Decorticate posturing

Decorticate posturing (pronunciation: de-kor-ti-kate pos-tur-ing) is a type of abnormal body posture that involves the arms being adducted and flexed, with the wrists and fingers bent and held on the chest. This type of posturing is a sign of severe damage in the brain.

Etymology

The term "decorticate" comes from the Latin word decorticare, which means to remove the bark or rind. In medical terms, it refers to the removal or damage of the cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain.

Related Terms

• Cerebral cortex: The outer layer of the brain, involved in many complex brain functions.
• Abnormal posturing: A term for a variety of postures that are indicative of brain or spinal cord damage.
• Decerebrate posturing: A type of abnormal posturing where the arms are extended and rotated internally, with the wrists and fingers flexed.

Signs and Symptoms

Decorticate posturing is characterized by the following signs:

• Arms are flexed, or bent inward on the chest, the hands are clenched into fists, and the legs extended and feet turned inward.
• This type of posturing is a sign of severe damage in the brain. Most often, these types of movements are responses to painful stimuli.

Causes

Decorticate posturing is caused by damage to the nerve pathway between the brain and the spinal cord. This can occur due to several conditions, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, brain tumor, brain hemorrhage, or conditions that lead to a lack of oxygen or blood flow to the brain.

Treatment

Treatment for decorticate posturing involves addressing the underlying cause of the brain damage. This may involve medications, surgery, or other treatments depending on the specific cause.

See Also

• Brain damage
• Traumatic brain injury
• Stroke
• Brain tumor
• Brain hemorrhage

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Decorticate posturing
• Wikipedia's article - Decorticate posturing

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