Disorders of the Neurological System Flashcards
Where are action potentials initiated?
Junction between the cell body and the axon (if enough excitatory info)
Where does the action potential go from there?
Down the axon until the axon terminals, will then signal to release neurotransmitters
What are the two vessels that bring blood to the brain?
Internal carotid artery and the middle cerebral artery, form an anastomosis
What is the purpose of the blood brain barrier?
Serves as a physical barrier to chemicals
What elements compose the blood brain barrier?
Endothelial cells connected by tight junctions (rest on the basement membrane), astrocyte foot processes (surround the capillaries, help regulate) and pericytes (embedded within the basement membrane)
What are the meninges?
Layers of connective tissue that help to stabilize the brain and protect the structures from hitting surrounding bones
What are the components that make up the meninges?
Dura matter, arachnoid matter, pia matter
Which layer of the meninges is the thickest?
The dura matter which is the outermost region
What is found within the arachnoid matter?
Subarachnoid space which holds CSF
Where is the pia matter located?
On the surface of the brain itself, this layer is fine and delicate
What are the two types of ischemic stroke that can occur?
Thrombotic (more common, thrombus formed within the cerebrovasculature) and embolic (thrombus formed outside of the brain that breaks off and travels to, usually obstructs smaller vessels)
What are the two areas that develop when an infarction occurs?
Ischemic core (most severe area, neuronal and glial death within moments) and penumbra (surrounding area to this core, can survive for hours with full recovery)
Which area do therapeutic strategies target?
Penumbra!
Where does the ischemic cascade start?
Within the penumbra
What are the three elements of the ischemic cascade?
Excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation
What occurs during excitotoxicity in the ischemic cascade?
Sustained activation of neurons within penumbra, Ca2+ enters neurons, stimulates NT release, but when accumulates b/c cannot be pumped out= death signal. Neurons won’t have enough energy to maintain action potential, remain excited and cannot repolarize
How does inflammation impact the blood brain barrier?
Disrupts it and makes it more permeable= cerebral edema
What pathologic changes occur in hemorrhagic strokes?
Pooling of blood results in compression of surrounding tissues and this can disrupt blood flow= ischemic cascade activation. Hemoglobin is toxic to neurons!
What are common causes of hemorrhagic strokes?
Uncontrolled hypertension or ruptured aneurysms
What clears away the blood in a hemorrhagic stroke?
Macrophages and astrocytes, results in a cavity with dense glial scarring
What are oligodendrocytes?
Glial cells that produce a lipid-rich substance called myelin, wrap it around axon of the neuron
What is the purpose of myelin?
Serves as an insulator, prevents electrical information from leaking out
What are the Nodes of Ranvier?
Gaps in the myelin, allow ions to move in and out to propagate the action potential down the axon
What occurs in multiple sclerosis?
Autoimmune targets cells that produce myelin, resulting in myelin degeneration and loss of axons/killing off of oligodendrocytes
What are potential causes of MS?
Genetics, epigenetics, infectious component (infection may precipitate the autoimmune response–many positive for the EBV which has viral proteins that resemble myelin)
What is the pathophysiology in MS?
Immune cells attack oligodendrocytes, cytokines and ROS damage axons. Have Th1 and Th17 CD4+ cells involved, CD8+, macrophages and plasma cells