Brain Damage And Neuroplasticity Flashcards
Mass of cells that grow independently of the rest of the body.
Tumor (neoplasm)
What are the six causes of brain damage?
- Tumors
- Cerebrovascular disorders
- Closed head injuries
- Infections
- Neurotoxins
- Genetic factors
What percentage of tumors are meningiomas (tumors encased in the meninges)?
20%
Membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
Meninges
True or False: meningiomas are usually malignant and cannot be removed.
False meningiomas are usually BENIGN and surgically REMOVABLE
True of False: tumors can only influence function of the brain by the pressure they exert on surrounding tissue.
True
True or False: most brain tumors are not infiltrating.
False, most brain tumors ARE infiltrating
True or False: brain tumors are benign and easy to remove or destroy.
False, brain tumors are MALIGNANT and DIFFICULT to remove or destroy
What percentage of brain tumors are metastatic and originate elsewhere, usually the lung?
10%
Sudden onset cerebrovascular disorder that can cause brain damage.
Stroke
In the U.S, strokes are the ___ leading cause of death and most common cause of disability.
3rd
Name the three common consequences if strokes.
- Amnesia
- Aphasia
- Coma
Name the two types of stoke.
- Cerebral hemorrhage
2. Cerebral ischemia
This occurs when a blood vessel ruptures and blood seeps into surrounding neural tissue and damages it.
Cerebral hemorrhage
This is a pathological ballon-like dilation that forms in the wall of a blood vessel at a point where the elasticity of the wall is defective.
Aneurysm
This is a disruption of blood supply to the brain.
Cerebral ischemia
This is a plug that blocks blood flow at the site of formation.
Thrombosis
This is a plug that forms elsewhere and is carried by blood from a larger vessel to a smaller one where it is lodged.
Embolism
True or False: damage due to cerebral ischemia develops immediately.
False, it does NOT develop immediately, it takes a day or two to develop
True or False: most damage due to cerebral ischemia is a consequence of excess release of neurotransmitters, especially glutamate.
True
Blood deprived neurons become overactive and release _______.
Glutamate
Glutamate over stimulate its receptors, especially ________ leading to an influx of Na+ and Ca++
NMDA
True or False: the influx of Na+ and Ca++ triggers the release of more glutamate and a further sequence of internal reactions that ultimately kill the neuron.
True
True or False: ischemia induced brain damage occurs equally in all parts of the brain.
False, ischemia induced brain damage does NOT occur equally in all parts of the brain and neurons in certain parts of the hippocampus are particularly susceptible.
This occurs when when the walls of blood vessels thicken, usually due to fat deposits.
Arteriosclerosis
This is a brain injury in which the brain collides with the skull due to a blow to the head that does not penetrate the skull.
Closed-head injury
This is a type of closed-head injury that involves damage to the cerebral circulatory system.
Contusion
This is a localized collection of dotted blood in an organ of tissue (a bruise).
Hematoma
This occurs when the contusion is often on the opposite side of the blow.
Contrecoup
This occurs when there is a disturbance in consciousness following a blow to the head with no evidence of structural damage
Concussion
True or False: the incidence of MS is increased in those who spend childhood in a cool climate.
True
True or False: MS is common amongst Africans and Asians.
False, MS is RARE amongst Africans and Asians.
True or False: there is a strong genetic predisposition to MS and many genes are involved.
True
MS is a(an) ____________ disorder.
Autoimmune
True or False: there is a cure for MS.
False, there is NO CURE for MS, although there are drugs that may retard the progression or block symptoms
This is the most common cause of dementia and the likelihood of developing it increases with age.
Alzheimer’s disease
These are threadlike tangles of protein in the neural cytoplasm.
Neurofibrillary tangles
These are clumps of scar tissue composed of degenerating neurons and a protein called amyloid.
Amyloid plaques
A prevalent amount of tangles and plaques occur in medial temporal lobe structures such as __________, _________ and _________ which are involved in memory.
Entorhinal cortex, amygdala and hippocampus
