Anatomy and Physiology XVII

Question 1

What is the function of Riluzole treatment in treatment of ALS?

Answer 1

It decreases presynaptic glutamate release (p.429)

Question 2

What regions of the spine are affected by complete occlusion of the anterior spinal artery?

Answer 2

Entire cord except for dorsal columns and lissauer’s tract (p.429)

Question 3

What anterior spinal artery territory is a watershed area?

Answer 3

Upper thoracic ASA territory (p.429)

Question 4

What artery also supplies the ASA territory below approximately T8?

Answer 4

Artery of Adamkiewicz (p.429)

Question 5

What areas of the spinal cord are affected by tabes dorsalis?

Answer 5

Degeneration (demyelination) of the dorsal columns and roots (p.429)

Question 6

What is tabes dorsalis?

Answer 6

Demyelination of the dorsal columns/ roots caused by tertiary syphilis (p.429)

Question 7

What symptoms are associated with tabes dorsalis?

Answer 7

Impaired sensation and proprioception and progressive sensory ataxia (inability to sense or feel the legs) (p.429)

Question 8

Name three symptomatic associations of Tabes dorsalis?

Answer 8

Charcot’s joints, shooting pain, Argyll Robertson pupils (p.429)

Question 9

What are Argyll Robertson pupils?

Answer 9

Small bilateral pupils that further constrict to accommodation but not to light (p.429)

Question 10

What two exam features will be demonstrated in a patient with taves dorsalis?

Answer 10

Absence of DTRs and positive Rhomberg (p.429)

Question 11

What is syringomyelia?

Answer 11

When the syrinx expands to damage the anterior white commisure of the spinothalamic tract (2nd order neurons); can expand to affect other tracts (p.429)

Question 12

What symptoms are associated with syringomyelia?

Answer 12

Bilateral loss of pain and temperature sensation (usually C8-T1) (p.429)

Question 13

What condition may also cause syringomyelia?

Answer 13

Chiari I malformation (p.429)

Question 14

What spinal cord segments are affected by vitamin B12 or vitamin E deficiency?

Answer 14

Dorsal columns, lateral corticospinal tracts, and spinocerebellar tracts (p.429)

Question 15

What is the pathophysiology of spinal cord damage in vitamin B12 or Vitamin E deficiency?

Answer 15

Subacute combined degeneration (p.429)

Question 16

What neurological symptoms are associated with spinal cord degeneration in vitamin B12 or vitamin E deficiency?

Answer 16

Ataxic gait, paresthesia, impaired position and vibration sense (p.429)

Question 17

What causes poliomyelitis?

Answer 17

Poliovirus is transmitted by fecal-oral route (p.430)

Question 18

How is the polio virus spread in the body?

Answer 18

Replication of the virus is in the oropharynx and small intestine. Virus then spreads via the bloodstream to the CNS (p.430)

Question 19

What areas of the spinal cord are affected by poliomyelitis?

Answer 19

Anterior horn of the spinal cord causes LMN death (p.430)

Question 20

What symptoms are associated with poliomyelitis?

Answer 20

LMN signs- weakness, hypotonia, flaccid paralysis, atrophy, fasciculations, hyporeflexia, muscle atrophy (p.430)

Question 21

What symptoms are associated with signs of acute poliomyelitis infection?

Answer 21

Malaise, headache, fever, nausea, etc. (p.430)

Question 22

What CSF findings are associated with poliomyelitis?

Answer 22

CSF has elevated WBCs and slight protein elevation (with no change in glucose) (p.430)

Question 23

From what types of samples can the poliomyelitis virus be recovered?

Answer 23

Stool samples or throat cultures (p.430)

Question 24

What is Werdnig-Hoffman disease?

Answer 24

Congenital LMN degeneration of the anterior horns of the spinal cord (p.430)

Question 25

What signs and symptoms characterize Werdnig- Hoffman disease?

Answer 25

Floppy baby with marked hypotonia and tongue fasciculations. Infantile type has a median age of death of about 7 months (p.430)