Module 12: -taxia and -phasia

Bio 120 – CDL Section WW10

Cristina Hategan

July 8, 2014

Definitions

Suffix Terminology

-taxia Muscle coordination

-phasia Speech

Fremgen, BF & Frucht SS (2013) Medical Terminology: A Living Language (5th ed.). Boston, MA Pearson.

The Brain and Control of Muscle

Coordination (-taxia)

CEREBELLUM:

• 2nd largest portion of the brain

• Helps coordinate voluntary body movements

• Maintain balance and equilibrium

• Refines the muscular movement that was initiated in cerebrum Fremgen, BF & Frucht SS (2013) Medical Terminology: A Living

Language (5th ed.). Boston, MA Pearson.

The Brain and Control

of Speech (-phasia)

Frontal Lobe of Cerebrum:

• Controls Speech

• Also to control:• Motor function• Personality

Fremgen, BF & Frucht SS (2013) Medical Terminology: A Living Language (5th ed.). Boston, MA Pearson.

Ataxia Pathophysiology

• Three types of Ataxia:• Cerebellar• Sensory• Vestibular

• A number of causes can lead to Ataxia – for example:• Focal lesions – stroke, brain tumor, or multiple sclerosis at site

of lesion can cause Ataxia• Hereditary Ataxias – a certain gene is linked to Ataxia• Neurological degenerative condition

Accessed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ataxia

Treatment of Ataxia

• Treatment is limited to the exact underlying cause of disease

• Prognosis for recovery greater in individual with focal lesion (egstroke or benign tumor) than individual with neurodegenrativecondition

• Physical therapy and/or Occupational Therapy have been shown to be useful

Accessed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AtaxiaAccessed: http://www.ataxia.org/learn/ataxia-causes.aspx

Aphasia Pathophysiology

• Aphasia considered a Language Disorder

• Usually caused by brain damage• Most commonly stroke• Possible due to cancer, epilepsy,

or Alzheimer’s Disease

• Two areas in the brain identified by scientists as site of disorder• Broca’s Asphasia – frontal lobe

damage• Wernicke’s Asphasia – parietal

lobe damage

Accessed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphasia

Treatment of Asphasia

• Pharmacologic intervention is not described in literature as part of treatment regimen

• Multidisciplinary team of MD, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, and social worker to treat patient

• Primary goal is to allow the patient to adjust to not only changes to speech capacity, but also limitations in communications

• Computer technology has been recently implemented as a feasible treatment modality

Accessed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphasia

Thank You!