Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Pathology > Nervous system Pathology > Flashcards

Nervous system Pathology Flashcards

1
Q

Define gliosis

A

The scarring of the CNS after injury. Astrocytes and fibroblasts forms the scar after exposure to noxious agents or injury

  • Astrocytes swell
  • Usually there is neuronal loss
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the signs of ischemic neuronal damage??

A
  1. Nissl substance disappears
  2. Cytoplasmic eosinophilia
  3. Nuclear condensation (pyknosis)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Define neurophagia

A

phagocytosis of neurons by microglia (microphages), often occurs with viral infections

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the signs of neuronal atrophy??

A
  1. Cytoplasmic basophilia
  2. Nuclear pyknosis
  3. Increased lipofuscin and neurofibril pigment
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Define central chromatolysis

A

Also called Axonal reaction, is the reaction of the soma to a lesion of the LMN axon

  • There is swelling of the soma, with peripheral displacement of the nucleus
  • Another cause is pellagra
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Alzheimer is the most common form of ……. . The clinical features include ……….

A

Dementia
* impaired short term memory & thinking, irritability etc… . Later, aphasia & apraxia, ultimately the patient enters a vegetative state

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the Alzheimer pathology?

A
  • Grossly: cortical atrophy, with wide sulci and thin gyri (some primary neurons are spared)
  • Microscopic: “Characterized” by neurofibrillary tangles (intracytoplasmic paired helical filaments), granules, senile plaques (enlarged presynaptic axon terminals surrounding extracellular amyloid), Hirano bodies (intracellular aggregate of actin)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Parkinson, also called ……, begins after the age of ……

A

paralysis agitans

40

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the main symptoms of Parkinson disease?

A

Mask facies, bradykinesia, resting tremor, dementia, festinating gait
* Doesn’t affect cognitive functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the cause of Parkinson disease?

A

Loss of dopaminergic neurons in the locus ceruleus & substantia nigra, which project to caudate nucleus and putamen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Parkinsonism is caused by …….

A
  1. Encephalitis
  2. Neuroleptics (anti psycosis meds, like phenothiazine)
  3. CO and Mn poisoning
  4. Strokes
  5. MPTP (methylphenyltetrahydropyridine), which is found in heroin
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Atrophy with fasciculations indicated ……, while hyperreflexia & spastic paralysis indicate ………

A

LMN damage
UMN damage
* In Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), there is degeneration of both UMN & LMN

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Thrombosis in the brain usually occurs in ……

A

medium and large size vessels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Emboli in the brain could be sourced from ……

A

mural (from left ventricle), aortic or carotid plaques, septic or fat/air emboli
* Usually in medium sized vessels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Define Lacunar infarcts

A

Small cavities formed deep in the gray or white matter indicating occlusion of a deep artery
* Associated with hypertension

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Emboli in the brain produce their deficit within ……

A

1 minute

* Symptoms depend on the area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Thrombotic infarcts are characterized by ….., and usually preceded by ……

A

permanent neural damage

transient ischemic attacks (TIAs, which resemble mini strokes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Intraparenchymal bleeds usually are the result of ……

A

hypertension

* The most common cause of death from stroke

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are the clinical symptoms of stroke?

A
  1. Sudden headache with neurologic deficit

2. CSF is bloody, especially in hypertension

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Berry (saccular) aneurysms are the most common cause of non traumatic …… . They are caused by …..

A

hemorrhage in the subarachnoid space

  • caused by defect in the arterial media, atherosclerosis, or hypertension
  • Usually at the bifurcation of the anterior circle of Willis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Arteriovenous fistulas are sometimes found in the CNS. T/F??

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Define concussion, and what is the best index for its severity?

A

Transient paralysis of cerebral function immediately after head trauma with no structural damage.
* Measure by the severity of post traumatic amnesia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Define Contusion

A

is the bruising of the brain parenchyma involving the summit of the gyrus.
* There is wedge shaped necrosis (base to the meninges, apex towards white matter) with petechial hemorrhage

24
Q

Epidural hemorrhage usually is the result of …….

What are the most common signs?

A

laceration of middle meningeal artery

  • usually due to trauma to the lateral skull
  • Headache, vomiting, change in vision, coma, and even death if pressure is not released sugically
  • Bleeding occurs rapidly, with symptoms within the first 2 days
25
Q

Subdural hemorrhage results from …….

A

trauma to the small bridging veins, so symptoms take some time to occur
* Hematomas lie between the dura and the arachnoid

26
Q

Arachnoid hemorrhage occurs between …….

A

the arachnoid and pia (ie. sub arachnoid space)

* Patients describe having the worst headache of their lives

27
Q

What are the signs of increased intracranial pressure?

A
  1. Headache
  2. Nausea, vomiting
  3. Papilledema (optic disk swelling)
  4. Autonomic changes (bradycardia, hypertension, respiratory changes)
28
Q

Phakomatoses is …….

A

tumors of the skin, eye and nervous system

* also called neurocutaneous disorders

29
Q

What are the clinical features of neurofibromatosis?

A
  1. Café au lait spots
  2. Neural tumors (neurofibromas)
  3. Lisch nodules (benign pigmented hamartomas of the iris)
30
Q

Demyelination occurs primarily …… or secondarily ………

A

like MS

like wallerian degeneration (degeneration of the separated/crushed axon distal to the site of injury)

31
Q

Guillain Barre is

A

an autoimmune, post infectious, peripheral demyelinating disorder

  • Causes limb paralysis and autonomic failure
  • Affects peripheral nerves, but facial and ocular muscles could also be affected
  • Motor > sensory
32
Q

Vitamin B12 deficiency is almost always due to …… . It causes …..

A

malabsorption rather than dietary deficiency (except for strict vegans)
* pernicious anemia (which results in CNS and PNS demyelination and axonal degeneration)

33
Q

What are the effects of alcohol on the nervous system?

A
  1. Cerebellar degeneration
  2. Pontine demyelination
  3. Polyneuropathies (axonal degeneration of peripheral nerves)
  4. Fetal alcohol syndrome (mental retardation, microcephaly, hypotonia, irritability, characteristic facies)
34
Q

Methanol intoxication is treated with …..

A

ethanol (because ethanol competed with methanol for alcohol dehydrogenase and prevents formation of formaldehyde)

35
Q

Formaldehyde causes ……

A

metabolic acidosis, visual disturbances

36
Q

What are the symptoms for acute meningitis?

A

fever, nuchal rigidity (neck stiffness), headache, photophobia, altered mental status

37
Q

What are the causative agents for meningitis depending on the age group??

A
  1. Neonates: E.coli, group B streptococci, Listeria monocytogenes
  2. Infants and children: Streptococcus pneumoniae, H. influenzae
  3. Young adults: Neisseria menigitidis
  4. Middle age & elderly: Streptococcus pneumoniae
38
Q

What are the causes for brain abscesses?

A
  1. Otitis, mastoiditis, or sinusitis extension
  2. Surgical wound contamination
  3. Trauma
  4. Hematogenous dissemination of infection
39
Q

Cerebral abscesses are localized to the ……

A

parenchyma (walled of from the rest of the brain)

40
Q

What are the causative agents of brain abscess?

A

anaerobic streptococci, staphylococci, Bacteroides, G-ve bacilli

41
Q

What are the clinical features for brain abscess?

A

Death following herniation, or rarely, rupture with ensuing meningitis and ventriculitis

42
Q

Candidiasis of the brain often results from ……

A

dissemination from distant sites

  • It is the most common fungal infection
  • There is a “mixture of yeast & pseudohyphae”
43
Q

Aspergillosis, Mucormycosis & Cryptococcosis are all …..

A

Mycotic infections of immunocompromised patients (diabetes, steroid therapy, AIDS etc…)
* All caused by inhalation & blood dissemination of infection to the brain, resulting in meningitis

44
Q

Toxoplasmosis is caused by …….., which is transferred via …… & …… .

A

Toxoplasma gondii
contact with infected cats feces & infected meat
* It can cross the placenta and cause congenital defects (convulsions, intracerebral calcifications, hydrocephalus, chorioretinitis of the choroid)

45
Q

Mumps causes meningitis in …… of patients

A

25%

46
Q

Rubella virus causes the congenital rubella syndrome, which is ……

A

chorioretinitis, low birth weight, cardiac defects, cataracts, neurologic abnormalities

47
Q

What are the neurological effects of Rabies ?

A

Hyperactivity, abnormal behavior, autonomic dysfunction, laryngeal muscle spasm

48
Q

Negri bodies are …..

A

eosinophilic, oval cytoplasmic inclusions, characteristic of rabies

49
Q

Herpes encephalitis is caused by ……..

A

HSV-1

* Treated with acyclovir

50
Q

CMV usually infects immunocompromised individuals causing

A

disseminated glial nodules (infiltrated by histiocytes)

51
Q

Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease & Kuru are both caused by ……

A

prions

* They both cause neurological deficit

52
Q

Post concussion syndrome is characterized by three of the following ……

A

headache, dizziness, lowered tolerance to light and noise, fatigue, irritability, amnesia, visual disturbance, confusion, cold perspiration

53
Q

Seizures is defined as ……

It is of two types ….. & …..

A

change in the electrical activity of the brain

  • partial and general
  • Epilepsy is recurrent seizures
  • Grand mal (tonic-clonic) seizure is tonic (loss of consciousness & muscle spasm, few seconds), followed by clonic (muscle twitching)
54
Q

Lewy body is …..

A

protein aggregate inside the neurons of patients with Parkinson

55
Q

Meningioma is …….

A

benign neoplasm of meninges

  • F>M
  • Associated with breast cancer, may be due to high estrogen
56
Q

Wallerian degeneration is reversed only if ……..

A 
the neurolemma (endoneurial sheath) is intact
* Note that if the cell body is irreversibly injured, the entire neuron degenerates

Pathology (18 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions