NEURO Flashcards
5 regions of the brain included in the limbic system
Septal nucleus Mamillary bodies Fornix Hippocampus Cingulate gyrus
Hypothalamic Nuclei that regulate the parasympathetic NS
Anterior
Preoptic
Hypothalamic Nuclei that regulate the sympathetic NS
Posterior
Lateral
Hypothalamic Nuclei that regulates the release of gonadotropic hormones such as LH and FSH?
Pre-optic
Patient presents with hypersexuality and hyperorality. Where is the lesion, and what virus is associated?
This is Kluver-Bucy syndrome due to bilateral amygdala lesion. It is associated with HSV-1.
Patient presents with make-up on only the right half of her face. When asked to draw a clock, she only draws 12 o clock to 6 o clock. She is not aware of these differences. Where is the lesion?
This is a non-dominant (often right) parietal lobe lesion, causing spatial neglect of the contralateral side of the world.
Patient presents without being able to write or calculate after a stroke. They also are not able to distinguish their fingers. Where was the stroke?
Dominant (left) parietal lobe. This is GERSTMANN syndrome.
Patient presents with ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, memory loss, and confabulation. What is the most likely cause of this lesion?
This is a bilateral mamillary body lesion due to Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome. It is associated with thiamine deficiency and excessive EtOH use although it can also be induced by giving glucose without thiamine to a thiamine-deficient patient.
Patient presents with intention tremor and loss of balance. They tend to fall towards their right side. Where is the lesion?
The right cerebellar hemisphere (fall to ipsilateral side of lesion).
Patient presents with right arm flailing. Where is the lesion?
LEFT subthalamic nucleus (contralateral hemiballismus)
What is the difference between a lesion to the PPRF and frontal eye fields?
In PPRF, eyes look AWAY from side of lesion.
In frontal eye fields, eyes look TOWARDS side of lesion.
Patient presents with paralysis of upward gaze. Where is the lesion?
This is Parinauds syndrome due to damage of the superior colliculi.
Patient presents following a stroke understanding what you are saying but with extremely broken spoken language. Where was the stroke?
This is Broca’s aphasia – inferior frontal gyrus of frontal lobe (left).
Patient presents following a stroke speaking fluently but mostly gibberish. She is not able to understand what you are saying to her. Where was the stroke?
This is Wernicke’s aphasia – superior temporal gyrus of the temporal lobe.
Patient suffers a stroke to the right inferior frontal gyrus. What is her most likely presenting symptom?
This is non-dominant Broca’s area. The patient has the inability to express emotion or inflection in speech.
Patient suffers a stroke to the right superior temporal gyrus. What is her most likely presenting symptom?
This is non-dominant Wernicke’s area. These patients are unable to understand emotion or inflection in others’ speech.
What information is communicated at the nucleus solitarius?
Sensory –taste, baroreceptors, gut distention.
What information is communicated at the nucleus ambiguus?
Motor –pharynx, larynx, upper extremity.
What information is communicated at the dorsal motor nucleus?
Autonomic –heart, lungs, upper GI tract.
What artery supplies the lateral INFERIOR pons? Name 8 structures located in this area.
CN VII and nucleus (I/L) Middle and inferior cerebral peduncle (I/L) Vestibular nuclei Solitary nucleus (I/L) Cochlear nucleus (I/L) Spinal trigeminal nucleus, nerve (I/L pain and temp to face) Spinothalamic tract (C/L pain and temp) Descending sympathetic tract (I/L)
Supplied by AICA
What artery supplies the medial inferior pons? Name 4 structures located in this area.
Basilar a (paramedian branches)
Corticospinal tract (C/L) Medial lemniscus (C/L loss of touch, vibration) PPRF and abducens nucleus (I/L gaze) CN VI (I/L lateral rectus)
What artery supplies the lateral medulla? Name 6 structures located in this area.
Inferior cerebellar peduncle (I/L ataxia)
Vestibular nuclei (vertigo, nystagmus, N/V)
Nucleus ambiguus (hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, gag reflex)
Trigeminothalamic tract (I/L pain and temp of face)
Spinothalamic tract (C/L pain and temp body)
Descending sympathetic tract (I/L Horners)
Supplied by PICA
What artery supplies the medial medulla? Name 3 structures in this area.
Anterior spinal a (paramedian branches)
Pyramid/corticospinal tract (C/L)
Medial lemniscus (C/L tactile, kinesthetic)
Hypoglossal nucleus/nerve
If the right vagus nerve or nuclei is damaged, to which side will uvula deviate?
Since the mm of the left soft palate ARE working to raise the palate and the muscles on the right are not, the uvula will deviate to the left.
If the portion of the right motor cortex or right corticobulbar tract that innervates the soft palate is damaged, to which side will the uvula deviate?
Since the soft palate fibers from the right motor cortex or right corticobulbar tract travel to the left nucleus ambiguus, the uvula will deviate to the right.
A patient comes to your office and before you notice any other sx, you see the patient’s uvula deviates to the left when she says “Ah.” What 4 areas might be damaged?
Left deviation of uvula means that the muscles of the left palate are raising the palate and the muscles of the right palate are not. R. vagal nerve R. nucleus ambiguus L. corticobulbar tract Soft palate portion of left motor cortex
If the right hypoglossal nerve or nuclei is damaged, to which side will the tongue deviate when sticking out?
Since the tongue is pushed out, the muscles on the functional (left) side will push the tongue to the non-functional side.
If the portion of the right motor cortex (or right corticobulbar tract) that innervates the tongue is damaged, to which side will the tongue deviate?
Since tongue fibers from the right motor cortex travel to the left hypoglossal nucleus, the tongue will deviate to teh left.
What should you immediately think about in a patient with bilateral Bells palsy?
Guillain barre or Lyme disease
A patient has leftward deviation of the tongue on protrusion and has a right sided spastic paralysis. Where is the lesion?
L. medulla
6 etiologies of Bell’s palsy
My Lovely Belle Had An STD. Lyme disease Herpes zoster/simplex AIDS Sarcoidosis Tumor Diabetes
Map the pathway of the dorsal column beginning in the dorsal root ganglion.
Ascends ipsilaterally until it synapses in the ipsilateral nucleus cuneatus or gracilis in the medulla. It DECUSSATES in the medulla and ascends CONTRALATERALLY in the medial lemniscus where it synapses in the VPL of the thalamus. Transmits pressure, vibration, fine touch, and proprioception.
Map the pathway of the spinothalamic tract beginning in the A delta and C fibers of the dorsal root ganglion.
Ascends ipsilaterally in the gray matter until it DECUSSATES at the anterior white commissure. It now ascends CONTRALATERALLY where it synapses in the VPL of the thalamus. Transmits pain and temperature (lateral) or crude touch, pressure (anterior).
Map the pathway of the lateral corticospinal tract beginning in the primary motor cortex.
Descends IPSILATERALLY through internal capsule until DECUSSATING at caudal medulla where it now descends CONTRALATERALLY. It synapses in the cell bodies of the anterior horn and then leaves the spinal cord as an LMN and synapses again at the neuromuscular junction. This carries descending voluntary movement of the contralateral limbs.
How do sx of a lesion to the cortical motor region of the face differ from a lesion of the facial nerve or nucleus? Why?
Lesion in cortical motor face region –paralysis of CL side of lower face.
Lesion of face nerve or nucleus–paralysis of IL side of entire face.
The facial motor nucleus receives motor fibers for the lower face from the opposite motor cortex and motor fibers for the upper face from BOTH motor cortices. Therefore, if a lesion occurs in the facial region of the left motor cortex, there is still sufficient innervation for the right upper face from the right motor cortex. However, since the left motor cortex is the only cortex to innervate the right lower face, there will be paralysis in the right lower face.
What is the hallmark sign of a brainstem lesion?
Alternating syndromes – long tract sx on one side and cranial nerve sx on the other.
An infarct is noted in the midbrain. What does this patient present with? What artery is affected?
This is infarct of the paramedian branches of the PCA –WEBER syndrome.
Cerebral peduncle lesion causes C/L spastic paralysis.
Oculomotor nerve palsy causes I/L ptosis, pupillary dilation, and lateral strabismus (eye looks down and out).
An infarct is noted in the medial medulla. What does this patient present with? What artery is affected?
This is occlusion of a paramedian branch of the anterior spinal artery (rostral medulla).
C/L spastic hemiparesis (pyramid/corticospinal tract damage)
C/L tactile and kinesthetic defects (medial lemniscus damage)
Tongue deviates towards side of lesion (hypoglossal nucleus/nerve damage)
NOTE: pain and temperature are preserved.
An infarct is noted in the lateral medulla. What does this patient present with? What artery is affected?
Occlusion of PICA.
Loss of pain and temp over C/L body (spinothalamic tract)
Loss of pain and temp over I/L face (trigeminothalamic tract)
Hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, loss of gag reflex (nucleus ambiguus: glossopharyngeal and vagus damage)
I/L Horner’s syndrome (descending sympathetic tract)
Vertigo, nystagmus, nausea/vomiting (vestibular nuclei damage)
I/L cerebellar deficits like ataxia (inferior cerebellar peduncle damage)
An infarct is noted in the inferior medial pons. What does this patient present with? What artery is affected?
Occlusion of paramedian branch of basilar artery.
C/L spastic hemiparesis (corticospinal tract)
C/L loss of light touch/vibratory/kinesthetic sensation (medial lemniscus)
Paralysis of gaze to side of lesion (damage to pontine gaze center: PPRF and abducens nucleus)
I/L paralysis of lateral rectus muscle (damage to abducens nerve)
NOTE: pain and temperature are preserved.
An infarct is noted in the inferior lateral pons. What does the patient present with? What artery is affected?
Occlusion of AICA.
I/L facial nerve paralysis (facial n and nucleus)
I/L loss of taste from anterior 2/3 of tongue (solitary nucleus)
I/L deafness, tinnitus (cochlear nucleus, nerve fiber damage)
Nystagmus, vertigo, N/V (vestibular nucleus)
I/L limb and gait ataxia (middle and inferior cerebellar peduncles)
I/L loss of pain and temperature from face (spinal trigeminal nucleus and nerve)
C/L loss of pain and temperature (spinothalamic tract)
I/L Horner syndrome (damage to descending sympathetic tract)
An infarct is noted in the superior/rostral pons on the lateral side. What does the patient present with? What artery is affected?
AICA
I/L loss of tase from anterior 2/3 of tongue (solitary nucleus)
I/L limb and gait ataxia (middle and inferior cerebellar peduncles)
I/L loss of pain and temperature sensation from face (spinal trigeminal ucleus and nerve)
I/L loss of light touch and vibration sensation from face (main sensory trigeminal nucleus and nerve)
I/L jaw weakness and deviation of jaw toward side of lesion (trigeminal motor nucleus and nerve)
C/L loss of pain and temperature sensation from body (spinothalamic tract)
I/L Horner syndrome (descending sympathetic tract)
What artery supplies the LATERAL superior/rostral pons? Name 7 important structures located here.
AICA arteries
Solitary nucleus, nerve (I/L taste from anterior 2/3)
Middle, inferior cerebellar peduncles (I/L limb)
Spinal trigeminal nucleus, nerve (I/L pain and temp from face)
Main sensory trigeminal nucleus and nerve (I/L light touch, vibration from face)
Trigeminal motor nucleus and nerve (I/L jaw weakness and deviation of jaw toward side)
Spinothalamic tract (C/L pain and temperature
Descending sympathetic tract (I/L Horner syndrome)
Occlusion of what artery may cause locked in syndrome?
Basilar artery
Most common site of berry aneurysm and 3 diseases associated.
Anterior communicating artery
Associated with ADPKD, Ehlers-Danlos, Marfans syndrome
A 24 year old obese female presents with daily headaches accompanied by N/V. Papilledema is noted on PE. What is the most worrisome sequelae of this disease and what is the characteristic sign of this disease? Name 3 causes.
Most worrisome is vision loss.
CSF pressure will be elevated >200mmHg in non-obese patients, >250mmHg in obese patients.
This is pseudotumor cerebri often due to Vitamin A OD, tetracyclines, and corticosteroid withdrawal.
What do you suspect when a spinal tap appears yellow?
This is xanthochromic spinal tap. Heme degradation after a few days of hemorrhage causes the CSF to appear yellow. Generally subarachnoid hemorrhage.
A 80 year old patient presents with difficulty walking and memory problems. Why is your next step in management going to be a CT scan?
This patient sounds like they COULD be wet wacky and wobbly AKA Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. This can be seen on CT, in which lateral ventricle enlargement in the absence of sulcal enlargement would be seen. Its important to identify this because its one of the only reversible kinds of dementia.
What are the differences between the 1a afferent motor pathway and the 1b afferent motor pathway?
1a: spindle, excitatory
1b: golgi tendon, inhibitory
Describe the general flow of info through the cerebellum.
Inputs (mossy and climbing fibers) –> cerebellar cortex – > Purkinje fiber – > deep nuclei of cerebellum –> output targetes.
What structure provides the major output pathway from the cerebellum?
Brachium conjunctivum (AKA superior cerebellar peduncle) – > contralateral VL of thalamus
Motor control on which side of the body would be affected with a lesion on one side of the cerebellar hemisphere?
IPSILATERAL because the cerebellum – > C/L thalamus – > cortex – > corticospinal tract – > body C/L to cortex.
What neurological abnormalities can be attributed to damage of the spinocerebellum (vermis and paravermis)?
Postural instability
Slurred/slowing of speech
Hypotonia
Pendular knee jerk reflexes