Crash course: Neuro Flashcards
What are the 6 components of the brain?
4 lobes: Frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital
Cerebellum
Brainstem
Frontal lobe
Thinking
Memory
Behaviour
Movement
Temporal lobe
Hearing
Learning
Feelings
Parietal lobe
Language
Touch
Occipital lobe
Sight
Cerebellum
Balance
Coordination
Brainstem
Breathing
HR
Temperature
What is a stroke?
focal neurological deficit of presumed vascular origin that lasts > 24h
What is a TIA?
focal neurological deficit of presumed vascular origin that resolves within 24h
What are the 2 types of stroke? What is the prevalence of each?
Ischaemic 80%
Haemorrhage 20%
Give 4 causes of ischaemic stroke
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Thromboembolic e.g. AF
Diabetes
Vasculitis
Give 4 causes of haemorrhage stroke
HTN
AV malformation (<50s)
Cavernous angiomas (recurrent low pressure bleed)
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
What is the single most important modifiable factor (and cause) for both haemorrhage an ischaemic strokes?
HTN
What is the difference between ischaemia and infarction?
Ischaemia: lack of O2 supply to tissue
Infarction: death of tissue due to lack of O2 supply
What are the 2 broad aetiologies haemorrhagic stroke?
Traumatic: extradural or subdural haemorrhage
Non traumatic: Intraparenchymal or SAH
Where do Intraparenchymal haemorrhages usually occur? What causes them?
Basal ganglia
Vessel rupture due to HTN
What is the main cause of subarachnoid haemorrhage? Where does this occur?
Ruptured berry aneurysms
Posterior communicating artery
or
Bifurcation of internal carotid
What is the classic history of a patient with SAH?
Bilateral abdominal masses
FH of brain bleeds
(a/w Polycystic kidney disease)
What can be seen on CT in SAH? (buzzword/ phrase)
Hyperattenuation around the Circle of Willis
If NAD on CT head, what further investigation can be performed for SAH? What will be seen?
LP at 12h:
Xanthochromia + oxyhaemoglobin
What causes extradural haemorrhage? What is the pathophysiology?
Fracture of pterion caused by trauma (e.g. RTA, punch to temples)
Rupture of middle meningeal artery
What buzzword describes extradural haemorrhage on CT?
“lemon” shape
What causes subdural haemorrhage? What is the pathophysiology?
Hx of minor head trauma
Rupture of bridging veins leading to collection of blood between dura + arachnoid mater
Give 4 risk factors for subdural haemorrhage
Alcoholics
Anti-coagulations
Elderly
NAI
What buzzword describes subdural haemorrhage on CT?
“Banana” shape
Crescent shape
What is the single largest cause of death in <45s?
Traumatic brain injury
Give 4 red flags of TBI
Otorrhoea
Rhinorrhoea
“Straw-coloured” fluid (CSF) from nose or ears
Battle’s sign
What are the 2 types of TBI?
Diffuse axonal injury
Contusion (more common)
What is diffuse axonal injury?
shear tensile forces tearing axons apart in midline structures
(Corpus callosum, rostral brainstem + septum pellucidum)
What is the commonest cause of traumatic coma?
Diffuse axonal injury
What is a contusion? What are the 2 types?
collision between brain + skull
Coup: impact of brain on skull
Countercoup: injury to opposite side of brain
What is the most common cell type in the brain? What is the most common tumour type in the brain?
Astrocytes
Astrocytomas