Cranial nerves Flashcards
3 parts of brainstem?
midbrain, pons, medulla
example of disease in which lesion is in the brainstem?
MS- may also affect optic tract
example of disease in which lesion at NMJ?
myasthenia gravis: AI destruction of end-plate ACh receptors by autoantibodies
what can be given to treat myasthenia gravis?
AChesterase inhibitors e.g. neostigmine- more ACh around to bind to end-plate receptors so less likely that autoantibodies will bind so less receptors destroyed
how is 1st cranial nerve tested for?
ask patient if they have noticed any changes in their sense of smell, can test ability of each nostril to distinguish smells e.g. peppermint- left nostril supplied by L olfactory nerve, R by R nerve, but patient may think that they can smell fine if sense of smell only lost from inside 1 nostril
how is 2nd cranial nerve tested for?
visual acuity: snellen chart, test each eye separately
visual fields: movement of finger from side
pupils: size, shape, symmetry, pupillary response to light- sensory limb= optic nerve, motor limb= oculomotor, and accomodation reflex
opthalmoscopy- view optic disc- pale or swollen- papilloedema?
remember to check if patient normally wears glasses, can ask to put these on if so.
how are 3rd, 4th and 6th cranial nerve tested for?
eye movements- H shape with finger
characteristics of oculomotor nerve palsy?
down and out eye, dilated pupil (mydriasis), ptosis (full), loss of accomodation reflex, loss of pupillary reflex
common infection of the trigeminal nerve and how does this occur?
Shingles- herpes-zoster infection
Reactivation of the latent varicella-zoster virus in dorsal root ganglia, possible as a result of a compromised IS e.g. on corticosteroids. Virus causes chickenpox, and then remains latent in the body located in the dorsal root ganglion= location of cell body of 1st order afferent neurones in acsedning tracts of somatosensory system.
causes of space occupying lesions (SOLs)?
tumour abscess aneurysm cyst chronic SD haematoma granuloma
signs of SOLs?
headaches- worse on walking and lying down vomiting seizures irritability papilloedema
functions of frontal lobe?
memory
voluntary movements
functions of parietal lobe?
speech
functions of temporal lobe?
sound awareness
functions of occipital lobe?
interpretation of visual stimuli
clinical presentation of SOL in frontal lobe?
hemiparesis
dysphasia
personality change
what is guillain barre syndrome?
IS attack on part of peripheral nervous system
pathophysiology of Parkinson’s?
degeneration of dopaminergic neurones in substantia nigra pars compacta
3 cardinal signs of Parkinson’s disease?
resting tremor
bradykinesis
muscular rigidity
causes of bilateral hemianopia?
optic chiasm compression e.g. pituitary adenoma and ICA aneurysm
what is a homonymous hemianopia and what are its causes?
1/2 of visual field lost in each eye which is contralateral to the side of lesion. Lesions lie beyond chiasm in tracts, radiation, or occipital cortex e.g. stoke, tumour, abscess
causes of nystagmus?
involuntary eye oscillations, often jerky.
vestibular lesion- acute- nystagmus away from lesion, chronic=towards
cerebellar lesion- if unilateral, nystagmus is towards affected side
MS
up and down nystagmus- maybe midbrain lesion
causes of optic neuritis?
pain on movement of eye, loss of central vision
demyelination e.g. MS
syphilis- can also cause poster column degenerative changes, leading to loss of fine touch and conscious proprioception- causes +ve Romberg sign and sensory ataxia.
causes of papilloedema (swollen optic disc)
tumour
abscess
hydrocephalus
idiopathic IC hypertension