INTERNUCLEAR OPHTHALMOPLEGIAS Meaning and
Definition
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Internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO) refers to a neurological disorder characterized by impaired lateral eye movement due to dysfunction in the brainstem. Specifically, it is caused by damage or disruption to the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF), which is a neural pathway responsible for coordinating eye movements.
In a healthy individual, when looking to the side in the horizontal plane, both eyes move simultaneously and symmetrically. However, in INO, there is an inability of the affected eye to adduct (move inward toward the nose) when attempting to look to the opposite side. This results in a characteristic finding known as dissociated nystagmus, where the unaffected eye abducts (move outward away from the nose), causing involuntary oscillatory movements, while the affected eye remains deviated or paralyzed.
INO typically presents with binocular diplopia (double vision) and difficulties with horizontal gaze. It can be further classified into two subtypes: unilateral INO, which affects only one eye, and bilateral INO, which affects both eyes. Most commonly, INO is caused by damage to the MLF due to conditions like multiple sclerosis, brainstem stroke, tumors, or trauma.
Diagnosis of INO involves a thorough neurological examination, which may include visual field testing, assessment of eye movement, and neurological imaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Treatment primarily focuses on addressing the underlying cause of the condition, while symptomatic relief can be achieved with prisms or eye-patching to minimize double vision.
In summary, internuclear ophthalmoplegia is a neurological disorder characterized by impaired lateral eye movement due to damage or disruption of the medial longitudinal fasciculus, resulting in an inability to adduct the affected eye when attempting to look laterally.
Common Misspellings for INTERNUCLEAR OPHTHALMOPLEGIAS
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Etymology of INTERNUCLEAR OPHTHALMOPLEGIAS
The term "internuclear ophthalmoplegia" (INO) has its roots in three components: "inter", "nuclear", and "ophthalmoplegia".
- "Inter" is a Latin prefix meaning "between" or "among".
- "Nuclear" comes from the Latin word "nucleus", which means "kernel" or "central part". In medicine, it often refers to the nuclei (clusters of specialized nerve cells) located in the brain or spinal cord.
- "Ophthalmoplegia" is derived from the Greek words "ophthalmos", meaning "eye", and "plegia", meaning "paralysis".
Therefore, "Internuclear" refers to something that occurs between or among nuclei, "ophthalmo" pertains to the eyes, and "plegia" indicates paralysis.
