Neuro Flashcards
A “golf tee sign” observed on a myelogram is consistent with…
Intradural (subarachnoid) but extramedullary lesion
Best diagnostic to identify extradural lesions - CT, CT+ contrast or MRI?
MRI
Intramedullary spinal lesions - causes, differential diagnoses
An intramedullary pattern is typically associated with spinal cord edema, expansile parenchymal masses, or intraparenchymal hemorrhage. Differential diagnoses include fibrocartilaginous emboli, neoplasia (e.g., astrocytoma, lymphosarcoma), inflammatory disorders (e.g., granulomatous meningoencephalitis in dogs, feline infectious peritonitis [FIP] in cats), and trauma (e.g., hemorrhage, edema)
Intradural/extramedullary spinal lesions are often caused by…
Intradural/extramedullary patterns are most often associated with neoplasia, primarily meningiomas and nerve sheath tumors
Extradural-pattern spinal lesions are often caused by…
Intervertebral disk extrusion/protrusion is the most common cause of an extradural myelographic pattern. Other causes of extradural patterns include vertebral fracture/luxation, congenital vertebral anomalies, hypertrophied soft tissue structures (e.g., interarcuate ligament, synovial membranes), extradural hemorrhage, vertebral neoplasia, and soft tissue neoplasia (e.g., feline lymphosarcoma)
Most common site for CSF tap; advantage/disadvantage
cerebellomedullary cistern (cisternal tap).
Easy to obtain CSF
If needle penetrates the cord parenchyma and reached the ventral aspect it can lacerate the basilar artery (very serious)
Lumbar CSF tap location for large dogs vs small dogs/cats
Advantages
Large dogs: L4-5
Small dogs/cats: L5-6
Safer than cisternal tap; needle intentionally penetrates the spinal cord but usually does not cause adverse effects
CSF cellular abnormalities associated with Granulomatous Meningoencephalitis
Mononuclear cell pleocytosis refers to a predominance of lymphocytes or macrophages in the CSF.
7 components of the neurologic exam
1) Mentation
2) Gait
3) Posture
4) Cranial Nerves
5) Postural Reactions (proprioception)
6) Spinal Reflexes
7) Nociception
Define Obtunded Vs Stuporous Vs Comatose
Obtunded animals tend to appear depressed, listless, and disinterested in spontaneous activity. Although these patients often appear drowsy, they are easily aroused with a minor stimulus (vocal cues, other noises). Unlike other forms of depression (e.g., those due to metabolic disease), obtunded patients are often described as appearing “out of it.”
Stupor describes a dog or cat that is not conscious but can be aroused with a strong stimulus (e.g., toe pinch).
Coma refers to a state of unconsciousness that persists even after the application of a strong stimulus
Mental statuses most commonly associated with brain stem disease
Stupor or coma
Mental status most commonly associated with forebrain disease (cerebellum and diencephalon)
Obtunded
Trigeminal nerve functions
•Somatic motor to muscles of mastication
•Somatic motor to tensor tympani muscle
•Sensory to most of face
Trochlear nerve function (CN IV)
Somatic motor to dorsal oblique muscle of the eye
Functions of Oculomotor nerve (CN III)
•Somatic motor to most of the extraocular muscles (dorsal, medial, ventral rectus; ventral oblique; levator palpebrae superioris)
•Parasympathetic innervation to pupil (pupillary light response)
Functions of Abducent nerve (CN VI)
Somatic motor to lateral rectus and retractor bulbi muscles (extraocular)
Facial nerve functions (CN VII)
•Somatic motor to muscles of facial expression
•Somatic motor to stapedius muscle
•Parasympathetic innervation to salivary glands (mandibular, sublingual)a and lacrimal, palatine, and nasal glandsb
•Sensory to inner pinna
•Sensory (mechanoreception, thermal) and taste to rostral two-thirds of tongue (chorda tympani nerve)c
Functions of glossopharyngeal, Vagus and Accessory nerves (CN IX, X and XI)
•Somatic motor for laryngeal and pharyngeal function (nucleus ambiguus)
•Parasympathetic innervation to salivary glands (parotid and zygomatic—CN IX)d
•Parasympathetic innervation of viscera (CN X)
•Sensory innervation of pharynx (CN IX and X)
•Sensory and taste to caudal one-third of tongue (CN IX)
Explain Schiff-Sherington posture
This posture is characterized by rigid extension of the thoracic limbs (with preservation of thoracic limb function) accompanied by pelvic limb paresis or plegia. Increased extensor tone to the thoracic limbs is due to the interruption of a group of cells in the lumbar gray matter called border cells, or of those cells’ cranially directed axonal processes (Fig. 38.18). These cells project their axons cranially to tonically inhibit the lower motor neurons (LMNs) of thoracic limb extensor muscles. When the border cells or their axons are disrupted as the result of a spinal cord lesion caudal to the cervical intumescence region, the thoracic limb extensors are “released” from this tonic inhibition. The thoracic limbs have excessive extensor tone (especially when the patient is in lateral recumbency), but there are no associated thoracic limb neurologic deficits. Most patients with Schiff-Sherrington posture have T3-L3 myelopathies, probably because this is a very common neuroanatomic presentation, and most are nonambulatory in the pelvic limbs. This posture is an anatomic phenomenon without prognostic significance. Dogs and cats with lower lumbar spinal cord lesions can also display this posture as the result of interruption of the border cells directly (they are located in the dorsolateral ventral gray matter from L1–L7 spinal cord segments). As there is no brain involvement with this phenomenon, it should not be confused with other postures that display thoracic limb hyperextension (i.e., decerebrate and decerebellate rigidity).
3 types of ataxia
Sensory, vestibular and cerebellar
Wide, side-to-side head excursions during ambulation. Type of ataxia
Vestibular (peripheral or central), bilateral
•Due to interference with ascending spinal cord proprioceptive pathways
•Manifested as a swaying gait
•Toe dragging may be evident
•Clumsy gait
•May fall when turning
Type of ataxia ?
Sensory
Dorsal column (spinal cord) responsible for conscious proprioception. Name the three fascicles and where they are represented in the brain
Fasciculus gracilis, cuneatus and spinomedulary tract. Represented in the contra lateral cerebral cortex
Spinal fascicles conveying unconscious proprioception; where are they represented in the brain
Spinocerebellar tract; cerebellum (no cortex involvement, so no consciousness)