Neuro Flashcards
What is the only cranial nerve that comes off the dorsal surface of the brain stem?
CN IV
What type of fiber is carried in the dorsal root?
Sensory only
How would a lower motor neuron (LMN) lesion present?
Hyporeflexia and flaccid paralysis (always ipsilateral)
What is the name of the brain stem tract in which the dorsal columns run?
Medial lemniscus
What is the ability to tell what something is without looking at it and using only your hands?
Stereognosis
In what tract do pain and temperature fibers run?
Spinothalamic tract
What gyrus in the cerebral cortex receives information from fibers of the dorsal column tract?
Postcentral gyrus
What area of the brain is responsible for contralateral gaze?
Frontal eye field (Brodmann area 8)
What is the thalamic relay nucleus for the visual system?
Lateral geniculate body (LGB)
What is the function of the ossicles?
They increase the intensity of sound?
What muscle in the eye is responsible for accommodation?
Ciliary muscle
What area of the eye has the greatest visual acuity?
Fovea (it is made up soley of cones)
What cell type in the eye is for color vision?
Cones (Cones and Color start with C)
If there is macula sparing in a visual deficit, where is the lesion?
In the occipital lobe of the cerebral cortex
Which way do the eyes drift in a frontal eye field lesion?
To the side of the lesion
What is the thalamic relay nucleus that CN V needs to “speak” to in order to pass its information on to the cerebral cortex?
Ventroposteromedial (VPM)
Cell bodies of what fibers are found in the mesencephalic nucleus of CN V?
Proprioception of the face (CN V) and motor (jaw jerk reflex)
If a patient presented with an LMN lesion in CN V, CN VII, or CN XII, what would you see?
Ipsilateral paresis
What is the motor relay nucleus of the thalamus?
Ventrolateral (VL) nucleus of thalamus
What is the only cell type to leave the cerebellum?
Purkinje (inhibitory)
If a patient presented with a right-sided cerebellar lesion, which way would the patient fall if he closed his eyes?
To the right
What is the function of the superior olivary nucleus?
To localize and determine the nature of sounds (Sound and superior start with S)
If a patient presents with a left nystagmus, where is the lesion?
On the right, because the nystagmus is named for the fast component, and the fast component is to the unaffected side
What region of the cerebellum is responisible for the planning of movements?
Cerebellar hemisphere
What is the thalamic relay nucleus for the limbic system?
Anterior nucleus
What fluid is found in the anterior chamber of the eye?
Aqueous humor
What is the dividing line between the anterior and posterior chambers of the eye?
The lens
If there is a total anopsia of the left eye, where is the lesion?
Optic nerve of the left eye
What is the center for ipsilateral gaze?
The paramedian pontine reticular formation (PPRF)
What fluid of the inner ear has an electrolyte content like that of the extracellular fluid compartment (ECF)?
Perilymph
What is the thalamic relay nucleus for the auditory system?
MGB
What region of the cerebellum is responsible for balance and eye movement?
Flocculonodular lobe
What is the only cell in the cerebellum to have an excitatory neurotransmitter
Granule cell
What does the nystagmus look like if cold water is placed in the right ear?
Slow drift to the right, fast drift to the left
COWS = Cold Opposite Warm Same (named in reference to the fast component)
Information from the cerebellum leaves via what?
Superior cerebellar peduncle
In what portion of the internal capsule are you if you can see the caudate nucleus?
Anterior limb
What type of memory is lost in a hippocampal lesion?
Long-term memory
In what region of the brain stem does the corticospinal tract cross over?
Medullary decussation
From what gyrus of the brain does the corticospinal tract originate?
Precentral gyrus
What type of fiber(s) are carried in the ventral rami?
Both sensory and motor (from the spinal nerve on both sensory and motor fibers)
What are the hallmark signs of an upper motor neuron (UMN) lesion?
Hyperreflexia
Spastic paralysis
Positive Babinski signs
What tract carriers fibers for voluntary refined movements of the distal extremities?
Corticospinal tract
What is the name of the tract in which the dorsal columns from the lower extremities run?
Fasciculus gracilis (It is medial of the two tracts on a cross-section of the spinal cord; the later tract is the fasciculus cuneatus.) Remember: Lower extremities--dancing--graceful--gracilis.
What is the function of the superior colliculi?
Cell bodies that are to be relayed to the thalamus for sight are found there. (Sight and superior start with S.)
In order for sensory information from the dorsal columns and the spinothalamic tract to get to the cerebral cortex, they must use what thalamic relay nucleus?
Ventroposterolateral (VPL)
In which region of the spinal cord does the spinothalamic tract cross over?
Ventral white commissure (VWC)
Sensory information from the spinothalamic tract sends its information to what region of the cerebral cortex?
Postcentral gyrus
In which region of the brain stem do the dorsal columns cross over?
Lower medulla (synapse on nucleus gracilis or cuneatus)
What tract carries conscious proprioception, fine touch, two-point discrimination, and vibratory sense?
Dorsal column tract (all senses except pain and temperature)
What tract of the spinal cord carries dorsal column information from the upper extremities?
Fasciculus cuneatus
If the right side of the corticobulbar tract to the muscles of facial expression were damaged, where would the deficit be seen?
In the contralateral lower face (left)
If the corticobulbar tract for CN V and CN XII were cut on the right side, where would the lesion be?
There would be no deficit, because the corticobulbar tract receives bilateral input.
What type of fibers are carried in the ventral root?
Motor only
What peduncle(s) carry information into the cerebellum?
Inferior and middle cerebellar peduncles
Cell bodies of what fibers are found in the trigeminal ganglion?
Touch, pain, and temperature
When the head moves, what causes the eyes to move in the opposite direction?
Vestibular system
Unconscious proprioception, body sense, and motor execution are functions of what part of the cerebellum?
Vermis and intermediate lobe
What three structures contain perilymph?
- Scala tympani
- Scala vestibuli
- Semicircular canals
The gravity receptors for changes in the position of the head are located in what part of the inner ear?
Saccule and utricle
What cells are for black and white vision (night vision)?
Rods
What is the fluid of the posterior compartment of the eye?
Vitreous humor
What type of fluid in the inner ear has the consistency of intracellular fluid (ICF)?
Endolymph (high level of K+)
Name three lesions that can cause left homonymous hemianopsia.
- Lesion of the right optic tract
- Lesion of the lateral geniculate body (LGB)
- Lesion of the optic radiation
What lesion produces a tremor upon movement?
A cerebellar lesion
What part of the inner ear is sensitive to angular acceleration and deceleration?
Semicircular canals
What is the normal volume of CSF?
Approximately 140 ml
What muscle of the eye is under parasympathetic control?
Sphincter pupillae
What cranial nerve receives sensory information from the cornea?
CN V1 (ophthalmic division)
What artery supplies blood to the trunk and the lower extremities on a homunculus map of the cerebral cortex?
Anterior cerebral artery
What structures of the inner ear contain endolymph?
Scala media
Semicircular ducts
Saccule
Utricle
With what type of lesions do you see tremors at rest?
Lesions of the basal ganglia?
What muscles of the eye is under sympathetic control?
Dilator pupillae
Where is the lesion if the patient presents with a right nasal hemianopsia?
Right internal carotid artery compression on the optic chiasm
What part of the inner ear function s in head movement?
Semicircular ducts
What part of the internal capsule are you in if you see the thalamus?
Posterior limb of the internal capsule
What region of the basal ganglia is affected in Parkinson’s disease?
Substantia nigra (degeneration)
Hemorrhagic destruction of the contralateral subthalamic nuclei results in what disorder?
Hemiballismus (wild flailing movements)
Slow writhing movements (athetosis) are caused by what?
Hypermyelinization of the corpus striatum and the thalamus (seen in cerebral palsy)
Atrophy of the striatum the basal ganglia results in what?
Chorea (involuntary quick movements)
What tracts are found in the genu of the internal capsule?
Corticobulbar tracts
What tracts are found in the posterior limb of the IC?
Corticospinal
Spinothalamic
Dorsal Column
Thalamocortical
What tracts are found in the anterior limb of the IC?
Thalamocortical tracts
If warm water is placed in the right ear, what does the nystagmus look like?
Slow drift to the left and fast drift to the right (COWS = Cold Opposite Warm Same)
What lesion causes a bitemporal hemianopsia?
Optic chiasm lesion
What area of the brain is known as the motor speech area?
Broca’s area
What does Meyer’s loop lesion cause?
Contralateral homonymous superior quadrantopia
Blood supply to the head/neck area and the upper limb on a homunculus map in the cerebral cortex comes from what artery?
Middle cerebral artery
What area of the brain is known for language comprehension?
Wernicke’s area
Where is the lesion if the patient presents with a right homonymous inferior quadrantanopia?
Left upper loop lesion
What region of the cerebellum is affected if a patient has dystaxia of the legs trunk during walking?
Anterior vermis (it is most commonly caused by chronic alcohol abuse.)
Where is a lesion in a patient who presents with a broad-based gait, hypotonia, intention tremors, nystagmus, and ataxia?
Cerebellum
What are the functions of the external auditory meatus?
Sound collection and protection of the tympanic membrane
What is thefunction of the inferior colliculi?
To receive bilateral auditory input and arrange the input tonotopically
If a patient presents with nystagmus, dystaxia, and hypotonia of the ipsilateral limbs, what area of the cerebellum is affected?
Hemisphere
What lesion of the cerebellum is usually caused by an ependymoma or medulloblastoma, resulting in dystaxia of the trunk with an inability to maintain an upright posture?
Posterior vermis lesion
What spinal cord injury results in flaccid paralysis and muscle atrophy?
Polio (bilateral ventral horn lesion)
What spinal cord lesion results in a lower motor neuron (LMN) lesion at the level of the lesion and an upper motor neuron (UMN) lesion below the level of the lesion?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – Lou Gehrig’s disease
What arterial occlusion would result in a loss of all tracts in the spinal cord except the dorsal columns?
Anterior spinal artery occlusion (posterior spinal artery supplies the dorsal columns)
What spinal cord lesion results in a bilateral loss of pain and temperature at the level of the lesion?
Syringomyelia (VWC lesion)
What spinal cord lesion causes a bilateral dorsal column loss below the level of the lesion?
Tabes dorsalis (neurosyphilis)
What disease is associated with demyelination of the dorsal column, spinocerebellar tract, and corticospinal tract?
Subacute combine degeneration
What arterial occlusion results in contralateral spastic hemisparesis, contralateral spastic lower face, and ipsilateral oculomotor palsy (dilated, ptosis, eye down and out)?
Posterior cerebral artery occlusion (ventral midbrain syndrome)
What syndrome is associated with an ipsilateral UMN lesion below the level of the lesion, ipsilateral dorsal column loss at and below the level of the lesion , an LMN lesion at the level of the lesion, bilateral loss of pain and temperature at the level and contralateral below the level of the lesion, and Horner’s syndrome if it is above the level of C6?
Brown-Sequard syndrome (hemisection of the spinal cord)
What arterial occlusion results in the following syndromes (Name artery and specific region.):
Contralateral spastic hemiparesis of the body
Vertebral artery–pyramid
What arterial occlusion results in the following syndromes (Name artery and specific region.):
Contralateral loss of position and vibration
Vertebral artery–medial lemniscus
What arterial occlusion results in the following syndromes (Name artery and specific region.):
Ipsilateral paralysis of the tongue
Vertebral artery–CN XII
What arterial occlusion results in the following syndromes (Name artery and specific region.):
Ipsilateral limb ataxia
Anterior inferior cerebellar artery–inferior cerebellar peduncle
What arterial occlusion results in the following syndromes (Name artery and specific region.):
Ipsilateral pain and temperature loss of the face
Anterior inferior cerebellar artery–spinal nucleus of CN V
What arterial occlusion results in the following syndromes (Name artery and specific region.):
Contralateral pain and temperature of the body
Anterior inferior cerebellar artery–spinothalamic tract
What arterial occlusion results in the following syndromes (Name artery and specific region.):
Nystagmus away from the lesion
Anterior inferior cerebellar artery–vestibular nuclei
What arterial occlusion results in the following syndromes (Name artery and specific region.):
Ipsilateral Horner’s syndrome
Anterior inferior cerebellar artery–descending autonomics
What arterial occlusion results in the following syndromes (Name artery and specific region.):
Ipsilateral facial paralysis
Anterior inferior cerebellar artery–CN VII
What arterial occlusion results in the following syndromes (Name artery and specific region.):
Deafness
Anterior inferior cerebellar artery–CN VIII
