Central Nervous System Part III Study Guide

Question 1

Concussion

Answer 1

temporary alteration in brain function – typically following a blow to the head; repeated concussions can cause cumulative damage

Question 2

Contusion

Answer 2

permanent damage caused by bruising of the brain

Question 3

Subdural or subarachnoid hemorrhages

Answer 3

ruptured blood vessels bleed into these available spaces; pressure from the blood may compress the brain and cause sudden, neurological decline

Question 4

Cerebral edema

Answer 4

swelling of the brain associated with traumatic head injury

Question 5

ischemia

Answer 5

Any tissue deprived of blood supply - can lead to tissue death (most CVAs are ischemic)
- Ischemia of brain tissue can be caused by blockage of a cerebral artery by a blood clot

Question 6

hemiplegia

Answer 6

paralysis on one side of the body often caused by CVA - sensory and speech deficits may also occur

Question 7

CVA (cerebral vascular accident)

Answer 7

stroke, most occur when blood vessels are blocked by blood clots which raises blood pressure (most are ischemic)

Question 8

How do CVAs cause hemiplegia?

Answer 8

a disruption in the transmission of neural impulses between the brain and the muscles

Question 9

TIA

Answer 9

transient ischemia attacks: temporary episodes of reversible cerebral ischemia; often a warning sign of a larger CVA

Question 10

TPA

Answer 10

tissue plasminogen activator: the most effective treatment for an acute stroke

Question 11

Define Alzheimer’s Disease. What are some symptoms?

Answer 11

• Alzheimer’s: progressive, degenerative disease of the brain that results in dementia
• Symptoms: memory loss, short attention span, disorientation, eventual language loss, irritability, moodiness, confusion, and hallucinations

Question 12

2 potential anatomical structures associated with Alzheimer’s Disease that cause neuronal death

Answer 12

• Plaques of beta-amygdaloid peptides form in the brain between the neurons
• Neurofibrillary tangles: formed from the protein tau inside the neurons; tangles interfere with the neuron’s transport mechanisms and eventually kill the neurons (brain shrinks as neurons die)

Question 13

Parkinson Disease

Answer 13

Degeneration of dopamine-releasing neurons of the substantia nigra

Question 14

Parkinson symptoms

Answer 14

tremors, stooped posture, masked face, back rigidity, forward tilt of trunk, reduced arm swing, slightly flexed hip and knees, shuffling, short stepped gait, tremors in legs, flexed elbows and wrists

Question 15

parkinson potential cause

Answer 15

mitochondrial abnormalities or protein degradation pathways

Question 16

parkinson treatment

Answer 16

L-dopa (a dopamine precursor), deep brain stimulation, and gene therapy

Question 17

huntington’s symptoms

Answer 17

wild, jerky, flapping like movements, followed by mental deterioration
- “Chorea”: excessive, writing movements, greek for dance

Question 17

Define Huntington Disease. What causes it?

Answer 17

Fatal hereditary disorder caused by the accumulation of the protein huntingtin in brain cells – leads to degeneration of basal nuclei and the cerebral cortex

Question 18

huntingtons potential treatment

Answer 18

drugs that block the effect of dopamine – stem cell implant research is promising

Question 18

2 functions the spinal cord provides

Answer 18

• Provides 2 way communication between the brain and body
• Acts as a major reflex center – reflexes are initiated and completed at the spinal cord

Question 18

Where does the spinal cord begin? Where does it end?

Answer 18

begins at the foramen magnum – ends at the L1L2 vertebra

Question 19

How is the spinal cord protected?

Answer 19

By bone, meninges, and CSF

Question 20

What can you find in the epidural space

Answer 20

Cushion of fat and a network of veins in the space between vertebrae and the spinal dura mater

Question 20

What can you find in the subarachnoid space?

Answer 20

CSF

Question 21

Conus medullaris

Answer 21

cone shaped structure where the spinal cord terminates

Question 22

Filum terminale

Answer 22

a fibrous extension of the conus medullaris covered with pia mater. It extends to the coccyx and anchors the spinal cord

Question 23

Denticulate ligaments

Answer 23

extensions of pia mater that secure the spinal cord to the dura mater

Question 24

central canal

Answer 24

runs the length of the spinal cord – it is filled with CSF and continuous with the brain’s 4th ventricle

Question 24

Cauda equina

Answer 24

collection of nerve roots at the inferior end of the vertebral canal

Question 25

Ventral (Anterior) Median Fissure Dorsal (Posterior) Median Sulcus

Answer 25

2 lengthwise grooves that run the length of the spinal cord and partially divide it into right and left halves

Question 26

Why are there cervical and lumbar enlargements in the spinal cord?

Answer 26

Areas of the spinal cord where the nerves servicing the upper and lower limbs arise

Question 27

The spinal cord’s central canal is filled with CSF, and it is continuous with the _____________________.

Answer 27

brain's 4th ventricle.

Question 28

dorsal horns

Answer 28

interneurons that receive somatic and visceral sensory inputs

Question 28

3 gray columns of the spinal cord

Answer 28

- dorsal horns - ventral horns - lateral horns

Question 29

ventral horns

Answer 29

some interneurons, mostly somatic motor neurons

Question 30

gray commissure

Answer 30

Bridge of gray matter that connects the masses of gray matter on either side of the central canal

Question 30

lateral horns

Answer 30

only exist in thoracic and superior regions; autonomic (sympathetic) neurons that innervate the visceral organs

Question 31

Dorsal roots

Answer 31

sensory inputs into the dorsal spinal cord

Question 32

spinal nerves

Answer 32

formed by the fusion of the dorsal and ventral roots

Question 32

ventral roots

Answer 32

bundle of motor neuron axons that exit the ventral spinal cord

Question 33

What are the 3 white funiculi of the spinal cord? What makes white matter white?

Answer 33

- Dorsal, ventral, and lateral funiculus - Myelin

Question 34

What type of communication is happening with each direction of white fiber tract?

Answer 34

- Ascending: up to the higher centers (sensory inputs) - Descending: from the brain to the spinal cord or to the lower cord levels (motor outputs) - Transverse: from 1 side of the spinal cord ro the other (commissural fibers)

Question 35

The spinal cord is particularly sensitive to _______________.

Answer 35

direct pressure

Question 36

Paresthesia

Answer 36

loss of sensory function; caused by damage to the dorsal roots or sensory tracts

Question 37

Flaccid paralysis

Answer 37

severe damage to the ventral root or ventral horn cells - Impulses do not reach skeletal muscles - There is no voluntary or involuntary control of the muscles - Muscles atrophy secondary to disuse

Question 37

Paralysis

Answer 37

loss of motor function ; caused by damage to the ventral roots or ventral horn cells

Question 38

Spastic paralysis

Answer 38

damage to the upper motor neurons of the primary motor cortex or their axons in the spinal cord - Spinal motor neurons remain intact; muscles are stimulated by reflexes - There is no voluntary control of muscles; only reflex - Muscles often shorten permanently (muscle contracture)

Question 39

Paraplegia

Answer 39

transection of the spinal cord between T1 and L1 (paralysis of legs/lower body)

Question 40

Quadriplegia

Answer 40

transection of the spinal cord in the cervical region (paralysis of all 4 limbs)

Question 41

poliomyelitis

Answer 41

An epidemic in the late 1940s and 50s (vaccine invented in the 50s)

Question 42

cause of poliomyelitis

Answer 42

destruction of the ventral horn motor neurons by poliovirus

Question 43

symptoms of poliomyelitis

Answer 43

fever, headache, muscle pain and weakness, and loss of certain somatic reflexes - Muscles atrophy because of paralysis - Death can occur from paralysis of respiratory muscles or cardiac arrest - As a results of progressive neuron loss, survivors often develop post polio syndrome years later

Question 44

ALS

Answer 44

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also called /lou Gehrig’s disease) - destruction of ventral horn motor neurons and the fibers of the pyramidal tracts

Question 45

symptoms of ALS

Answer 45

loss of abilities to speak, swallow, and breathe

Question 46

cause of ALS

Answer 46

interaction of environmental factors and genetic mutations involving RNA processing

Question 47

potential treatment of ALS

Answer 47

a drug that interferes with glutamate signaling called riluzole – glutamate is a neurotransmitter indicated as a potential cause of neuron death in a couple different conditions