Chapter 10: Brain Damage Flashcards
Brain damage is an injury to the brain caused by ..
head trauma, inadequate oxygen supply, infections, or intracranial hemorrhage
Lack of oxygen to the brain is also known as
Hypoxia or anoxia
Brain tumor also known as
Neoplasm
a group of cells growing independently from rest of body
Neoplasm
Structure of brain tumor
Encapsulated - grow within own membrane
Infiltrating - grow diffusely through surrounding tissue
Origin of brain tumor
Gliomas originate from glial cells (often infiltrating)
qMeningiomas grow in the meninges (encapsulated and benign)
originate in one organ and spread to another
Metastatic
refer to the presence of cancerous growths in multiple locations within the body, which have originated from a primary cancer site elsewhere
Multiple metastatic tumors
process by which cancer cells break away from the primary tumor, travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and establish new tumors in distant organs or tissues
Metastasis
A benign tumor that develops on the vestibular nerve
Acoustic neuroma
Acoustic neuroma also known as
vestibular schwannoma
It is a thick, fibrous membrane that lines the inside of the skull and surrounds the entire brain and spinal cord.
Dura matter
Meningiomas are typically (malignant or benign)
Benign
responsible for producing myelin
Oligodendrocytes
resident immune cells of the CNS and function as the primary form of active immune defense
Microglia
line the cavities (ventricles) of the brain and involved in the production and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Ependymal cells
Which is more difficult to treat: gliomas or meningiomas
Gliomas
Is acoustic neuroma benign or malignant
Benign
cerebrovascular disorder of sudden onset
Stroke
A stroke, also known as a
cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, leading to damage or death of brain tissue
Stroke
typically result in sudden neurological symptoms such as weakness or numbness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking or understanding speech, vision problems, dizziness, and severe headache
Stroke
refers to an area of tissue damage or death (necrosis)
Infarct
Infarct is caused by
inadequate blood supply
Ischemia
Insufficient oxygen supply
Surrounding the core is the —, which consists of brain tissue at risk of damage due to reduced blood flow
Penumbra
Stroke is caused by
cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral ischemia
This type of stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, leading to bleeding into the surrounding brain tissue
Cerebral hemorrhage
The majority of strokes are caused by —, which occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a clot or other obstruction.
Cerebral Ischemia
Cerebral ischemia can result from
Thrombosis, Embolism, Arteriosclerosis
the buildup of plaque within blood vessels
Atherosclerosis
Formation of a blood clot within a blood vessel supplying the brain
Thrombosis
Blockage of a blood vessel in the brain by an embolus, which is a detached blood clot, air bubble, fat globule, or other foreign material that travels through the bloodstream from another part of the body
Embolism
A general term referring to the thickening and hardening of arterial walls
Arteriosclerosis
refers to injury or damage to brain tissue resulting from inadequate blood flow
Ischemic brain damage
Excessive glutamate release can overstimulate postsynaptic neurons through the activation of
NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors (glutamate receptor)
Activation of NMDA receptors can lead to
influx of calcium ions into the postsynaptic neuron, triggering cell death pr excitotoxicity
refers to tissue damage that occurs beneath the skin’s surface due to blunt force trauma
Contusion
affects the underlying tissues, such as muscles, blood vessels, and organ
Contusion
One defining feature of a contusion is that it involves
bleeding within the tissues without causing a visible cut or break in the skin
localized collection of blood outside of blood vessels
Hematoma
How does hematoma form
When blood vessels are damaged as a result of a contusion, blood can leak into the surrounding tissues. They may appear as swollen, discolored areas on the skin or may be located deeper within the body.
One notable aspect of contusions in the brain is the possibility of
countrecoup injuries
Imaging techniques used in contusion
MRI, CT Scan
a type of traumatic brain injury characterized by the accumulation of blood outside the brain, typically between the dura mater and the arachnoid mater
Subdural hematoma
occurs when a sudden blow or jolt to the head disrupts the normal functioning of the brain
Concussion
This disruption can lead to a temporary loss of consciousness
Concussion
In contusion, there is a visible structural damage. In concussion,
concussions typically do not show up on imaging tests like CT scans or MRIs. Instead, it involves biochemical and metabolic changes within the brain that can disrupt normal neurological function.
Concussions can result in a wide range of symptoms that affect various aspects of
cognition, motor function, and neurological well-being
degenerative brain disease that has been linked to repeated head injuries, including concussions
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
an inflammation of the brain
Encephalitis
Encephalitis is caused by
Bacteria or viral
Bacterial causes include pathogens like
Streptococcus pneumoniae,
Neisseria meningitidis,
Haemophilus influenzae
Bacteria in encephalitis can enter the brain
directly — through trauma or surgery, or
indirectly — from other infected areas like sinuses or bloodstream
often referred to simply as pneumococcus
Streptococcus pneumoniae
bacterium commonly found in the respiratory tract of humans
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Streptococcus pneumonia also known as
pneumococcus
bacterium known for causing meningococcal disease
Neisseria meningitidis
Neisseria meningitidis also known as
meningococcus
often referred to simply as meningococcus
Neisseria meningitidis
bacterium known for causing a range of infections, particularly in children
Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae)
primary treatment for bacterial encephalitis
Antibiotics
Bacterial encephalitis can extend to involve the
meninges, leading to meningitis
presents with symptoms such as headache, neck stiffness, fever, and altered mental status
Meningitis
bacterial encephalitis can lead to the formation of
Brain abscesses
localized collections of pus within the brain tissue
Brain abscesses
typically refers to the neurological and cognitive symptoms resulting from late-stage syphilis infection, which can manifest as a form of chronic bacterial encephalitis
General paresis
It’s characterized by progressive dementia, personality changes, and motor dysfunction.
General paresis
Virus-causing encephalitis..
Herpes simplex virus (HSV),
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV),
Enteroviruses, and
Arboviruses (such as West Nile virus or Japanese encephalitis virus)
How does viral encephalitis enter the brain
through respiratory or gastrointestinal routes and then spread to the brain, where they cause inflammation.
oral herpes (cold sores)
HSV-1
genital herpes
HSV-2
HSV means
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
VZV means
Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV)
It causes two distinct clinical syndromes: chickenpox (—) and shingles (—).
varicella, herpes zoster
Certain viruses have a particular affinity for the central nervous system (CNS). This one causes acute viral encephalitis
Rabies virus
has been linked to the development of epilepsy, cognitive impairment, and mood disorders
Viral encephalitis
Some viruses, such as —, can establish latent infections in the nervous system after the initial acute phase of encephalitis.
herpes viruses
This may be used to reduce inflammation in the brain
Corticosteroids
Treatment for encephalitis
Bacterial — antibiotic; Virus — antiviral medication
What is neurotoxins?
Substances that are toxic to the nervous system. They interfere with the normal functioning of nerve cells, leading to a range of neurological symptoms or disorders
Examples of neurotoxic substances that are considered heavy metals
lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium
refers to a condition characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and other psychotic symptoms resulting from exposure to toxic substances
toxic psychosis
A neurological disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements, often involving the face, lips, tongue, and extremities.
It is most commonly associated with the long-term use of certain medications, particularly antipsychotic drugs used to treat psychiatric conditions.
tardive dyskinesia
substances that are produced within the body and can have toxic effects on the nervous system
endogenous neurotoxins
chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and scarring (sclerosis) of the nerve fibers in the CNS
Multiple Sclerosis
Also known as Devic’s disease
Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)
autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation and demyelination primarily affecting the optic nerves and spinal cord
Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)
refers to a group of autoimmune disorders characterized by inflammation of the brain, resulting from an immune response targeting neuronal proteins or receptors
Autoimmune encephalitis
Down syndrome also called
trisomy 21
Characteristics of Down Syndrome
Disfigurement
Intellectual impairments
Medical complications
What does aneuploidy means
abnormal number of chromosomes
These two are caused by mutations in the recessive genes, where both copies of the gene must be mutated for the disorder to manifest
Tay-Sachs disease and Rett Syndrome
rare genetic disorder characterized by the progressive destruction of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord
Tay-Sachs disease
Tay-Sachs disease is caused by mutations in the —, which encodes the enzyme —. Without this enzyme, a fatty substance called — accumulates in the cells, particularly in nerve cells of the brain.
HEXA gene,
hexosaminidase A (Hex A),
GM2 ganglioside
rare genetic neurological disorder that primarily affects girls. It is caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene, which is located on the X chromosome
Rett Syndrome
caused by a mutation in the HTT gene, which provides instructions for making a protein called huntingtin. The mutation involves an expansion of a sequence of DNA known as a CAG trinucleotide repeat within the gene
Huntington’s disease
