Chapter 29: Pathogenesis and Physiology of CNS injury Flashcards
Descirbe the distribution of the grey matter in the spinal cord, brainstem and cerebral cortex
Spinal cord: butterfly shape in the central cord, divivding the surrounding white matter into funiculi
Brainstem: forms scattered nuclei with intervening tracts of white matter
Cerebral cortex: External layer of grey matter with white matter underneath connecting the cortex to other regions of the CNS
What is grey matter and white matter?
Grey matter: high density of neuronal cell bodies
White matter: Axons and associated glial cells
Describe the ventricles of the CNS:
Where is CSF produced and how does it flow through the brain?
One lateral ventricle within each hemisphere
Third ventricle within diencephalon
Fourth ventricle ventral to the cerebellum
CSF is formed within ventricles via the choroid plexus
- Flows from lateral ventricles, through interventricular foramina into 3rd, through mesencephalic aqueduct into 4th and then through lateral apertures into subarachnoid space or continues caudally into central canal
What are the leptomeninges?
Arachnoid mater and pia mater
What are the pachymeninges?
Dura mater and arachnoid mater
What are the two forms of brain herniation?
Transtentorial
Foramen magnum
What is the normal resting potential of neuronal cell membranes?
-80mV (inside of cell negative with respect to the outside)
How are action potentials generated?
Rapid depolarization of the membrane due to an influx of Na through voltage-gated Na-channels
- Electrolyte concentrations are returned to resting levels by active extrusion of Na from the cell in exchange for K, and K uptake by astrocytes
What cell produces myelin?
Oligodendrocytes
What is required for maintenance of a resting potential and generation/conduction of action potentials?
- Energy (Na-K/ATPase)
- Appropriate intra- and extracellular electrolyte concentrations
- Ion channel function
- Myelin
What are the 2 forms of CNS perfusion autoregulation?
Pressure autoregulation: remains constant with MAP between 50-160mmHg via vasodilation during hypotension and vasoconstriction during hypertension
Metabolic autoregulation: astrocytes match blood flow to neuronal activity (NO, CO, K, adenosine, glutamate, arachidonic acid)
How does PaCO2 alter CNS perfusion?
Very sensitive!
- Hypercapnia increases perfusion
- Hypocapnia decreases perfusion
- For every 1mmHg change in PaCO2, there is a 5% change in cerebral perfusion
- PaCO2 < 25mmHg causes severe hypoperfusion and potential ischemia
How is cerebral perfusion pressure defined?
CPP = Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) - intracranial pressure (ICP)
Reduction in MAP or increase in ICP can therefore impair cerebral perfusion
What is normal intracranial pressure?
8-15mmHg
- > 15mmHg requires treatment, > 30mmHg causes significant reduction in cerebral perfusion*
What are some mechanisms for accomodating for gradual increases in intracranial volume?
- Moving CSF into subarachnoid space
- Reducing CSF production
- Decreasing cerebral bloodflow
How much is ICP decreased by a craniotomy? and by adding a durotomy?
Craniotomy alone 15%
+ Durotomy 65%
What forms the blood-brain barrier?
Endothelial cell tight junctions
Astrocyte foot processes
Basal lamina
Pericytes
Perivascular microglia
What antibiotics have good penetration of the blood brain barrier?
Timid DOgs Rarely MElt CHeese (For 3 Cents)