Cumulative Exam - Semester 2 - Block 8 Flashcards
Nissl stain (Cresyl violet) highlights what in neurons?
Nissl bodies within the ER (primarily gray matter)
Process in which microglia surround a dying neuron
Neuronophagia
Process in which neuronal cell bodies shrink, become more angular, cytoplasm becomes more eosinophilic, nucleus becomes condensed and pyknotic, loss of nuclear chromatin
Acute neuronal injury
Process of non-specific reaction to CNS injury involving glial cell hypertrophy and reactive astrocytes; CNS version of a scar
Gliosis
CNS cell type that often lines up in rows between fibers
Oligodendrocytes
Phagocytic, antigen presenting cells in the nervous system
Microglia
Specialized glial cell that lines ventricles, single layer of ciliated cells with no basement membrane
Ependyma
Specialized organ made of papillary folds of CSF-secreting ependymal cells that protrude into ventricles
Choroid plexus
UMN lesion signs
Diffuse weakness Slight, general atrophy Severe weakness with relatively little atrophy NO fasciculations Hypertonia (except in spinal shock) Hyperreflexia (except in spinal shock) Clonus can be present Babinski sign present (except in spinal shock)
UMN lesion signs
Focal weakness Focal, severe atrophy Some strength preserved despite severe atrophy Fasciculations Hypotonia Hyporeflexia NO clonus NO Babinski sign
Compare the location of the lesion in LMN vs. UMN lesions.
LMN - at or after the anterior horn cells of the SC
UMN - prior to the anterior horn cells
An ___ spinal cord lesion is usually associated with radicular pain and sensory impairment of pain and temperature up to the level of the lesion without sacral sparing.
Extramedullary
An ___ spinal cord lesion is usually associated with diffuse or no pain, with a suspended impairment of pain and temperature sensation with sacral sparing.
Intramedullary
Presentation of spinal cord transection/transverse myelopathy/myelitis + location of lesion
Sensory loss
LMN signs
UMN signs
Spinal shock if severe
Lesion - anywhere in the SC
Presentation of spinal cord hemisection (Brown-Sequard) + location of lesion
Contralateral pain and temperature deficit
Ipsilateral vibration and position sense deficit
Ipsilateral weakness
UMN signs, LMN signs
Lesion - STT, DC, CST, anterior horn cells of half of the SC
Presentation of syringomyelia + location of lesion
Suspended sensory deficit with sacral sparing (vest)
Weakness (late)
Preserved vibration and position sense
Lesion - STT
Presentation of anterior spinal artery syndrome + location of lesion
Pain and temperature deficit up to thoracic level Paraplegia and UMN signs (lower libs) Back/radicular pain Acute, stroke-like onset Preserved vibration and position sense
Lesion - STT, CST (lower thoracic and upper lumbar)
Presentation of posterolateral syndrome (subacute combined degeneration) + location of lesion
Vibration and position sense deficit in lower limbs
Spastic paraparesis, UMN signs
Preserved pain and temperature
Lesion - demyelination and degeneration of white matter, usually at thoracic levels (DC, CST)
Presentation of ALS + location of lesion
LMN signs UMN signs Preserved sensation Diffuse fasciculations No radicular pain No affected bowel/bladder M>F, presents 40-70 y/o
Degeneration of UMN/LMN (selective and progressive)
Presentation of Tabes Dorsalis + location of lesion
Severe radicular pain (lower limbs) Impaired position and vibration (+ Romberg) Eventual loss of all sensation Loss of reflexes Intact strength Charcot joinst
DC, dorsal roots
Pathway carrying vibration and position sense
Dorsal column pathway
Dorsal Column Pathway
SYNAPSE - dorsal root ganglion (SC)
SYNAPSE and DECUSSATE - internal arcuate (caudal medulla)
SYNAPSE - VPL (thalamus)
SYNAPSE - sensorimotor cortex (312)
Pathway carrying pain and temperature
Spinothalamic tract
STT
SYNAPSE and DECUSSATE - dorsal root ganglion cells (anterior white commissure of SC)
SYNAPSE - VPL (thalamus)
SYNAPSE - 312
True or false - all cerebellar pathways are ultimately ipsilateral
True
CST
Motor cortex
Pyramidal decussation in medulla (except anterior tract, which does not cross)
Nuclei of the DC pathway
Cuneate (C1-T5)
Gracile (T6-S5)
Nuclei of the STT
Nucleus proprius
Nuclei of the DCT
Dorsal - Clark’s nucleus (C8-L2, L3 and below use gracilis to get to Clark’s)
Cuneocerebellar - C1-C7, accessory cuneate nucleus
Autoimmune disease against ACh receptors
Myasthenia Gravis
Presentation - ptosis, diplopia, dysarthria, dysphagia (can have a restricted ocular form)
Autoimmune disease against pre-synaptic calcium channels
Lambert-Eaton
Presentation - proximal weakness, muscle stretch reflex appears decreased but returns after isometric exercise, autonomic symptoms
Infectious toxin that prevents ACh release by impairing SNARE proteins
Botulinum
Symptoms of polyneuropathy
Symmetrical and sensory loss or impairment early
Numbness and tingling, beginning distally
Stocking and glove
Paresthesia (pins and needles)
Dysesthesia (unpleasant sensation due to a non-noxious stimulus)
Distal weakness/atrophy
Early loss/decrease of reflexes
Presents as an ascending, areflexic paralysis (rapidly progressive polyneuropathy) after a virus
Guillain-Barre
Most common pathology for polyneuropathies
Axonal degeneration
Presentation of myopathy
Proximal weakness and fatigue Normal sensation Significant atrophy Late loss of reflexes Pain is not prominent
Test the superior and inferior rectus muscles.
Start abducted and look up (SR) and down (IR)
Test the superior and inferior oblique muscles.
Start adducted and look down (SO) and up (IO)
Test the lateral and medial rectus muscles.
Look out (LR) and in (MR)
CN III lesion presentation
Ptosis, preserved abduction, dilated pupil, unreactive to light (direct and consensual)
CN IV lesion presentation
Impairs depression contralaterally
CN VI lesion presentation
Impairs abduction
Cause of intranuclear ophthalmoplegia
Paralysis of EOMs due to a lesion of the ascending MLF (affects 3 and 6)
Normally, L brain -> R paramedian pontine reticular formation -> coordinates lateral gaze via the R CN6 and L CN3
Convergence is normal
Pupillary light reflex pathway
Light -> optic nerve -> pretectal area -> DECUSSATES -> both EWN -> CN3 -> ciliary sphincter -> constricts both sides
3 components of the near reflex
Pupillary constriction
Lens accommodation
Eye convergence
Symptoms of Horner’s syndrome
Miosis, anhydrosis, ptosis
Causes of Horner’s syndrome
- Lateral median infarction (Wallenberg syndrome) - knocks out first order neurons
- Apical lung tumor - knocks out second order neurons
- Neck trauma near the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion - knocks out third order neurons
2 major causes of trigeminal neuralgia
MS (younger)
Compression of tortuous vessels such as the superior cerebellar artery (older)
Cause of facial paralysis - lower half of contralateral face paralyzed
UMN
Cause of facial paralysis - entire ipsilateral face paralyzed
LMN
Effect of UMN lesion on tongue
No symptoms with a unilateral lesions; if a person only has contralateral innervation and this is lost, the tongue deviates away from the affected side
Effect of LMN lesion on tongue
Deviates to the affected side (lick your wounds)
CN involvement on one side and clinical sensory/motor deficit on the other side
Crossed brain stem syndrome
Presentation of Weber syndrome
Ischemic infarction of the PCA causes CN III and the nearby peduncle to be affected - ipsilateral CN III lesion, UMN signs in contralateral face and limbs
Presentation of Wallenberg syndrome
Ischemic infarction of the vertebral artery or its PICA causes pain and temperature impairment in the ipsilateral face and contralateral limbs and body; DC preserved
Treat migraines
First line - NSAIDS
Second line - triptans
Headache more common in F
Migraines
Headache more common in M
Cluster headaches
Headache associated with severe eye pain, rapid onset, occur 1-4x/day for 6-12 weeks every year or two
Cluster headaches
Bilateral headache, no N/V, band-like, most common
Tension
Headache seen in young females with increased BMI, associated with increased ICP with no localizing features
Pseudotumor cerebri
These cells myelinate peripheral axons
Schwann
These cells myelinate CNS axons
Oligodendrocytes