B&B Week 3 Flashcards
list the ascending tracts of the brainstem
anterolateral system (spinothalamic)
dorsal column medial lemniscus system
spinocerebellar tracts
list the descending tracts of the brainstem
corticospinal tract
corticobulbar tract
what are the pontine nuclei?
connections from the brainstem to the cerebellum
name the three intrinsic systems of the brainstem
- reticular formation
- neurotransmitter systems
- central pattern generators
list the general components of the brainstem
- ascending and descending tracts
- cranial nerve nuclei
- connections to the cerebellum/pontine nuclei
- intrinsic systems
where are the cranial nerve nuclei found?
brainstem
describe the general organization of the brainstem
motor fibers are derived from the basal plate, located medially
sensory fibers are derived from the alar plate, located laterally
what fibers are derived form the brainstem basal plate?
motor
what fibers are derived from the brainstem alar plate?
sensory
what gross structures make up the brainstem?
midbrain
pons
medulla
what is the otic capsule?
The otic capsule refers to the dense osseous labyrinth of the inner ear that surrounds the cochlea, the vestibule and the semicircular canals. It is surrounded by the less dense / pneumatised petrous apex and mastoid part of the temporal bone.
in the petrous portion of temporal bone
describe the components of the membranous labyrinth contained within the otic capsule
3 semicircular canals, 2 otoliths (utricle and saccule)
the semicircular canals detect angular accelerations, and head rotations (are arranged orthagonally to each other)
otoliths sense body orientation and linear motion (utricle is detects horizontal and saccule detects sagittal)
what is the function of the semicircular canals in the vestibular system?
the semicircular canals detect angular accelerations, and head rotations (are arranged orthagonally to each other)
each canal is sensitive to head rotations in the plane of that canal
together, the 3 canals can specify the direction and amplitude of any head rotation
what is the function of the otoliths in the vestibular system?
otoliths sense body orientation and linear motion (utricle is detects horizontal and saccule detects sagittal)
name and describe the composition of the labyrinth fluids found in the vestibular system
- perilymph–> found between bony and membranous labyrinth
- is similar to extracellular fluid and CSF
- ultrafiltrate of CSF or blood
- low K+, high Na+ - endolymph–> found inside the membranous labyrinth lumen
- unique extracellular fluid as it is more similar to intracellular fluid (high K+ and low Na+)
- produced by DARK cells of the sensory epithelium
describe the vestibular sensory epithelium
contains HAIR CELLS, which are receptor cells for detecting movement of endolymph by projecting into labyrinth lumen
60-100 stereocilia and ONE kinocilium per hair cell
supporting cells are microvilli
tight junctions
terminals of the vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)
name the two otoliths
utricle
saccule
what does the utricle do?
detects body position and horizontal linear motion
what does the saccule do?
detects body position and sagittal linear motion
describe the pathway of the vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
follows internal auditory meatus with facial nerve (VII)
enters brainstem at pontine-medullary junction/the cerebellopontine angle
projects to vestibular nuclear complex, cerebellum
what are the 4 major functions of the vestibular system?
- it is a sensory organ that detects BODY POSITION relative to gravity and the MOTION of the body in space and the motion of the body in space
- maintains equilibrium–> balance, postural stability
- motor output–> reflex and controlled motor movements
- vision–> control of head and eye motion, stabilization of visual gaze during head, body movement
name the 3 semicircular ducts
anterior
horizontal
posterior
what are the 5 vestibular sensory organs?
3 semicircular canals
2 otoliths
what are otoliths?
2 sac like organs between the semicircular canals and the cochlea
sense body orientation and linear motion
how does perilymph drain?
via venules and middle ear mucosa
how does endolymph drain?
absorbed by endolymphatic sac
what are the types of sensory epithelia in the vestibular system?
5:
the cristae of the semicircular canals (3)
the maculae of the utricle and saccule (2)
sensory epithelia contain hair cells which are sensory cells that detect movement of the endolymph
how many stereocilia are there per hair cell?
60-100
how many kinocilia are there per hair cell
1
what neurotransmitter is released from the stereocilia and kinocilia of the hair cells in the vestibular system?
glutamate
how many hair cells do the utricles and saccules have?
about 35 000 hair cells
how many hair cells are in the ampulla of the semicircular canals?
about 8000
what is particularly important about the hair cells?
they are the terminals of the vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
afferent fibers send output to CNS
bipolar cells with cell bodies in the vestibular ganglia
what are the ampullae of the vestibular system?
swellings at the end of the semicircular canals
what are the cristae of the vestibular system?
hair cell sensory epithelium within the ampullae
what is the cupula of the vestibular system?
acellular, gelatinous mass
hinged gate spanning the ampulla lumen
hair cell cilia embedded in the cupula project into the endolymph
ALL hair cells in the ampulla are oriented in the same direction, with the kinocilium closest to the utricle
describe the functional planes and pairings of the semicircular canals
arranged in three functional planes with right-left pairing
- right anterior // left posterior
- right posterior //left anterior
- right horizontal // left horizontal
* pairs of cristae are arranged as mirror opposites
describe how the semicircular canals would detect a head turn to the left
turning of the head to the left causes fluid motion in the canals and a change in the axis of the hair cells
on the left, afferent fibers of CN VIII increase firing while the afferent fibers of the right side decrease firing
what is the otolithic membrane?
acellular gelatinous mass
what are otoconia?
calcium carbonate crystals that sit on top of the otolithic membrane
**pressure of otoconia deflects hair cell cilium
what is another name for the vestibular ganglion?
scarpa’s ganglion
where is the vestibular nuclear complex found?
in the dorsal pons and medulla beneath the 4th ventricle
list the vestibular nuclei
- lateral vestibular nucleus
- medial vestibular nucleus
- superior vestibular nucleus
- lateral vestibular nucleus
what is the function of the lateral vestibular nucleus in the vestibular nuclear complex?
aka Deiter’s nucleus
innervates gravity-opposing muscles of limbs to MAINTAIN POSTURE
what is the function of the medial vestibular nucleus in the vestibular nuclear complex?
reflex adjustment of the head and trunk muscles to restore head position after disturbance
stabilizes head in space
what is the function of the superior and medial vestibular nuclei in the vestibular nuclear complex?
eye movements
vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR)
what is the function of the inferior vestibular nucleus in the vestibular nuclear complex?
integrates multi-sensory input and the cerebellum to regulate VOR gain
what are the inputs to the lateral vestibular nucleus?
utricle, saccule, semicircular canals
what is the pathway of the lateral vestibulospinal tract?
from the lateral vestibular nucleus
descends entire spinal cord
UNCROSSED (ipsilateral)
runs in the white matter in the anterior of the spinal cord (ventral horn)
what is the target of the lateral vestibulospinal tract?
ventral horn alpha and gamma motor neurons that innervate gravity opposing muscles of limbs
what is the input to the medial vestibular nucleus?
primarily the semicircular canals
what is the pathway of the medical vestibulospinal tract?
it becomes the descending medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF)
it is bilateral (but the ipsilateral projection is more dense)
what is the target of the medical vestibulospinal tract?
cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord
motor neurons innervating the neck musculature
what vestibular nuclei are responsible for the VOR?
superior and medial
what is the function of the superior and medial vestibular nuclei (combined)? input?
VOR–> reflex to stabilize image in response to head turn
*input is semicircular canals
what is the pathway of the superior and medial vestibular nuclei/VOR fibres?
pathway is a 3 neuron arc
- bipolar neurons
- medial and superior vestibular nuclei
- motor neurons in the abducens nucleus (VI) and the oculomotor nuclei (III) that innervate oculomotor muscles
what muscles are coordinated by the horizontal VOR?
4 muscles:
left and right lateral recti
left and right medial recti
describe the basic neural mechanisms of the VOR based on a head turn to the right
if you turn your head to the right, but keep your eyes forward and want the image to be stable, your eyes need to remain pointing forwards
thus, if you turn your head to the right, the VOR causes excitatory signals to be sent to the lateral rectus muscle of the left eye and the medial rectus muscle of the right eye
the excitatory signal that goes to the lateral rectus of the left eye and the medial rectus of the right eye comes from the right semicircular canals, crossing over after the vestibular nucleus
at the same time, inhibitory signals are being sent to the lateral rectus of the right eye and the medial rectus of the left eye from the left semicircular canals
the excitatory and inhibitory signals synapse at the abducens nucleus and then at the oculomotor nucleus
what does the inferior vestibular nucleus do?
adjust the VOR
receives feedback from eyes and can then modulate the vestibular nerve to modulate the VOR
what is nystagmus?
rhythmic alteration of slow and fast eye movements during VOR
VOR –> slow
saccade–> fast
how can you induce a saccade?
by introducing warm or cold water to the ear canal
fast phase direction of the nystagmus: COWS
cold–opposite
warm–same
i.e if you introduce warm water to the right ear, the fast phase of the nystagmus will be towards the right (opposite for cold)
define benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
vestibular disorder
displaced otoconia lodged in the semicircular canals
define meniere’s disease (endolymphatic hydrops)
vestibular disorder
increased endolymph in the inner ear
define vestibular neuritis
vestibular disorder
viral infection of the vertibulo-cochlear nerve
define perilymph fistula
vestibular disorder
breach in the oval and/or round window
define ototoxicity
vestibular disorder
toxicity induced death of hair cells
define mal de debarquement
vestibular disorder
failure of CNS system plasticity to respond to prolonged movement
how do aging, dizziness and balance relate?
as we age we get visual and motor deficits, BPPV and gradual hair cell loss
when would you get bilateral vestibular dysfunction? how does it present?
occurs with toxicity–i.e aminoglycosides
slow onset of loss of vestibular function
instability of eyes with head movements
instability when walking in the dark (without visual input)
how does unilateral vestibular dysfunction present? what might cause it?
severe acute symptoms
extreme dizziness, nausea, vomiting
deviation towards the side of the lesion when walking
abnormal nystagmus
displaced otoconia, viral infection may cause it
how might the body adapt to unilateral vestibular dysfunction?
gradual recovery from unilateral lesions
learning induced changes to central circuits
vestibular inputs become ignored in favor of vision and proprioception
what can happen when there is a mismatch between vestibular and visual inputs?
dizziness
i.e rotation induced, optical illusions, motion sickness, alcohol (bed spins)
where do general somatic efferents (GSEs) go?
give examples of GSEs
to skeletal muscle
cranial nerves: III IV VI XII XI
here do general visceral efferents go?
give examples of GVEs
these are the parasympathetics
cranial nerves: III VII IX X
where do special visceral efferents (SVEs) go?
give examples of SVEs
to skeletal muscle (pharyngeal arches)
cranial nerves: V VII IX X
what do general visceral afferents sense?
give examples of GVAs
visceral sensory
cranial nerves:
IX
X
what do special visceral afferents (SVAs) sense?
give examples of SVAs
taste
cranial nerves:
VII
IX
X
what do general somatic afferents (GSAs) sense?
give examples of GSAs
general sensory
cranial nerves:
V
IX
X
what so special somatic afferents (SSAs) sense?
give examples of SSAs
hearing and balance
cranial nerve VIII
how are the afferent and efferent nuclei generally arranged in the brain stem?
lateral (alar plate)–> from lateral towards the sulcus limitans
SSA–> GSA–> SVA–> GVA–> sulcus limitans
medial (basal plate)–> from sulcus limitans towards the midline
GVE–> SVE–> GSE
what nerve innervates the following extra-ocular muscles:
- superior rectus
- inferior rectus
- medial rectus
- inferior oblique
- superior oblique
- lateral rectus
1-4–> innervated by CN III (oculomotor)
5–> innervated by CN IV (trochlear)
6–> innervated by CN VI (abducens)
what nerve innervates the lateral rectus muscle of the eye?
CN VI (abducens)
what nerve innervated the superior oblique muscle of the eye?
CN IV (trochlear)
what nerve innervates the superior rectus muscle of the eye?
CN III (oculomotor)
what does the MLF do?
connects the abducens (VI) nucleus to the oculomotor nucleus (III)
define gaze
the coordinated, synergistic movement of both eyes to a target
define saccadic eye movements
rapid eye movements to redirect gaze to an object of importance, generated by the FRONTAL EYE FIELDS int he CORTEX
how do the pathways of the impulses that control reflexive saccades and volitional saccades differ?
REFLEXIVE saccades go through the superior coliculus
VOLITIONAL saccades BYPASS the superior colliculus
list and describe the types of volitional saccades
- anti-saccades –> away from stimulus
- predictive saccades–> towards where stimulus is expected to be
- memory saccades –> to where the stimulus was
define smooth pursuit
tracks a slowly moving object
keep object on fovea (the area of highest visual acuity)
what controls vertical gaze?
vertical gaze center
what is disconjugate gaze?
failure of eyes to turn together in the same direction
how do eyes converge? why?
eyes converge through adduction by both medial rectus muscles to focus on a NEAR object
how do eyes diverge? why?
eyes diverge through abduction by both lateral rectus muscles
this shifts the focus from the near object to a farther away object
how many layers make up the retina?
3
list the layers of the retina
- photoreceptors–rods (ro-sco-no) and far fewer cones (co-pho-co)
- bipolar cells–many rods to one bipolar, few cones to one bipolar
- retinal ganglion cells are designated as M cells or P cells
what is the nerve-chiasma tract of the visual system?
the optic nerve fibres from the nasal hemiretina cross over at the chiasma to the contralateral optic tract
optic nerve fibers from the temporal hemiretina do not cross over and reach the thalamus by the ipsilateral optic tract
describe the structure of the lateral genticulate nucleus (LGN) of the visual system, and state what types of cells are found there
2 lamina–> M cells from ipsilateral eye
most ventral: #1 lamina --> M cells from the contralateral eye
most dorsal: #6 lamina--> P cells from contralateral eye
what are M cells?
ganglion cells of the visual system that generate APs
“magnocellular” cells
mostly rods tuned to movement
what are P cells?
ganglion cells of the visual system that generate APs
“parvocellular cells”
mostly cones tuned to fine detail
once the impulses from the optic nerve reach the LGN, what happens to them?
leaving the LGN, fibres fan out in a wide band to reach the visual cortex in the occipital lobe
where is the visual cortex?
in the occipital lobe
where is the LGN?
thalamus
what are optic radiations?
superior optic radiations are fibers that reach the visual cortex from above, via the PARIETAL lobe–> carry information from the INFERIOR retina
inferior optic radiations (Meyer’s) are fibres that reach teh visual cortex from below, via the TEMPORAL lobe–> carry information from the SUPERIOR retina
what is monocular scotoma?
loss of vision in the center of the visual field of one eye
what is the lesion behind monocular scotoma in the right eye?
damage to right retina, partial damage to right optic nerve
what is the lesion behind monocular vision loss in the right eye?
entire right retina or right optic nerve complete lesion
a lesion to the optic nerve of one eye will lead to loss of the complete visual field in that eye
the other eye can still perceive the entire visual field
what can cause the lesions that lead to monocular scotoma or monocular vision loss?
retinal infarct
hemorrhage
infection
trauma
glaucoma
schwannoma
elevated ICP
neuropathy
several diseases of the eye
what is bitemporal hemianopsia?
vision loss in the lateral/temporal fields of both eyes
what is the lesion that leads to bitemporal hemianopsia?
damage to OPTIC CHIASM (often not perfect symmetry)
a lesion to the optic chiasm leads to loss of the nasal retinal fibers from both eyes–> these nasal retinal fibers carry information about the temporal visual field and thus a lesion to the optic chiasm (where the nasal fibers cross) leads to the loss of the temporal visual field in both sides
what can cause the lesions (damage to the optic chiasm) that lead to bitemporal hemianopsia?
pituitary adenoma
lesions
meningioma
hypothalamic glioma
craniopharyngioma
what is contralateral homonymous hemianopia?
loss of the temporal visual field in one eye, and the nasal field in the other (i.e both right or both left visual fields are gone)
what is the lesion that leads to contralateral homonymous hemianopia?
lesion in the contralateral optic tract or LGN
i.e if both left visual fields were gone, lesion would be in the right optic tract or LGN/occipital lobe
a lesion to the optic tract will affect the nasal (crossed) fibres from the contralateral eye and the temporal fibres from the ipsilateral eye
these fibers carry information from the contralateral visual field
**in addition, a lesion of the entire primary visual cortex on one side will lead to the loss the contralateral visual field from both eyes
what can cause lesions to the optic tracts etc leading to contralateral homonymous hemianopia?
infarct
bleeding
tumour
demyelination
infection (i.e toxoplasmosis)
what is contralateral superior quadrantanopia?
loss of vision in the upper quadrant of the visual field in both eyes (i.e both upper left quadrants)
“pie in the sky”
what lesion causes contralateral superior quadrantanopia?
lesion of the contralateral temporal lobe, lower bank (meyer’s loop)
a lesion to the Meyer loop will affect the fibers from the upper portion of the contralateral visual field in both eyes
what causes the lesion (lesion of the contralateral temporal lobe) that causes contralateral superior quadrantanopia?
MCA inferior division infarct (“pie in the sky”), tumour, demyelination
what is contralateral inferior quadrantinopia?
loss of the lower quandrants on the same side of the visual field
“pie on the floor”
what lesion causes contralateral inferior quadrantinopia?
lesion of parietal lobe or upper bank of calcarine fissure
a partial lesion of the optic radiations before they are joined by fibres from meyers loop will affect fibres from the lower portion of the contralateral visual field from both eyes
what causes the lesion (lesion of parietal lobe or upper bank of calcarine fissure) that causes contralateral inferior quadrantinopia?
MCA superior division infarct, bleed, trauma, tumour
how do you test the functioning of the extraocular muscles?
H test
also tests all cranial nerves that innervate these muscles
NOTE: the H test does NOT test all the extraocular muscles, but it does test all the CRANIAL nerves that innervate these muscles
how does the H test test each cranial nerve that innervates the ocular muscles?
- the patient is asked to look laterally (i.e left)
- the left eye ABDUCTS through the action of the lateral rectus muscle innervated by CN VI
- abduction of the eye aligns the axis of the eyeball with the axis of the orbit and the muscles attaching to the tendinous ring
- when the eye is abducted, the patient is asked to look UP–> this tests the superior rectus, innervated by CN III
the action of the superior rectus can only be isolated when the patient has already abducted their eye
- patient is then asked to look to the right, ADDUCTING the eye being examined–> tests the medial rectus muscle (CN III)
- with the eye adducted, the patient is asked to look DOWN—> a downward movement will isolate the action of the superior oblique muscle (CN IV)
same movements are repeated for each eye
how do you isolate the function of the eye’s superior rectus muscle, clinically?
abduct the eye and then look up
how do you isolate the function of the eye’s superior oblique muscle, clinically?
adduct the eye, and then look down
what is the sensory innervation of the lacrimal gland?
sensory neurons from the lacrimal gland return to the CNS thru the lacrimal branch of the ophthalmic nerve (V1)
what is the secretomotor/parasympathetic innervation of the lacrimal gland?
secretomotor fibres from the parasympathetic part of the autonomic division of the PNS stimulate fluid secretion from the lacrimal gland
these preganglionic parasympathetic neurons leave the CNS in the FACIAL nerve (CN VII), enter the GREATER PETROSAL nerve (a branch of the facial nerve VII) and continue with the greater petrosal nerve until it becomes the nerve of the PTERYGOID CANAL
the nerve of the pterygoid canal then eventually enters the PTERYOPALATINE GANGLION where the preganglionic parasympathetic neurons synapse on postganglionic parasympathetic neurons
the postganglionic neurons join the MAXILLARY nerve (V2) and continue with it until the ZYGOMATIC nerve branches from it and travel with the zygomatic nerve until it gives off the ZYGOMATICOTEMPORAL nerve, which eventually distributes postganglionic parasympathetic fibers in a small branch that joins the lacrimal nerve
the lacrimal nerve passes to the lacrimal gland
what happens if the BBB is breaches by infectious diseases?
increased protein and water permeation–> edema, accumulation of inflammatory cells to inflammation sites and increased adhesion molecules (ICAM, VCAM)
list 4 of the major bacterial infections of the CNS
- bacterial meningitis
- brain abscess
- tuberculous meningitis
- syphilis
what happens in bacterial meningitis?
inflammatory reaction in SUBARACHNOID space with lots of PMNs and other WBCs
acute inflammation of walls of arteries and veins, may lead to INFARCT over several days
commonly see EPENDYMITIS (inflammation of ventricles)
persistent meningitis causes brain damage from vasculitis, brain infection, fibrosis in subarachnoid space, cranial nerve damage and obstruction of CSF space
what organisms commonly cause bacterial meningitis?
H. influenza
pneumococcus
meningococcus
how would you develop a brain abscess?
bacteria reach CNS via blood from an infection outside the CNS (i.e an ear infection)
what is the causative agent in tuberculous meningitis?
secondary to TB infection elsewhere in the body
what are the characteristics of tuberculous meningitis?
characterized by meningitis, vasculitis, cranial inflammation, tuberculomas
multinucleated giant cells are frequent
tubercles consist of central area of caseous necrosis with epithelioid cells and lymphocytes around
how does syphilis affect the brain? (i.e paretic vs. tabetic vs. meningovascular)
brain disease is a tertiary manifestation of the disease
paretic neurosyphillis–> progressive dementia and death; nerve cell destruction; microglia proliferation; WBC inflammatory response
tabetic neurosyphillis–> spinal and cranial nerves exclusively affected, especially lumbar region
meningovascular neurosyphillis–> vasculitis, chroic meningitis with lymphocytes, plasma cells
list 7 viruses that can cause CNS infection
- acute –> poliomyelitis or smallpox
- herpes simplex/zoster
- subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
- progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
- rubella
- cytomegalic inclusion disease
- HIV
how would poliomyelitis or smallpox affect the brain?
elicit inflammatory response
recovery is common
microglial and WBC response concentrated in the PERIVASCULAR spaces
how does herpes simplex/zoster affect the brain?
acute infection that is followed by recovery with relapses later in life
virus is not killed by the immune system and it lives on in the dorsal root ganglion (usually of CN V)
herpes encephalitis –> uncommon, acute, hemorrhagic, necrotizing, usually fatal
what cranial nerve root often harbours herpes virus?
CN V