The document discusses -taxia and -phasia, which refer to muscle coordination and speech respectively. It describes how the cerebellum helps coordinate voluntary movements and maintain balance, and how the frontal lobe controls speech and motor function. It provides details on the pathophysiology and treatment of ataxia, including that it can be caused by lesions or genetic disorders, and treatment focuses on the underlying cause. For aphasia, it notes the pathophysiology is usually due to brain damage like stroke, and treatments involve a multidisciplinary team to help patients adjust to communication limitations.

1. Module 12: -taxia and -phasia
Bio 120 – CDL Section WW10
Cristina Hategan
July 8, 2014

2. Definitions
Suffix Terminology
-taxia Muscle coordination
-phasia Speech
Fremgen, BF & Frucht SS (2013) Medical Terminology: A Living Language (5th ed.). Boston, MA Pearson.

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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. Treatment of Ataxia
• Treatment is limited to the exact underlying cause of disease
• Prognosis for recovery greater in individual with focal lesion (eg
stroke or benign tumor) than individual with neurodegenrative
condition
• Physical therapy and/or Occupational Therapy have been shown
to be useful
Accessed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ataxia
Accessed: http://www.ataxia.org/learn/ataxia-causes.aspx

7. 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

8. 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

9. Thank You!