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ESA 5 > Neuro > Flashcards

Neuro Flashcards

1
Q

What are emergent properties, using the brain as an example?

A

The interaction of simple units to create properties which are not produced by a unit on its own.

In the brain there are 10^11 neurons which interact to produce human behaviour and consciousness.

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2
Q

Can axons regenerate in the CNS?

A

No

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3
Q

Can axons regenerate in the PNS?

A

Yes

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4
Q

Is the CNS sophisticated?

A

Yes

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5
Q

Is the PNS sophisticated?

A

No, with the exception of the enteric nervous system

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6
Q

Do tumours grow in the CNS?

A

Yes, they can be malignant or benign

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7
Q

Do tumours grow in the PNS?

A

Yes, they are usually benign

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8
Q

What are glymphatics?

A

Specialised lymphatic vessels in the brain which drain to the cervical lymph nodes.

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9
Q

What is the general function of the midbrain?

A

Eye movement, involuntary hearing, vision

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10
Q

What is the general function of the pons?

A

Feeding

Hearing and balance

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11
Q

What is the general function of the medulla?

A

Autonomic - via vagus nerve

Automatic - respiratory and cardiac centres

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12
Q

What is the general function of the cerebral hemispheres?

A

Language, cognition, and other higher functions

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13
Q

What is the general function of the spinal cord?

A

Contains central pattern generators which can be ‘switched on’ by the brain, allowing movement which we don’t have to think about e.g. walking, chewing, breathing

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14
Q

What are the layers of the cranial meninges?

A

Periosteal dura
Meningeal dura
Arachnoid
Pia mater

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15
Q

Describe the periosteal dura.

A

It is adhered to the skull.

Blood vessels lie between it and the skull

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16
Q

Describe the meningeal dura.

A

It is fused to the periosteal dura, but separates in some places.
Contains the dural venous sinuses and creates falx cerebri

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17
Q

Describe the arachnoid meningeal layer.

A

Loosely adhered to the meningeal dura.

CSF sits beneath it in the subarachnoid space

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18
Q

Describe the pia mater.

A

Sticks closely to the brain and spinal cord, into the folds.

Its role is to protect the brain by blocking chemicals and infectious agents.

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19
Q

What produces CSF in the brain?

A

Choroid plexus

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20
Q

What connects the third and fourth ventricles?

A

Cerebral aqueduct

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21
Q

Where does CSF enter the subarachnoid space from the ventricular system?

A

Small apertures near where the cerebellum attaches to the brainstem

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22
Q

What absorbs CSF from the subarachnoid space?

A

Arachnoid villi

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23
Q

Why is the central nervous system so susceptible to insult during development?

A

It begins early and is the last to finish

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24
Q

Describe spina bifida.

A

A failure of the posterior neuropore to close. It can occur anywhere along the length of the spine, although it is most common in the lumbosacral region. They may have neurological deficit.
Cognitive delay may be a result of subsequent hydrocephalus but isn’t a direct result of the spina bifida

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25
What are the three types of spina bifida?
Spina bifida occulta - only the spinous processes are missing, often an incidental finding. Spina bifida meningocoele - the meninges herniate through the unfused region of the lumbar spine Spina bifida myelomeningocoele - the meninges and spinal cord herniate through the unfused region of the lumbar spine
26
What is anencephaly?
A failure of the anterior neuropore to close. It causes the absence of cranial structures as well as the brain, and is usually incompatible with death.
27
What is rachischisis?
A failure of neural fold elevation, so there is no closure at all. The nervous tissue is splayed and external so is incompatible with life.
28
How can you diagnose neural tube defects?
Raised maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (due to the openness of the defect, non-specific) Ultrasound scan
29
What can be taken to reduce the risk of neural tube defects?
Folic acid
30
How does development cause the creation of the cauda equina?
The vertebral column and spinal cord are the same length at the end of spinal cord development. The vertebral column then continues to lengthen with the trunk, but the spinal roots still exit at the same point. The roots therefore have to stretch.
31
At what vertebral level in the adult is the medullary cone?
L3
32
What secondary vesicle(s) arise from the forebrain?
Telencephalon | Diencephalon
33
What secondary vesicle(s) arise from the midbrain?
Mesencephalon
34
What secondary vesicle(s) arise from the hindbrain?
Metencephalon | Myelencephalon
35
Where is the cervical flexure in the developing brain?
Junction of the spinal cord and hindbrain
36
Where is the cephalic flexure in the developing brain?
Midbrain
37
What are the adult derivatives of the telencephalon?
Olfactory lobes Cerebral hemispheres Lateral ventricles Rostral 3rd ventricle
38
What are the adult derivatives of the diencephalon?
``` Epiphysis Thalamus Hypothalamus Infundibulum Most of the 3rd ventricle ```
39
What are the adult derivatives of the mesencephalon?
Optic lobes Corpora quadrigemini Cerebral peduncle Cerebral aqueduct
40
What are the adult derivatives of the metencephalon?
Cerebellum Pons 4th ventricle (part)
41
What are the adult derivatives of the myelencephalon?
``` Medulla oblongata 4th ventricle (part) ```
42
What is hydrocephalus?
Excess CSF in the brain, due to any blockage e.g. spina bifida, tumour, infection
43
How can you treat hydrocephalus?
Peritoneal shunt
44
What is the difference between the alar and basal plates in the neural tube?
Alar - give rise to sensory parts | Basal - give rise to motor parts
45
What is Hirschsprung's disease?
Aganglionic megacolon The neural crest cells don't migrate fully so part of the colon isn't innervated, causing it to constrict distally and dilate proximally. The baby fails to pass meconium.
46
What is DiGeorge syndrome?
``` Deletion on chromosome-22. Cardiac abnormality Abnormal facies Thymic aplasia Cleft palate Hypocalcaemia/hypoparathyroidism ```
47
What is foetal alcohol syndrome?
Failure of the neural crest cells to migrate properly due to alcohol consumption during gestation. Causes an abnormal appearance, short stature, low body weight, low intelligence, behavioural problems...
48
What is the role of astrocytes?
Regulate the extracellular space in the CNS, such as the spread of neurotransmitters and potassium ions
49
What is the role of microglia?
They function as phagocytes to remove debris
50
What is the role of ependymal cells?
Line ventricles and direct cell migration during development
51
Where do the cell bodies of afferent neurons lie?
Dorsal root ganglia
52
Where do the cell bodies of efferent neurons lie?
Grey matter of the spinal cord
53
What is dysphagia?
Difficulty or dysfunction when swallowing
54
What is quadraplegia?
Paralysis resulting in the partial or total loss of all four limbs and torso. The loss is usually sensory and motor
55
What is paraplegia?
An impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities
56
What is ataxia?
A loss of full control of body movements
57
What is dyslexia?
Trouble with reading despite normal intelligence
58
What is expressive aphasia?
Difficulty communicating thoughts, ideas, and messages to others
59
What is receptive aphasia?
Difficulty understanding things you hear and read
60
What is rigidity?
An increase in muscle tone leading to a resistance to passive movement
61
What is paresis?
A condition of muscular weakness caused by nerve damage or disease
62
What is akinesia?
Loss or impairment of the power of voluntary movement due to disease in the basal ganglia
63
What is hypertonia?
Abnormal increase in muscle tension and a reduced ability of the muscle to stretch
64
What is hemiplegia?
Paralysis of one side of the body
65
What is apraxia?
An inability to produce a motor act correctly even when sensory and motor circuits are intact
66
What is dysarthria?
A difficult or unclear articulation of speech which is linguistically normal.
67
What is agnosia?
Difficulty or inability to recognise objects.
68
What is dysdiadochokinesis?
An inability to perform rapidly rotating movements
69
What is hyporeflexia?
Reduced reflexes
70
What is spasticity?
Muscle resistance to movement in a single direction
71
What is areflexia?
Absence of neurological reflexes
72
What is bradykinesia?
Slowness of movement due to basal ganglia disease
73
What is palsy?
Paralysis and involuntary tremors
74
What is chorea?
Brisk involuntary movements of the extremities
75
What is dysphonia?
Lack of coordination of speech

ESA 5 (4 decks)

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