development of the CNS Flashcards
developmental neurobiology: explain how an understanding of developmental neurobiology may help in the treatment of neurological disorders
what does normal CNS development depend on
coordinated completion of several complex processes e.g. proliferation, differentiation, migration, connectivity: axon growth, synapse formation
what can interfere with normal CNS development and when
normally during third trimester; genetic mutation, environmental factors such as mother’s lifestyle, diet, teratogens (agents that interfere with normal developmental processes) affecting neural tube
top neural tube defect: what is craniorachischisis
completely open brain and spinal cord
top neural tube defect: what is anencephaly
open brain and lack of skull vault; lack of brain and incompatible with life
top neural tube defect: what is encephalocele
herniation of meninges and brain
top neural tube defect: what is iniencephaly
occipital skull and spine defects with extreme retroreflexion of head
bottom neural tube defect: what is spina bifida occulta
most known defect caused by folic acid deficit: closes asymptomatic neural tube defect in which some of the vertebrae are not completely closed
bottom neural tube defect: what is closed spinal dysraphism
deficiency of at least two vertebral arches (can be covered with a lipoma)
bottom neural tube defect: what is meningocele
protrusion of meninges (filled with CSF) through a defect in skull or spine
bottom neural tube defect: what is myelomenigocele
open spinal cord (with meningeal cyst)
what can prevent neural tube defects
folic acid prior to getting pregnant
2 neural tube deficits
relate to closing of neural tubes at top (anteriorly) or at bottom (posteriorly)
neural regeneration
less organised apoptosis in large brains so fewer organised connections; geriatric: atrophy of brain and nerve cells - no capacity to regenerate neurones despite population of stem cells including in hippocampus (memory), as not enough stem cells
