Chapter 17 Flashcards
Vascular interface between the blood vessels
serving the brain and the brain its self that prohibits
most microorganisms and most antibiotics from
entering the nervous system
Blood-brain barrier
Phagocytic cells found exclusively in the brain
Microglia cells
Are there normal biota within the nervous system?
No. it is a sterile environment
Inflammation of the meninges
Meningitis
Causes the most serious form of acute meningitis
Neisseria meningitidis
Headache,Painful or stiff neck,Fever Nausea and
vomiting,Photophobia (sensitivity to light),Skin
rashes are all signs/symptoms of
Meningitis
A rash associated with a Neisseria meningitides
infection
Petechiae
Acute enteroviral infection of the spinal cord that
can cause neuromuscular paralysis.
Poliomyelitis
How is the polio virus spread?
Fecal-oral transmission
What happens in Non-paralytic Polio?
Invasion, but not destruction of, nervous
tissue.Muscle pain and spasm, meningeal
inflammation, and vague hypersensitivity
What happens in Paralytic Polio?
Invasion of motor neurons causes flaccid paralysis.
Paralysis of the muscles of the legs, abdomen,
back, diaphragm, pectoral girdle, and bladder can
result.
Misfolded proteins known to cause
Neurodegenerative diseases with long incubation
periods but rapid progressions
Prions
Prions are known to cause
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)
How is rabies spread?
Primarily saliva
Incubation period for rabies is 1 – 2 months or
more, depending on:
the wound site in relation to the brain, severity of the wound, and inoculation dose.
Delirium, hallucinations, hydrophobia, muscle
spasms, coma and death are all signs/symptoms
of____
Rabies
When must rabies be treated?
before signs and symptoms begin
How is a rabies infection treated? (assuming its before signs and symptoms begin)
Wound is infused with human rabies immune
globulin to impede spread of the virus. A full
course of vaccine is begun as well.
Caused by Clostridium tetani
Tetanus
Powerful neurotoxin released by C. tetani
Tetanospasmin
Tetanospasmin functions to:
block the inhibition of muscle contraction, causing
muscles to contract uncontrollably
Causative agent of Botulism
Clostridium botulinum
How is Clostridium botulinum transmitted
Predominately through the ingestion of contaminated food (canned vegetables)
Where can Clostridium tetani be found?
the soil
Action of the botulinum toxin:
Prevents the release of acetylcholine, the
neurotransmitter that initiates the signal for muscle
contraction. Causes muscle paralysis
Babies born with abnormally small heads
Microcephaly
Transmitted by the bite of a mosquito, via sexual intercourse with infected individuals, and vertically in utero
Zika virus
Commonly through Accidental puncture wounds
Tetanus
