cerebral (redirected from Cerebral (disambiguation))

cerebral /cer·e·bral/ (sĕ-re´bral) (ser´ĕ-bral) pertaining to the cerebrum.

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cer·e·bral (sr-brl, s-r-)

adj.

Of or relating to the brain or cerebrum.

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Cerebral

Pertaining to the brain.

Mentioned in: Altitude Sickness

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cerebral

[ser′əbrəl, sərē′brəl]

pertaining to the cerebrum.

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cerebral [ser´ĕ-bral, sĕ-re´bral]

pertaining to the cerebrum.

cerebral palsy a diagnostic term used to describe a type of nonprogressive neuromotor dysfunction; it is a disorder of movement and posture resulting from an insult to the immature brain. Cerebral dysfunction can occur because the central nervous system has not developed properly from the start (a developmental anomaly); or it can be the consequence of an injury to a previously normally developing nervous system. The insult of cerebral palsy is always static and nonprogressive; the lesion itself will not get worse. What often do change over time are the manifestations of the motor disorder and the emergence or recognition of associated deficits as the child grows and the nervous system matures. There is no universally accepted age-of-onset criterion for making the diagnosis. The upper age limit is often set at seven or eight years old for an acquired insult to be classified as cerebral palsy; this is the age when motor areas in the nervous system have largely reached maturation and therefore the potential for motor plasticity significantly diminishes. Prior to this age, function lost by damage to one area of the brain may be partially taken over by another area. However, there is not universal agreement on this age criterion.

The child with cerebral palsy is at high risk for having associated deficits in neurological, cognitive, and perceptual abilities. Motor deficits are generally identified before delays in language or perceptual abilities are evident.

Etiology. Cerebral palsy is relatively common, affecting 1 in 200 children. This number takes into account the full spectrum of the disorder, including milder cases, a broad definition of age of insult, and more complete case ascertainment. The exact cause cannot always be determined, but it usually develops before the age of three. The percentage due to prenatal anomalies and insults is usually considered to be 40 to 60 per cent. Damage to the fetal brain can occur as a result of maternal infections, drug or alcohol abuse, other teratogenic exposures, and genetic syndromes. Cerebral palsy is associated with preterm birth between 30 and 50 per cent of the time, but it is not clear whether or not this association is causal in nature. Thirty years ago, the belief was that most cerebral palsy was a consequence of birth-related injury to the brain, and obstetricians often took blame for “causing” the condition. More recently, there has been a shift in emphasis to unknown prenatal events as the causative factors, such as preterm birth, difficult deliveries, and prenatal or perinatal brain injuries. Any situation that interferes with the fetal oxygen supply can produce brain damage and cerebral palsy. These include premature separation of the placenta, prolapsed cord, and chronic placental insufficiency. Other potential causes during the perinatal and early postnatal period include hypoglycemia, which can lead to cell death; hypernatremia, which results in cellular hyperosmolality, vascular lesions, and intracranial hemorrhage; and hyperbilirubinemia. Postnatally acquired cerebral palsy is usually considered to be around 10 per cent of cases. Damage to the brain in childhood can result from infections of the meninges or brain cells; near-drowning or similar anoxic insults; cancers that although successfully treated leave permanent brain damage; head injury; or any of various stroke syndromes.

Classification. The most common classification for cerebral palsy, based on the predominant clinical manifestations, distinguishes three major types: (1) spastic, in which there are exaggerated stretch reflexes, muscle spasticity, and a strong tendency to develop contractures; (2) athetoid, with purposeless, uncontrollable movements and muscle tension; and (3) atactic, in which the child has poor balance, poor coordination, and a staggering gait.

Treatment. This varies according to the nature and extent of brain damage. Muscle relaxants and other medications may help reduce spasms. Orthopedic surgery, casts, braces, and traction can be used to correct or prevent associated deformities. Early muscle training and special exercises may also promote function, prevent deformity, and help the child lead a useful, productive life. If muscle training is not begun early, extensive rehabilitation may be necessary to correct faulty habits and poor muscle patterns the child has established. However, it is never too late for a complete evaluation of the condition of a patient with cerebral palsy. A rehabilitation program can produce good results later in life, not only in childhood. Anticonvulsant drugs are necessary when seizures are among the associated symptoms. Special education is important for children with cognitive impairments, as is attention to the other associated problems.

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cerebral

pertaining to the cerebrum. See also brain.

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cerebral circulation

arterial blood supply reaches the anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries via the circle of Willis, in some species originating directly from the internal carotid and basilar arteries, in others via an interposed rete mirabile. See also blood-brain barrier, blood-CSF barrier, cerebrospinal fluid.

cerebral contusion

contusion of the brain following a head injury. See also cerebral contusion.

cerebral cortex

the convoluted layer of gray matter covering the cerebral hemispheres, which governs thought, memory, sensation and voluntary movement. See also brain, pyramidal tracts, extrapyramidal system.

cerebral cortical dysplasia

encompasses a range of disorders including neuronal heterotopia, microgyria, ulegyria, lissencephaly, pachygyria.

cerebral diencephalic syndrome

the clinical signs associated with lesions of the cerebral cortex and diencephalon. They include behavioral or mental change, abnormal movements such as circling and head pressing, deficits in contralateral postural responses and sometimes visual impairment.

cerebral dura mater

the membranous cover around the brain. Endosteal and meningeal layers are separated only by the cranial venous sinuses. Continuous with the spinal cord dura and the sheaths of the spinal nerves. Has three internal folds which separate sections of the brain. See falx cerebri, tentorium cerebelli, sella turcica.

cerebral edema, cytotoxic

caused by neurotoxins, this edema is intracellular.

cerebral edema, generalized

when all cerebral tissues are affected as in disturbances which create marked differences from normal of sodium and potassium ion concentration in tissues.

cerebral edema, interstitial

edema of the central white matter as in hydrocephalus affecting the brain and hydromyelia affecting the spinal cord.

cerebral edema, vasogenic

when the edema is intercellular and due usually to damage to the vascular endothelium.

cerebral flush

the congestion of the cerebral vessels causing a pink coloration; of infections by Babesia bovis and B. bigemina it is the former in which the cerebral flush occurs.

cerebral gyri

convolutions on the surface of the cerebrum.

cerebral hemisphere

symmetrical right and left halves of the cerebrum divided by the longitudinal fissure.

cerebral peduncle

see cerebral peduncle.

cerebral pia mater

thin connective tissue membrane that lies closely against the cerebral surface and carries blood vessels into the tissues of the brain.

cerebral piriform lobe

on the floor of the brain medial to the lateral olfactory tract.

cerebral pole

frontal (rostral) and occipital (caudal) poles of the cerebrum.

cerebral substantia nigra

occupies the interior of the cerebral peduncles.

cerebral syndrome

characterized by abnormal mental state, abnormal movements such as pacing or head pressing, visual impairment and seizures.

cerebral theileriosis

infection with Theileria parva or aberrant forms of T. taurotragi originating from the eland. Called also turning sickness.

cerebral vascular accident (CVA)

a disorder of the blood vessels serving the cerebrum, resulting from an impaired blood supply to parts of the brain. Called stroke in humans.

cerebral ventriculography

see ventriculography.