Imaging the Brain & Spinal Cord Flashcards
What are the 3 main imaging modalities used for imaging the brain?
1 - ultrasound, CT, MRI
2 - X-ray, CT, PET-scan
3 - X-ray, CT, MRI
4 - X-ray, CT, doppler ultrasound
3 - X-ray, CT, MRI
Is X-ray an effective imaging modality for first line investigation for trauma?
- no
- mainly involved in hard tissue only
Can X-ray be used to investigate the physical abuse in children?
- yes
- can show bone fractures
Label the arrows from the X-ray below using the labels below:
- frontal sinus
- ethmoid sinus
- mandibular condyle
- maxillary sinus
- occiptal bone
- mastoid air cells
- sphenoid sinus
- sella turcica (pituitory gland sits here)
- air in nasopharynx
1 - frontal sinus
2 - maxillary sinus
3 - ethmoid sinus
4 - sphenoid sinus
5 - sella turcica (pituitory gland sits here)
6 - occiptal bone
7 - mastoid air cells
8 - air in nasopharynx
9 - mandibular condyle
If a patient has a suspected injury to the brain from trauma, what imaging modality would be appropriate 1st?
1 - MRI
2 - CT
3 - X-ray
4 - ultrasound
2 - CT
If a patient has been involved in trauma and has suspected head injury, why would a CT be performed over an MRI?
- lots of contraindications for an MRI
- patient would need to answer questions to ensure risk factors for MRI, may be unconscious
When a CT of the head is performed, lots of sections are imaged before being combined together. They eyes are avoided, why?
- to avoid radiating the orbits
From MRI and CT, which imaging is best for bone and soft tissue?
- bone = CT scan
- soft tissue = MRI
Why does white matter show up on MRI well?
- high fat content
What is a subcortical structure of the brain?
- anything below the cerebral cortex of the brain
Label the structures in the MRI coronal image of the brain numbered 1-8 using the labels below:
- medulla
- lateral ventricle
- cerebellum
- midbrain
- third ventricle
- hippocampus
- corpus collosum
- pons
1 - lateral ventricle
2 - third ventricle
3 - corpus collosum
4 - midbrain
5 - hippocampus
6 - pons
7 - cerebellum
8 - medulla
What is the basal nuclei, also commonly known as the basal ganglia?
- group of subcortical nuclei
- nuclei are clusters of neuronal bodies
- important for movement co-ordination
What is a fossa?
- depression or hollow space
There are 3 folds in the brain that are created by space between the 2 layers of the dura mater, periosteal layer – lines the inner surface of the bones of the cranium and then meningeal layer – located deep to the periosteal layer. What are the 3 layers called?
1 - Falx cerebri, Tentorium cerebelli, Falx cerebelli
2 - Falx meningeum, Tentorium cerebelli, Falx cerebelli
3 - Falx cerebri, Tentorium cerebelli, cerebelli plexus
4 - Falx cerebri, Tentorium superspinatum, Falx cerebelli
1 - Falx cerebri, Tentorium cerebelli, Falx cerebelli
There are 3 folds in the brain that are created by space between the 2 layers of the dura mater, periosteal and meningeal layer – lines the inner surface of the bones of the cranium and then meningeal layer – located deep to the periosteal layer. The 3 layers are:
- Falx cerebri
- Tentorium cerebelli
- Falx cerebelli
What do each of the layers separate?
1 - Falx cerebri = seperates left and right hemispheres
2 - Tentorium cerebelli = separates the occipital lobes from the cerebellum
3 - Falx cerebelli = separates the right and left cerebellar hemispheres
What are the 3 parts of the midbrain from top to bottom?
1 - midbrain
2 - pons
3 - medulla oblongata
In between the 3 meninges of the brain, the dura, arachnoid and pia mater there are 3 main spaces. What are they called and what do they separate?
1 - epidural space = separates dura and cranium
2 - subdural space = separates the periosteal layer of dura mater and arachnoid mater
3 - subarachnoid space = space between arachnoid and pia mater
In the MRI image we can see below, we are able to see the facial and vestibulocochlear nerve, both cranial nerves. When looking at a transverse section such as this how can you remember which nerve is vestibulocochlear and cranial nerve?
- 7up = 7th nerve cranial nerve is highest
- coke down = 8th nerve vestibulocochlear
- cranial nerves 1-10 start raustrally and move caudally, only the 11th and 12th cranial nerve are switched around
The circle of willis can be identified well on an MRI. What can be detected well and is present on the image below?
1 - blocked artery
2 cerebral oedema
3 - brain aneurysm
4 - cerebral infarct
3 - brain aneurysm
When looking at an MRI image of the spine, why is the middle dark and the outside lighter?
- interior is dark as it is cell bodies
- exterior is whiter as it contains fat from myelin
An MRI is a very useful imaging modality for what degenerative disease/disorders?
- neurodegenerative
If a patient attended accident and emergency with trauma and experiencing pins and needles in the arms and/or legs, what would be the most suitable imaging modality, providing no contraindications?
1 - MRI
2 - CT
3 - X-ray
4 - ultrasound doppler
1 - MRI
- suggests damage to cervical spine
During an MRI scan there are T1 and T2 sections. In a T1 section, what colour will the water and fat be?
- fat = bright white
- water = dark
During an MRI scan there are T1 and T2 sections. In a T2 section, what colour will the water and fat be?
- water = white/light grey
- fat = darker
