nervous system disease

Introduction
The neurological examination
- Medical history
  - Altered consciousness
  - Headache
  - Cognitive changes
  - Language and speech deficits
  - Emotional disturbances
  - Motor abnormalities
  - Pain
  - Change in sensation
- Physical examination
  - Higher cerebral functions
  - Cranial nerves
  - Motor systems
    - Inspection
    - Muscle tone
    - Power
    - Reflex activity
    - Coordination
  - Sensory systems
- Diagnostic tests and procedures
  - Electroencephalography
  - Electromyography
  - Lumbar puncture
  - Biopsy
  - X ray
  - Computed tomography
  - Magnetic resonance imaging
  - Positron emission tomography
  - Radioisotope scanning
Localization of neurological disease
- Lower-level sites
  - Muscle
  - Motor end plate
  - Peripheral nerves
  - Spinal nerve roots
  - Spinal cord
- Higher-level sites
  - Brainstem
  - Cerebellum
  - Basal ganglia and thalamus
  - Cerebral hemispheres
Pathologies
- Genetic disease
- Infections
- Trauma
- Neoplasms
- Metabolic, toxic, and endocrine disorders
- Vascular diseases
- Demyelinating and degenerative disease
- Electrical disorders
- Autoimmune disorders
Diseases and disorders
- The skull and spine
  - Neural tube defects
  - Cephalic disorders
  - Fractures
  - Tumours
  - Vertebral disorders
- The meninges and cerebrospinal fluid
  - Raised or decreased intracranial pressure
  - Blood clots
  - Meningitis
  - Tumours
- The peripheral system
  - Neuropathies
    - Neuronal neuropathies
      Poliomyelitis
      Hereditary motor neuropathies
      Motor neuron disease
      Nerve injuries
    - Demyelinating neuropathies
  - Disease of the neuromuscular junction
  - Diseases of muscle
    - Genetic dystrophies
    - Other inherited muscle diseases
    - Acquired diseases of muscle
- The spinal cord
  - Spinocerebellar degenerations
  - Inflammation
  - Trauma
  - Tumours
  - Subacute combined degeneration
  - Vascular disease
  - Syringomyelia
  - Demyelinating disease
  - Myoclonus
- Cranial nerves
  - Olfactory nerve
  - Optic nerve
  - Oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves
  - Trigeminal nerve
  - Facial nerve
  - Vestibulocochlear nerve
  - Bulbar nerves
  - Brainstem
  - Disorders of sleep
  - Brain death
- The cerebellum
  - Genetic diseases
  - Inflammatory diseases
  - Vascular disorders
  - Demyelinating disease
  - Metabolic diseases
  - Tumours
- The basal ganglia
  - Parkinson disease
  - Dystonias
  - Chorea
  - Essential tremor
- The cerebrum
  - Craniocerebral trauma
  - Cerebral palsy
  - Intellectual disability
  - Dementia
  - Epilepsy
    - Generalized seizures
    - Partial seizures
    - Diagnosis and treatment
  - Headache
    - Vascular headaches
    - Tension headaches
    - Traction headaches
    - Referred headaches
  - Infections
    - Encephalitis
    - Abscess
    - Autoimmune reactions
    - Syphilis
    - Prions
    - Slow viruses
  - Tumours
    - Benign tumours
    - Malignant tumours
  - Stroke
    - Anatomy and collateral supply
    - Occlusive strokes
    - Hemorrhagic strokes
    - Clinical syndromes
    - Diagnosis and treatment
- Unlocalized or multifocal disorders
  - Effects of systemic disease
    - Endocrine diseases
    - Organ failure
    - Blood diseases
  - Metabolic disease
    - Protein and amino acid disorders
    - Disorders of fat and fatty acid metabolism
    - Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism
    - Deficiency states
    - Fluid, mineral, and electrolyte disorders
    - Neurocutaneous syndromes
    - Toxic effects of drugs, metals, and poisons
  - Demyelinating diseases

References & Edit History Related Topics

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Written by

William E.M. Pryse-Phillips

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

nervous system disease, any of the diseases or disorders that affect the functioning of the human nervous system. Everything that humans sense, consider, and effect and all the unlearned reflexes of the body depend on the functioning of the nervous system. The skeleton and muscles support and transport the body, and the digestive system, heart, and lungs provide nutrients; but the nervous system contains the epitome of the human—the mind—and commands all perception, thought, and...

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