Brain dissection

Question 1

what is superior orbital fissure syndrome?

Answer 1

palsy of optic, abducens and trochlear cranial nerves
can be caused by pituitary tumour as pituitary gland found between superior orbital fissures
causes unilateral symptoms

Question 2

what is the tentorial notch?

Answer 2

separates cerebellum from cerebral hemispheres

blood can accumulate here

Question 3

what are the types of brain haemorrhages?

Answer 3

extradural/ epidural
subdural
subarachnoid
intraventricular

Question 4

epidural haematoma/ extradural haemorrhage

Answer 4

associated with skull fracture
young patients
caused by middle meningeal artery
bleeding between dura mater and skull

Question 5

symptoms/ signs of epidural haematoma

Answer 5

arterial blood - bright red 
unilateral symptoms
lose consciousness after a few hours 
consciousness diminishes quickly 
ipsilateral dilated pupil
raised ICP can cause death quickly

Question 6

treatment for epidural haematoma

Answer 6

Burr hole craniostomy to release the blood

Question 7

subdural haematoma

Answer 7

can be caused by a minor fall
bleeding from small fragile vein
between dura and pia mater
lots of blood accumulates

Question 8

symptoms of subdural haematoma

Answer 8

slight confusion
symptoms develop slowly over 2-3 weeks
can self-resolve and then be seen on scans at a later date
slow progression

Question 9

raised ICP

Answer 9

supratentorial herniation

infratentorial herniation

Question 10

trauma to the front of the head

Answer 10

causes injury to posterior of the brain

Question 11

what does the fornix do?

Answer 11

transfers information from hippocampus to mammillary bodies and anterior nuclei of thalamus