Clinical impliactions of AP conduction disruption

Question 1

What is a demyelinating disease?

Answer 1

Damage to Schwann cells and loss of myelin often due to auto-immune reaction (T cells attack own body cells)

Question 2

What are the types of demyelinating diseases?

Answer 2

Multiple Sclerosis
Charcot- Marie- Tooth Disease
Guilian- Barre Disease

Question 3

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Answer 3

Patches of inflammation in the brain
Loss of myelin and damage to axons
Repeated episodes leads to permanent damage
Possible stem cell repair

Question 4

What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease?

Answer 4

Most common inherited disease
Affects peripheral nerve conduction
Progressive loss of myelination in legs then arms then hands

Question 5

What is Guilian- Barre disease?

Answer 5

Inflammatory attack on periphery nerves and myelin
Tingling, abnormal sensation, muscle weakness
Possible paralysis and risk of respiratory failure

Question 6

What are the types of peripheral neuropathies?

Answer 6

Diabetic

Autonomic

Question 7

What is diabetic neuropathy?

Answer 7

Chronic dysregulation of glucose blood levels
Damage to sensory and motor axons in distal limbs
Ulceration, infections and gangrene

Question 8

What is autonomic neuropathy?

Answer 8

Loss of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves
Leads to poor circulation, GI tract motility and healing
Risk of gangrene in severe cases

Question 9

What are the types of peripheral nerve disorders?

Answer 9

Peripheral neuropathy
Neuritis
Bells palsy
Trigeminal neuralgia

Question 10

What is neuritis?

Answer 10

Inflammation of the cranial nerves (serious)

Nerves become compressed in bony canals of skull during inflammation

Question 11

What are the types of neuritis?

Answer 11

Optic

Vestibular

Question 12

What is optic neuritis?

Answer 12

Acute attack resulting in loss of vision
Occurs over several hours
Caused by Lyme disease, meningitis, viral encephalitis

Question 13

What is vestibular neuritis?

Answer 13

Acute attack (possibly via Herpes simplex virus)
Loss of vestibular function on one or both sides
Loss of balance and control of movement

Question 14

What is Bells palsy and what is the cause?

Answer 14

Weakness or paralysis of facial muscles
Usually temporary
Viral inflammation (Herpes simplex) of facial nerve

Question 15

What is Trigeminal neuralgia?

Answer 15

Stabbing or electric shock like pain in parts of the face or surface of the eye
Usually only on one side
Lasts for a few seconds but can become constant

Question 16

What is trigeminal neuralgia triggered by?

Answer 16

Touch or loud sounds

Common activities such as chewing or brushing teeth

Question 17

What is the trigeminal nerve?

Answer 17

Carries pain and somatosensory information

From face to trigeminal nuclei in brainstem and midbrain