Major Pathways of the brainstem and their relationship to lesions Flashcards
Brain lesions make up ___-___% of strokes
5-15%
What are the general characteristics of a brainstem lesion? What affected CNs do these symptoms come from?
dysphagia and dysarthria (CN IX, X, and XII)
diploplia (CN III, IV, VI)
dysmetria (CN VIII)
definition: inability to judge distance that also includes balance and limb coordination
dysmetria
(true/false) receptive and expressive language deficits are often seen with brainstem lesions.
FALSE
With decorticate rigidity, the LEs are in ___ and the UEs are in ____.
EXT, FLX
With decorticate rigidity, the lesion is most likely at the _____ even though it is still functioning.
red nucleus (midbrain)
With decerebrate rigidity, the LEs are in ___ and the UEs are in ____.
EXT, EXT
Decerebrate rigidity is caused when a lesion travels below the ____.
red nucleus
Which is worse… decerebrate rigidity or decorticate rigidity?
decerebrate rigidity
(true/false) a patient can switch between decerebrate and decorticate postures.
TRUE
definition: lesion is in the base of the pons
- patient is tetraplegic but can still move and communicate with their eyes (ocular nerves are intact and patient does have cognition.
locked-in syndrome
What tract is affected when a patient has locked-in syndrome?
corticospinal tract
Lateral Medullary (Wallenberg) syndrome has lesions in the ___ and ___ arteries.
Vertebral and PICA arteries
(true/false) Motor and proprioception are not intact when lateral medullary (Wallenberg) Syndrome is present.
False, they are intact
What are the symptoms of lateral medullary (Wallenberg) syndrome? What causes these symptoms?
- contralateral loss of pain and temperature (spinothalamic tract)
- ipsilateral loss of pain and temperature in the face (CN V)
- dysphagia and dysarthria (CN IX , X, and XII)
- vestibular issues
- ataxia (inferior cerebellar peduncle)
- horner’s syndrome