Introduction to Neuropathology Flashcards
During neurulation, the notochord is formed from the mesoderm and then stimulates the ectoderm to differentiate into the neural tube which folds and separates from the ectoderm and goes on to form the neural tube. In addition, the neural crest cells are created from the ectoderm layer. What do the neural tube and neural crest cells go on to form?
- neural tube = CNS
- neural crest = PNS
What are pyramidal cells?
1 - form of multipolar neuron found in hippocampus and amygdala
2 - form of unipolar neuron found in hippocampus and amygdala
3 - form of bipolar neuron found in hippocampus and amygdala
4 - form of pseydopolar neuron found in hippocampus and amygdala
1 - form of multipolar neuron found in hippocampus and amygdala
What are ependymal cells?
1 - epithelial cells lining the venous sinuses
2 - ciliated epithelial glial cell that form the choroid plexus
3 - ciliated epithelial cells that line the ventricles
4 - epithelial cells that form the olfactory nerve
2 - ciliated epithelial glial cell that form the choroid plexus
What are the main functions of the glial cells called astrocytes?
1 - support, communication, BBB, maintenance, repair
2 - immune function, communication, BBB, maintenance, repair
3 - support, myelinate neurons, BBB, maintenance, repair
Astrocytes :
- support,
- communication,
- BBB,
- maintenance,
- repair
What are the immune cells of the CNS?
1 - macrophages
2 - microglia
3 - astrocytes
4 - neutrophils
2 - microglia
- think M for monocytes
What is the main antigen presenting cell in the CNS?
- microglia
- can recruit macrophages as well
The majority of the brain has the blood brain barrier (BBB), which does not let a lot pass. What is the structure of the BBB that helps it maintain such a tight barrier?
- endothelial cells held together by tight junctions
- basement membrane
- pericytes
- astrocyte end foot
There are 2 main instances in the brain that do not posses the tight BBB. What are these 2 instances?
1 - choroid plexus (create CSF)
2 - circumventricular organs (facilitate communication between blood in CNS and PNS), such as the pituitary gland
What are the 3 basic layers of the meninges of the brain?
1 - dura mater
2 - arachnoid mater
3 - pia mater
The dura mater meningeal layer has 2 layers, what are these?
1 - endosteal layer and meningeal layer
2 - periosteum layer and meningeal layer
3 - pia layer and meningeal layer
4 - endosteal layer and subarachnoid layer
1 - endosteal layer and meningeal layer
The dura mater meninges has 2 layers, endosteal/periosteal layer (closest to the bone) and the meningeal layer. These 2 layers are normally in close contact, but the areas where they do separate create space. What are these spaces called?
- venous sinuses
In the subarachnoid layer of the meninges there is something that protrudes into the venous sinus and allows CSF to flow out of the brain. What are these protrusions called?
1 - arachnoid dendrites
2 - arachnoid microtubules
3 - arachnoid granulations
4 - glymphatics
3 - arachnoid granulations
Below the pia mater, the deepest and closest meningeal layer to the brain is a glial membrane composed of astrocyte foot processes. These function to prevent the over-migration of neurons and neuroglia, the supporting cells of the nervous system, into the meninges. What is this called?
1 - glia radialatans
2 - glia limitans
3 - glymphatics
4 - glymphoma
2 - glia limitans
The cerebral cortex is a grey matter area on the outside of the brain, composed of neuronal cell bodies. How many laters does the cerebral cortex have?
1 - 2
2 - 4
3 - 6
4 - 8
3 - 6 layers
In the brain inflammation facilitates the delivery of effector molecules to aid in rapid repair through signals, such as cytokines by vasodilating blood vessels. What happens to the microglia (immune cells) which are generally dormant?
Microglia:
- become activated
- can be seen histologically
- top left is inactive, all others are various forms of activation
In the brain inflammation facilitates the delivery of effector molecules to aid in rapid repair through signals, such as cytokines. Due to increase permeability and dilation of blood vessels there is oedema. There are 2 kinds of oedema, what are they?
1 - vasogenic (extracellular)
2 - cytotoxic (intracellular)
In inflammation blood vessels of the brain vasodilate and have an increase in permeability. This can cause 2 types of oedema, vasogenic and cytotoxic. What is vasogenic oedema?
1 - fluid collects intracellularly, BBB is disrupted, white matter is affected and is common in tumours
2 - fluid collects intracellularly, BBB is in tact, white matter is affected and is common in tumours
3 - fluid collects extracellularly, BBB is disrupted, grey matter is affected and is common in tumours
4 - fluid collects extracellularly, BBB is disrupted, white matter is affected and is common in tumours
4 - fluid collects extracellularly, BBB is disrupted, white matter is affected and is common in tumours
- fluid accumulation in extracellular space (spaces surrounding then brain)
- disruption of the BBB
- white matter affected (causes demyelination)
- common in tumours and abscess
In inflammation in the brain blood vessels vasodilate and have an increase in permeability. This can cause 2 types of oedema, vasogenic and cytotoxic. What is cytotoxic oedema?
1 - fluid collects intracellularly, BBB intact, white matter is affected and is common in ischaemia
2 - fluid collects intracellularly, BBB intact, grey matter is affected and is common in ischaemia
3 - fluid collects extracellularly, BBB is disrupted, grey matter is affected and is common in tumours
4 - fluid collects extracellularly, BBB is disrupted, white matter is affected and is common in tumours
2 - fluid collects intracellularly, BBB intact, grey matter is affected and is common in ischaemia
- swelling caused by intracellular accumulation of fluid
- BBB not disrupted
- affects grey and white matter
- common in ischemia
Astrocytes are involved in repair in the brain. During inflammation when there is tissue damage, astrocytes will repair this tissue. Is this good or bad repair generally?
1 - generally good with no glial scars
2 - generally good with the help of macrophages
3 - repairs with help of macrophages but glial scars form
4 - repairs with help of macrophages and no glial scars form
3 - repairs with help of macrophages but glial scars form
In the image below, which is vasogenic and cytotoxic oedema indicated by the solid lines?
- left = vasogenic
- right = cytotoxic
- dashed lines show the brain herniating to other side of the brain
In chronic inflammation there will be damage to the nerves, called neuronal degeneration. This can cause retrograde/wallerian degeneration, what is this?
1 - following axonal damage, distal axon degenerates
2 - following axonal damage, the whole axon degenerates
3 - following axonal damage, proximal axon degenerates
4 - following axonal damage, distal and proximal end of axon degenerates
1 - following axonal damage, distal axon degenerates
- neuron dies or can regenerate depending on extend of injury
In chronic inflammation there will be damage to the nerves, called neuronal degeneration. This can cause retrograde/wallerian degeneration, which is damage to the axon distally, which can then cause neuronal death. We can also have trans-synaptic degeneration, what is this?
1 - following axonal damage, distal axon degenerates
2 - following axonal damage, injury spreads to unaffected neurons through synapse
3 - following axonal damage, proximal axon degenerates
4 - following axonal damage, distal and proximal end of axon degenerates
2 - following axonal damage, injury spreads to unaffected neurons through synapse
In chronic inflammation there will be damage to the nerves, called neuronal degeneration. This can cause demyelineation, what is this?
- myelin coveing axon is destroyed and nerve cannot conduct as effectively if at all
In chronic inflammation there will be damage to the nerves, called neuronal degeneration. This can cause gliotic scars formed by astrocytes that are trying to repair the damage. What is one common neurological disorder these gliotic scars could then cause?
1 - parkinsons disease
2 - Alzheimers disease
3 - epileptic foci
4 - multiple sclerosis
3 - epileptic foci
- scar causes abnormal neural flow and connections
- can cause epileptic foci leading to epilepsy
The symptoms a patient presents in neuropathophysiology is determined by what?
- location of the pathology in the nervous system
When trying to diagnose patients with neuropathy, we need a differential diagnosis and use the acronym VITAMIN C, what does this stand for?
- V = vascular
- I = inflammation/infection
- T = toxins/drugs
- A = autoimmune
- M = metabolic
- I = idiopathic
- N = neoplastic (malignant/cancerous)
- C = congenital/genetic
Glioblastoma is a common cancer that can present in the brains of adults, what is it?
1 - form of cancer formed from choroid cells
2 - form of cancer formed from dura mater
3 - form of cancer formed from glial cells, commonly astrocytes
4 - form of cancer formed from glial cells, commonly oligodendrocytes
3 - form of cancer formed from glial cells, commonly astrocytes
- aggresive form of cancer resembling a butterflies that crosses the midline of the brain
Meningioma is a common cancer that can present in the brains of adults, what is it?
1 - form of cancer formed from choroid cells
2 - form of cancer formed within the meningeal layers
3 - form of cancer formed from glial cells, commonly astrocytes
4 - form of cancer formed from glial cells, commonly oligodendrocytes
2 - form of cancer formed within the meningeal layers
- outside the brain in the meninges, but still presses on the brain
Is a tumour more likely in a glial or neuronal cell?
- glial cells due to their ability to divide and proliferate
What does para-neoplastic syndrome?
1 - tumour in glial cells that triggers an abnormal immune response
2 - tumour in glial cella
3 - tumour in neuronal cells
4 - tumour in neuronal cells that triggers abnormal immune response
4 - tumour in neuronal cells that triggers abnormal immune response
- symptoms are due to immune cells response
- triggers an autoimmune process
Paraneoplastic syndromes are when the immune cells detect a cancer and an abnormal immune response is stimulated, triggering an autoimmune process. Which cells are heavily involved in this?
- T cells
- attack normal brain tissue
Paraneoplastic syndromes are when the immune cells detect a cancer and an abnormal immune response is stimulated, triggering an autoimmune process. If the PNS is involved this can lead to Lambert Eaton, what is this?
1 - type II hypersensitivity, immune cells attack pre-synaptic receptors so no depolarisation
2 - type II hypersensitivity, immune cells attack pre-synapse, no Ca2+ released despite action potential
3 - type V hypersensitivity, cytotoxic T cels cells attack attack pre-synapse so no vesicles to release neurotransmitters
4 - type II hypersensitivity, immune cells attack post-synaptic receptors so no depolarisation
2 - type II hypersensitivity, immune cells attack pre-synapse, no Ca2+ released despite action potential
- leads to impaired pre-synapse response to action potential
Paraneoplastic syndromes are when the immune cells detect a cancer and an abnormal immune response is stimulated, triggering an autoimmune process. If the PNS is involved this can lead to Lambert Eaton, which is a type II hypersensitivity. Here the immune system attacks Ca2+ channels on NMJ and nerves, leading to impaired pre-synapse response to action potentials. What tissue is heavily affected by this syndrome?
- skeletal muscles become weak
- temporarily improve with activity
Paraneoplastic syndromes are when the immune cells detect a cancer and an abnormal immune response is stimulated, triggering an autoimmune process. If the PNS is involved this can lead to Lambert Eaton, which is a type II hypersensitivity. Here the immune system attacks Ca2+ channels on NMJ and nerves, leading to impaired pre-synapse response to action potentials. This causes muscle weakness, that can temporarily get better with exercise. What tumour is heavily linked with this?
1 - bladder cancer
2 - bone cancer
3 - breast cancer
4 - lung cancer
4 - lung cancer
Paraneoplastic syndromes are when the immune cells detect a cancer and an abnormal immune response is stimulated, triggering an autoimmune process. If the CNS is affected this can lead to NMDA (glutamate receptors) encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). What is this?
1 - antibodies target NMDA receptors meaning less glutamate neuronal activity
2 - antibodies target AMPA receptors meaning less glutamate neuronal activity
3 - antibodies target dopamine receptors meaning less glutamate neuronal activity
4 - antibodies target serotonin receptors meaning less glutamate neuronal activity
1 - antibodies target NMDA receptors meaning less glutamate neuronal activity
- can cause a neuropsychiatric condition
Paraneoplastic syndromes are when the immune cells detect a cancer and an abnormal immune response is stimulated, triggering an autoimmune process. If the CNS is affected this can lead to NMDA (glutamate receptors) encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). This is where antibodies attack NMDA receptors, which are glutamate receptors affecting mood and emotions, causing neuropsychiatric condition. How can this syndrome initially present?
- flu like symptoms with a headache
- paranoia, unstable mood, anxiety
- seizures