Brain Tumours, Neurological Infections, Neuroplasticity Flashcards
Risk factors of brain infections
- immunocompromised states, including AIDS.
- Inflamation due to disease
- Poverty and deprivation
Meningitis
- inflammation of pita and arachnoid mater.
- infection due to CSF
- increased levels of white blood cells
Symptoms
- fever
- headache
- neck stiffness
- photophobia
- Photophobia
Types of meningitis
- bacterial
- aseptic (viral)
- Tuberculous
Neurological Exminations
- Case history
- visual inspection
- mental state (conversation)
- motor functions and sensory tests
Bacterial meningitis
Acute, transmission through respiratory droplets
MENINGACOCCOL
Tuberculous meningitis
Chronic, rare except common on HIV
Aseptic Meningitis
Eneterovirruses, mumps
Lives in intestinal tract
Encephalitis
Infection to the brain e.g. herpes simplex, measles, mumps
Herpes simplex virus
- cold sore virus
- lays dormant in the ganglion of the Trigeminal cranial nerve
Astrocytes
Nutrition and repair
Oligodencytes
Support/insulation of axons via myelin sheath
Ependymocytes
Production of CSF
Microglia
Immune defense in CNS
Intrinsic cerebral tumours
Within meninges, typically from abnormal cell division e.g. glial cells
Metastases
Transfer of tumour cells from elsewhere in the body
Extrinsic cerebral tumours
Arise in intracranial structures outside of the Brian
Examples of extrinsic cerebral tumours
- pituitary tumour
- acoustic neuroma
Pituitary tumour
- visual disturbances- pressure on the optic nerve
- range of hormonal affects
- removed with surgery
Acoustic neuroma
- slow growth over years
- hearing disturbances, dizziness and vertigo
Pressure on Trigeminal nerve, may cause facial numbness
Neuroplasticity
Demonstrated every time we learn something
Effects of Neuroplasticity
- age
- experience
Retiotopic maps
In visual cortex
Tonotonic maps
In primary auditory cortex
