Case 5 - Stroke Flashcards
What lobe does the sylvian fissure seperate?
Temporal lobe
What is the anterior circulation of the brain derived from and where do these arteries enter?
Left and right internal carotid arteries - enter via carotid canals
What do the internal carotid arteries give rise to? Give their functions
- Ophthalmic artery: supplies all structures in orbit, as well as nose, face and meninges
- Posterior communicating artery: connects ICA with posterior cerebral artery
- Anterior cerebral artery: supplies blood to frontal and parietal lobes
What does the ICA continue as and where does this extend?
Continues as middle cerebral arteries
Extends to lateral cerebral cortex
Where does the posterior circulation supply?
Occipital lobes, cerebellum, brainstem
What is the posterior circulation of the brain derived from and where do these arteries enter?
Vertebral arteries - enter through foramen magnum
What are the branches of the vertebral arteries and where do they supply?
- Posterior inferior cerebellar artery: largest, supplies the cerebellum
- Anterior and posterior meningeal arteries: supply dura mater
- Anterior and posterior spinal arteries: supplies spinal cord along its length
What does the vertebral artery continue as?
The L and R converge to form the basilar artery at the base of the pons
Where does the middle cerebral artery supply?
Enters sylvian fissure, supplies the lateral surface of cortex (lateral temporal, parietal and frontal lobes), including the basal ganglia and internal capsule
Where does the anterior cerebral artery supply?
Medial frontal and parietal lobes, including the corpus calosum and parts of the basal ganglia
Where does the posterior cerebral artery supply?
Occipital and temporal lobes, as well as the thalamus and midbrain
Name the nuclei for cranial nerves 1 and 2
CN I: olfactory bulb
CN II: lateral geniculate nucleus
List the 4 cranial nerve nuclei found in the midbrain
Edwinger- westphal nucleus
Oculomotor nucleus
Trochlear nucleus
Mesencephalic nucleus - extends from pons to midbrain
List the 4 nuclei found in the pons
Trigeminal motor nucleus
Abducens nucleus
Facial motor nucleus
Chief nucleus (trigeminal)
Name the nuclei found at the pons-medullary junction
Vestibular and cochlear nuclei
List the 5 nuclei found in the medulla
Spinal nucleus
Nucleus solitarius
Nucleus ambiguus
Dorsal motor nucleus of vagus
Hypoglossal nucleus
What cranial nerves synapse at the nucleus solitarius? What fibres does it contain?
9th, 7th, 10th cranial nerves (glossopharyngeal, facial, vagus)
- Think ‘Non Stop Training’
Contains sensory fibres
List the 3 areas involved in language and their location
Brocas area= frontal lobe
Wernickes area= temporal and inferior parietal lobe
Angular gyrus = parietal lobe
What connects Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas?
Arcuate fasciculus
What is the role of Broca’s area?
Speech production and articulation. Controls ability to articulate ideas, and use words accurately in spoken language
What would damage of Broca’s area lead to?
Words being poorly articulated = expressive (non-fluent) dysphasia, i.e. deficits in speech production although comprehension would be good
What is the role of Wernicke’s area?
Critical language area, primarily involved in comprehension and language processing
What would damage to Wernicke’s area lead to?
Speech devoid of meaning, i.e. receptive dysphasia (fluent) - language production is in tact but comprehension isn’t. Patients usually unaware of their difficulties
What is the role of the angular gyrus?
Allows us to associate multiple types of language-related information, i.e. visual, auditory and sensory. Allows us to associate perceived words with images and ideas
What would damage to the angular gyrus lead to?
Inability to read and copy written work (agraphia)
Other than dysphasia, what can damage to Broca’s area also lead to?
Dysphagia - difficulty swallowing, as it’s close to the swallowing centre
What would cause a UMN lesion?
Damage to either corticospinal or corticobulbar tracts; tracts that arise from the cortex and extend to the ventral grey horn or CN nuclei in pons/ medulla
Damage to which CN nuclei can cause a LMN lesion?
Trigeminal (V), facial (VI), nucleus ambiguus (IX, X, XI) and hypoglossal (XII)
Or if damage to the cranial nerve axons
Which nucleus controls speech?
Nucleus ambiguus - controls muscles of larynx etc.
What can cause a UMN lesion?
Stroke, MS, Fredrick’s ataxia, B12 deficiency, ALD
What can cause a LMN lesion?
Polio virus, ALS, cauda equina, diabetes mellitus neuropathy
How would a UMN lesion present in terms of muscle mass, strength, tone and deep tendon reflexes?
15-20% decrease in mass (disuse atrophy)
Spastic paralysis
Hypertonia
Hyperreflexia
How would a LMN lesion present in terms of muscle mass, strength, tone and deep tendon reflexes?
80% decrease in mass (denervation atrophy)
Flaccid paralysis
Hypotonia
Hyporeflexia
Why do UMN and LMN lesions lead to different responses in tone and reflexes?
UMN lesions lead to increased stimulation of alpha motor neurones (hypertonia) and increased stimulation of gamma motor neurones (hyperreflexia)
LMN lesions lead to decreased stimulation so the opposite
How does UMN and LMN lesions lead to a loss of muscle mass?
UMN - loses connection between brain and muscle so dont use it as much
LMN - lower ACh production so protein synthesis decreases
What is the difference between flaccid and spastic paralysis?
Spastic: velocity-dependent (resistance increases with increased velocity) and in 1 direction only (i.e. resistance when flexing) = accompanied by weakness
Flaccid: weakness with a loss of muscle tone
Are fasiculations/ fibrillatitons (EMG) present in UMN or LMN lesions? Why?
Present in LMN lesions and absent in UMN lesions.
LMN lesions = decreases ACh & in response the muscle increases ACh receptors - muscle is more sensitive to ion changes so leads to pathological contractions
Is Babinski’s reflex response present in UMN or LMN lesions? Why?
UMN lesions - as you lose the inhibition to dorsiflexors thus they are stimulated, therefore the toe dorsiflexes rather than plantarflexes
Is pronator drift present in UMN or LMN lesions?
UMN lesion - as this damages the supinators so pronators overcome the power of supinators
Is Hoffman’s sign present in UMN or LMN lesions?
UMN lesion - causes hyperreflexia of the thumb so moves towards the index finger
Compare alpha and gamma motor fibres
Alpha = extrafusal fibres, generate movement
Gamma= intrafusal fibres, stretch reflex
Why is the Babkinski reflex seen in children <1 year?
UMNs aren’t fully myelinated yet so theres decreased functioning
Define stroke
Acute neurological deficit lasting >24hr, or leading to death and caused by cerebrovascular aetiology (decreased blood to brain)
What are some general symptoms of a stroke?
Weakness/ paralysis
Paresthesia
Aphasia
Dysarthria
Visual defects
Imbalance
Impaired consciousness
Nausea
Headaches
Seizures
Which ethnicity is most at risk for a stroke?
Black Africans
What are the 2 main types of stroke and their epidemiology?
Ischaemic = 85% of strokes
Haemorrhagic = 15%
What is a thrombotic ischaemic stroke caused by?
Rupture of atherosclerotic plaque and exposure of subendothelial collagen - leads to formation of a thrombus
What is an embolic ischaemic stroke caused by?
Embolus from elsewhere in the body travelling to the brain, e.g. from heart (due to atrial fibrillation) or infection (i.e. bacterial endocarditis)
How can global cerebral ischaemia be caused?
Systemic hypotension - i.e. watershed infarct, hypoglycaemia, chronic hypoxia, cardiac arrest
What are the risk factors for ischaemic strokes?
Hypertension
Diabetes mellitus
Obesity
Previous TIA
Atrial fibrillation
Hypercoagulable states
Infections
Alcohol and drugs
Male
Older age
Ethnicity - African Americans and Hispanics
What are the clinical features of an ischaemic stoke?
- Contralateral hemiplegia (paralysis) or hemiparesis (limb weakness/ tingling), develops over seconds to hours
- Dysphasia / aphasia: if dominant hemisphere is affected
- Sudden confusion and difficulty understanding speech
What is the pathophysiology of an ischaemic stroke?
1: low blood supply = hypoxic cells, cannot generate ATP
2: Na+/K+ ATP pump fails, Na+ accumulates which changes osmotic balance
3: oedema - cells in direct area of infarct swell and die
4: NA+ causes change in charge, which opens Ca2+ channels = Ca2+ influx
5: Excess glutamate release (excitotoxicity) - overstimulates NMDA receptors
6: Release of free radicals = necrosis
7: production of cytokines (i.e. IL-1) = inflammation, further adds to oedema
8: infarcted tissue
Describe the difference between the primary region of ischaemic damage and surrounding areas
Core = primary region of damage, blood flow is dramatically reduced (<20% of normal) = severe ischaemia = cells die in minutes- hours
Penumbra= surrounding area, around 20-50% of normal blood flow. Neurons are still functional but not at full capacity = at ‘threat’ of dying - hope for rescue with quick treatment
What are the 2 types of haemorrhagic strokes?
Intracerebral - 10-12%
Subarachnoid - 3%
What is an intracerebral stroke?
Bleeding within the brain itself, secondary to a ruptured vessel. This is a space-occupying lesion so it can push structures across the midline and lead to herniation
What are 2 types of intracerebral strokes?
Intraparenchymal (within brain parenchyma)
Intraventricular (within ventricles)
How can intracerebral strokes be caused?
Trauma - head injuries etc.
Non-traumatic causes - hypertension, coagulopathy, i.e. antiplatelet medications, neoplasms, aneurysm rupture
What is the most common cause of an intracerebral stroke?
Uncontrolled hypertension
What is the clinical presentation of an haemorrhagic stroke?
Sudden, severe headache (‘thunderclap’ headache)
Nausea and vomiting
Temporary or persistent loss of consciousness
Very high BP
What is the pathophysiology of haemorrhagic strokes?
1: ruptured blood vessel = blood leaks into tissues and displaces them
2: BBB breakdown and increased intracranial pressure
3: decreased blood flow leading to secondary ischaemia
4: extreme cases: midline shift and herniation
Secondary damage= thrombin, haemoglobin, heme and iron damage surrounding tissue - innate immune system phagocytoses the haematoma = glial scar formation