Chapter 17 CNS Flashcards
Invagination of the neural plate early in gestation forms what?
The neural tube
What do the following structures eventually form?Wall of the neural tubeHollow lumenneural crest
Wall of the neural tube forms CNS tissueHollow lumen forms ventricles and spinal cord canalNeural crest forms the PNS
What nutritional deficiency is associated with NTD?
Folate PRIOR to conception
What marker in maternal blood and amniotic fluid is used to test for neural tube defects?
elevated AFP levels in amniotic fluid and maternal blood
What maternal complication does does anencephaly lead to?
polyhydramnios since fetal swallowing of amniotic fluid is impaired
How does spina bifida and spina bifida occulta present?
Spina bifida presents as with cystic protrusion of the underlying tissue through the vertebral defectspina bifida occulta presents as a dimple or patch of hair overlying the vertebral defect
What is the difference between a miningocele and a meningomyelocele?
Meningocele - protrusion of meningesMeningomyelocele - protrusion of meninges and spinal cord
What is the cerebral aqueduct?
channel that drains CSF from the 3rd to the 4th ventricle
What does cerebral aqueduct stenosis lead to?
hydrocephalus
How does CSF move from lateral to third ventricle?
interventricular Foramen of monro
How does CSF flow from the 4th ventricle into the subarachnoid space?
Via the foramina magendie and luschka
How does congenital cerebral aqueduct stenosis present in newborns?
Presents with enlarging head circumference due to dilation of the ventricles (Cranial suture lines are not fused)
Where is CSF produced?
Choriod plexus
What is the Dandy-Walker Malformation, and how does it present?
Congenital failure of the cerebellar vermis to develop. Presents as a massively dilated 4th ventricle (posterior fossa) with an absent cerebellum; often accompanied by hydrocephalus
What is the Arnold-Chiari Malformation Type I and II?
Type I is usually asymptomatic Type II is congenital downward displacement of the cerebellar vermis and tonsils though the foramen magnum
What does an Arnold-Chiari type II malformation lead to?
Commonly results in hydrocephalus due to obstruction of CSF flow. It is often associated with meningomyelocele and syringomyelia
What is syringomyelia?
Cystic degeneration of the spinal cord
How does syringomyelia commonly arise?
With trauma or in association with a type 1 arnold-chiari malformation
At what spinal level does syringomyelia generally occur?
C8-T1
How does syringomyelia present?
Sensory loss of pain and temp with sparing of fine touch and position sense in the upper extremities (“cape like” distribution)
What spinal cord structure is involved in syringomyelia?
anterior white commisure of the spinothalamic tract with sparing of the dorsal column
What addition symptoms can occur in syringomyelia is the syrinx expands into other spinal structures?
Muscle atrophy and weakness with decreased muscle tone and impaired reflexes- due to damage to lower motor neurons of the anterior hornHorner syndrom with ptosis, miosis, and anhydrosis due to disruption of the lateral horn of the hypothalamospinal tract
Where does polio initially infect? how does it spread to CNS?
Initially infects small bowel and oropharynx giving you constitutional symptoms then eventually spreads to CNS by the blood and infects anterior horn
What spinal cord structure is damages in poliomyelitis?
damage to the anterior motor horn due to poliovirus infection
How does poliomyelitis present?
with lower motor neuron signs- flaccid paralysis with muscle atrophy, fasciculations. weakness with decreased muscle tone, impaired reflexes, and negative babinski sign (downgoing toes)
What is Werding-Hoffman Disease and how does it present?
What is the inheritance pattern?
Inherited degeneration of the anterior motor horn: autosomal recessive. Presents as a “floppy baby”; death occurs within a few years after birth
What types of neurons are affected in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
Upper and lower motor neurons of the corticospinal tract
What does anterior horn degeneration in ALS lead to?
leads to lower motor neuron signs - flaccid paralysis with muscle atrophy, fasciculations, weakness with decreased muscle tone, impaired reflexes, and negative babinski sign.
What does lateral corticospinal tract degeneration lead to in ALS?
Leads to upper motor neuron signs - spastic paralysis with hyperreflexia, increased muscle tone, and positive babinski sign
What is an early sign in ALS?
atrophy and weakness of hands
What distinguishes ALS from syringomyelia?
Lack of sensory impairment
Are most cases of ALS sporadic or inherited?
sporadic occurring in middle aged adults
What mutation is implicated in familial ALS?
Zinc-copper superoxide dismutase (SOD1) leads to free radical injury (O2 –> H2O2)
What structures are involved in Friedreich Ataxia?
Degeneration of the Cerebellum and spinal cord
What does degeneration of the cerebellum lead to in friedreichs astaxia?
ataxia
What does degeneration of multiple spinal cord tracts lead to in friedreichs ataxia?
loss of vibratory sense and proprioception, muscle weakness in the lower extremities, and loss of deep tendon reflexes
How is Friedreichs ataxia inherited and what is the defect?
AR, due to expansion of an unstable trinucleotide repeat GAA in the frataxin gene
What is frataxin and what does loss result in?
Frataxin is essential for mitochondrial iron regulation; loss results in iron buildup with free radical damage
When does Friedreichs ataxia present?
in early childhood; patients are wheelchair bound within a few years
What complication is friedreichs ataxia associated with?
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
What are the leptomeninges?
The pia and the arachnoid?
What layers are inflammed in meningitis?
the leptomeninges
What are the 3 most common infectious agents leading to meningitis in neonates?
Group B strepE coliListeria Monocytogenes
What is the most common viral cause of meningitis in children?
Cocksackievirus (fecal-oral transmission)
What is the most common bacterial cause of meningitis in children and teens?
N Meningitidis
What is the most common bacterial cause of meningitis in adults and elderly?
Steptococcus Pneumoniae
What is the most common bacterial cause of meningitis in nonvaccinated infants?
H. Influenza
What is the most common cause of meningitis in immunocompromised patients?
Fungi
What is the classic presenting triad of meningitis and what are some other associated symptoms?
Classic triad - headache, nuchal rigidity, and fever Other associated - photophobia, vomiting and altered mental status
How is diagnosis of meningitis confirmed?
Lumbar puncture
What spinal level is an LP performed at and what space is samples?
between L4 and L5 (level of iliac crest) and samples subarachnoid space
Where does the spinal cord end?
L2
What are the CSF findings in bacterial meningitis?
neutrophils and decreased glucose (bacteria consume it)gram stain and culture often identify the causative organism
What are the CSF findings in viral meningitis?
lymphocytes with NORMAL CSF glucose
What are the CSF findings in fungal meningitis?
lymphocytes with decreased CSF glucose
What is a normal level of CSF glucose?
~2/3 of serum glucose
What percentage of cerebrovascular disease is due to ischemia and what percent is due to hemorrhage?
ischemia 85%Hemorrhage 15%
How fast to neurons undergo necrosis due to ischemia?
3-5 min
Which cause of meningitis is usually associated with complication and why?
bacterial meningitis due immune reaction creating massive amounts of exudate and pus
What complications seen with bacterial meningitis?
Death - herniation secondary to cerebral edema hydrocephalus, hearing loss, and seizures are all related to fibrosis caused by the healing process
Name four causes of global ischemia to the brain
1 Low perfusion (atherosclerosis)
2 Acute decrease in blood flow (Cardiogenic shock)
3 Chronic Hypoxia (anemia)
4 Repeated episodes of hypoglycemia (insulinoma)
What do the clinical features of global ischemia depend on?
duration and magnitude of the insult
What does mild global ischemia result in and what is the classic example?
transient confusion with prompt recovery. Classic example is insulinoma
What does severe global ischemia lead to?
results in diffuse necrosis which most dont survive. those who do survive are left in a vegetative state
What does moderate global ischemia lead to?
infarcts in watershed areas between the anterior and middle cerebral arteries and damage to highly vulnerable regions
Name 3 highly vulnerable locations for moderate global ischemia
1 pyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex (layers 3,5,6) leads to laminar necrosis - known as cortical laminar necrosis
2 Pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus (temporal lobe)- important in long term memory
3 Purkinje layer of the cerebellum - integrates sensory perception with motor control
What is an ischemic stroke and how does it differ from a transient ischemic event (TIA)?
regional ischemia to the brain that results in focal neurologic deficits lasting > 24 hours. If symptoms last < 24 hours the event is termed a TIA
What are the 3 subtypes of ischemic strokes?
thrombotic, embolic, and lacunar
What are thrombotic strokes due to?
rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque
Where does atherosclerosis tend to develop?
at branch points ( eg bifurcation of internal carotid and middle cerebral artery in the circle of willis)
What type of infarct does a thrombotic stroke cause?
Pale. The body with try and lyse this but since the plaque is ruptured the thrombosis with continue to reform
What is the most common source of emboli in an embolic stroke?
left side of the heart (eg atrial fibrillation)
What artery is usually involved in a hemorrhagic stroke?
middle cerebral
What type of infarct does an embolic stroke result in?
hemorrhagic infarct at the periphery of the cortex. Thrombus eventually gets lysed and blood goes back in
What do lacunar strokes occur secondarily to?
hyaline arteriosclerosis; a complication of HTN (benign HTN or diabetes)
What vessels are usually involved in lacunar strokes? and what is the result?
SMALL vessels, most commonly the lenticulostriate vessels (Branches of the MCA) resulting in small cystic areas of infarction
What two major areas of the brain are involved in lacunar strokes and what are the consequences?
Internal capsule involvement leads to a pure motor strokeThalamus involvment leads to pure sensory stroke
What type of necrosis do ischemic strokes lead to?
liquefactive
What is an early microscopic finding in ischemic strokes?
Eosinophillic change in the cytoplasm of neurons (RED NEURONS) occurs after about 12 hours
What cells cause necrosis in ischemic strokes?
Neutrophils then microglial cells
What is gliosis and when does it occur after an infarct?
Gliosis is reactive astrocytes that will line the cystic space with gliotic connective tissue similar to granulation tissue
How long does it take to form a fluid filled cyst after an ischemic stroke?
about 1 month
What is an intracerebral hemorrhage?
Bleeding into the brain parenchyma
What are the classic cause of intracerebral hemorrhage?
rupture of Charcot-Brouchard microaneurysms of the lenticulostriate vessels
What is intracerebral hemorrhage a complication of and what structures are most commonly affected?
Complication of hypertension; treatment of hypertension reduces the incidence by halfBasal ganglia is the most common site
How do intracerebral hemorrhage present?
severe headache, nausea, vomiting, and eventual coma
How does a subarachnoid hemorrhage present?
presents as a sudden headache (“worst of my life”) with nuchal rigidity