Wernicke’s area Health Dictionary

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Wernicke’s Area: From 1 Different Sources

An area of the cerebral cortex in the brain that is involved in the interpretation of spoken and written language.
Health Source: BMA Medical Dictionary
Author: The British Medical Association

Catchment Area

A geographic area defined and served by a health programme or institution, such as a hospital or community health centre, which is delineated on the basis of such factors as population distribution, natural geographic boundaries, and transportation accessibility. By definition, all residents of the area needing the services of the programme are usually eligible for them, although eligibility may also depend on additional criteria.... catchment area

Association Area

One of a number of areas in the outer layer (cortex) of the brain that are concerned with higher levels of mental activity.

Association areas interpret information received from sensory areas and prompt appropriate responses such as voluntary movement.... association area

Broca’s Area

An area of the cerebral cortex (the outer layer of the brain) that is responsible for speech origination.... broca’s area

Wernicke’s Encephalopathy

See Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome.... wernicke’s encephalopathy

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is a common form of reversible hair loss which may be patchy, total on the scalp, eyebrows or eyelashes, or universal on the body. The onset is sudden at any age and the affected scalp-skin looks normal. The hair follicles remain intact but ‘switched o?’ and usually hair growth recovers spontaneously. No consistently e?ective treatment is available but injections of CORTICOSTEROIDS, given with a spray gun into the scalp, may be useful. The regrown hair may be white at ?rst but pigmentation recovers later.... alopecia areata

Ecological Area

A well defined geographical area, for example a tropical rain forest, characterised by certain assemblages of plants and animals (including insects).... ecological area

Health Service Area

A geographic area designated on the basis of such factors as geography, political boundaries, population and health resources, for the effective planning and development of health services.... health service area

Urban Area

A part of a country that is part of a metropolitan statistical area.... urban area

Wernicke’s Encephalopathy

Also called the Wernicke-Korsako? syndrome, this uncommon disorder is characterised by mental confusion or DELIRIUM that occurs in combination with an unsteady GAIT, nystagmus (see under EYE, DISORDERS OF), and paralysis of the eye muscles and eventually PSYCHOSIS. It is caused by a de?ciency of vitamin B1 (THIAMINE

– see APPENDIX 5: VITAMINS) which affects the brain and nervous system. It occurs in alcoholic individuals and in patients with persistent vomiting. As soon as the condition is diagnosed, it must be treated with large doses of thiamine. Unless the patient has developed symptoms of psychosis, the condition is usually reversible with treatment.... wernicke’s encephalopathy

Wernicke–korsakoff Syndrome

An uncommon brain disorder almost always related to malnutrition occurring in chronic alcohol dependence, but occasionally due to that which occurs in other conditions, such as cancer. Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome is caused by deficiency of thiamine (see vitamin B complex), which affects the brain and nervous system.The disease consists of 2 stages: Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s psychosis. Wernicke’s encephalopathy usually develops suddenly and produces nystagmus (abnormal, jerky eye movements), ataxia (difficulty in coordinating body movements), slowness, and confusion. Sufferers usually have signs of neuropathy, such as loss of sensation, pins-and-needles, or impaired reflexes. The level of consciousness falls progressively and may lead to coma and death unless treated. The condition is a medical emergency. Treatment with high doses of intravenous thiamine often reverses most of the symptoms, sometimes within a few hours.

Korsakoff’s psychosis may follow Wernicke’s encephalopathy if treatment is not begun promptly enough. Symptoms consist of severe amnesia, apathy, and disorientation. Korsakoff’s psychosis is usually irreversible.... wernicke–korsakoff syndrome

Brodmann Areas

the numbered areas (1–47) into which a map of the *cerebral cortex may conveniently be divided for descriptive purposes, based upon the arrangement of neurons seen in stained sections under the microscope. On the map area 4, for example, corresponds to primary motor cortex, while the primary visual cortex comes into area 17. [K. Brodmann (1868–1918), German neurologist]... brodmann areas

Little’s Area

the anterior region of the nasal septum (see nose). It has a rich capillary supply, called *Kiesselbach’s plexus, and is a common site from which nosebleeds arise. See epistaxis. [J. L. Little (1836–85), US surgeon]... little’s area

Psoriasis Area Severity Index

(PASI) a semiobjective severity score for psoriasis, including measurement of surface area affected and the degree of erythema, induration, and scale. It is commonly used in clinical trials and to ration expensive treatments for psoriasis. Severe disease equates to scores over 10 and it is often interpreted with the *dermatology life quality index (DLQI) score.... psoriasis area severity index

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