit mal"), tonic-clonic seizures (previously called "grand mal"), Febrile seizures

Most epileptic disorders respond to _________________ medication, but occasionally brain surgery is required. The first-aid treatment during a seizure is to place the person in a reclining position on his or her side and to cushion the head. Do not try to keep the limbs from moving.

antiepileptic

sudden loss of muscle tone with brief paralysis

cataplexy

relating to muscle movements showing contraction and relaxation in rapid succession

clonic

_________________is a chronic disorder in which clusters of neurons in the brain discharge their electrical signals in an abnormal rhythm. This disturbed electrical activity (a seizure) can cause strange sensations and behavior, convulsions, and loss of consciousness.

epilepsy

chronic brain disorder due to paroxysmal excessive neuronal discharges

epilepsy

LOC

loss of consciousness

condition with frequent incidents of sudden, involuntary deep sleep

narcolepsy

_____________________is a chronic disorder caused by the brain's inability to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. Patients fall asleep during the day for a few seconds or up to an hour. It is associated with ____________, the sudden loss of voluntary muscle tone with brief episodes of total paralysis and vivid hallucinations. There is no cure, but it can be treated pharmacologically with stimulants.

narcolepsy; cataplexy

postictal

occuring after a seizure

First-aid treatment of a seizure is to place the person in a __________ position and _____________ the head.

reclining; cushion

post-

prefix meaning after

ab-

prefix meaning away from

cata-

prefix meaning down

-ict-

root meaning seizure

epilept-

root meaning seizure

stat-

root meaning standing still

narc/o-

root meaning stupor

seiz-

root meaning to convulse

-sence

root meaning to feel

seiz-

root meaning to grab, convulse

clon-

root meaning violent action

an epileptic attack

seizure

________________________occurs when the brain is in a state of persistent seizure. It is defined as one continuous seizure lasting more than 10 minutes or three recurrent seizures without the person regaining consciousness between them. Many physicians believe that 5 minutes in this state is sufficient to damage neurons. Status epilepticus is a medical emergency and requires maintenance of the airway, breathing, and circulation and the intravenous (IV) administration of diazepam and anticonvulsant drugs.

status epilepticus

a recurrent state of seizure activity lasting longer than a specific time frame (usually 30 minutes)

status epilepticus

-us

suffix meaning pertaining to

-ure

suffix meaning process

-lepsy

suffix meaning seizure

-plexy

suffix meaning stroke

french tic

tic

sudden, involuntary, repeated contraction of muscles

tic

muscular contraction in a continuous state

tonic

A what kind of seizure was previously known as a "grand mal" seizure

tonic-clonic seizure

generalized seizure due to epileptic activity in all or most of the brain

tonic-clonic seizure

A common tic disorder is ______________________________, occurring in 10% of children during the early school years. It goes away within 1 year.

transient tic disorder

___________________of epileptic patients are manageable with medication and surgery; ____________ are not.

two-thirds; one-third