Neuro/Ophtho Flashcards
Neurotransmitters
nervous system’s chemical messengers and produced only by neurons
– travel only very short distances, across spaces between nerve cells called synapses.
Nervous System structure
central nervous system (CNS) = brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system (PNS) = cordlike nerves that link the CNS with the rest of the body
Functions of the Nervous system
x3
(1) sensory functions
(2) integrating functions
(3) motor functions
Neurons
– can be divided roughly into the central cell body, also called the soma or perikaryon
– very high requirement for O2
– extensions) from the cell body, called dendrites and axons
Neuroglia or Glial cells
– structurally and functionally support and protect the neurons
– not directly involved in the transmission of information or impulses through the nervous system
Dendrites
– receive stimuli, or impulses, from other neurons and conduct this stimulation to the cell body. They can be referred to as afferent processes, because they conduct impulses toward the cell body
– sensory receptors that receive, or sense, stimuli such as heat, cold, touch etc
Axon
– conduct nerve impulses away from the cell body toward another neuron or an effector cell (a cell that does something when stimulated, such as a muscle or gland cell)
– axons are sometimes referred to by another name, nerve fibers
– Axons are often covered by a sheath of a fatty substance called myelin that appears white
– AKA white matter
– Myelinated axons conduct nerve impulses faster than unmyelinated axons
Myelin sheath
x3 structures
– made of the cell membranes of specialized glial cells called oligodendrocytes in the brain and spinal cord and Schwann cells in the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord.
– myelin sheath and nodes of Ranvier work together to enhance the speed of conduction of nerve impulses along the axon
Cranial vs peripheral nerves
– Cranial nerves are those few nerves of the PNS that originate directly from the brain.
– Most PNS nerves are spinal nerves that emerge from the spinal cord.
Afferent nerve fibers
conduct nerve impulses toward the CNS
– usually called sensory nerve fibers
Efferent nerve fibers
conduct nerve impulses away from the CNS out toward muscles and other organs
– cause skeletal muscle contraction and movement, efferent nerve fibers are usually called motor nerve fibers.
Somatic nervous system
voluntary initiation of efferent impulses
– Impulses being sent to the CNS from receptors in the muscles, skin, eyes, or ears would be classified as somatic sensory functions, because they are consciously perceived by the brain.
Autonomic nervous system
the self-regulating system
– autonomic motor nerves send impulses to smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands to regulate a wide variety of automatic body functions.
– Autonomic sensory nerves receive the afferent sensory impulses from sensory receptors that are used automatically to regulate these body functions
– sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system
Somatic afferent fibers
responsible for sensing pain, temperature, and pressure.
Somatic efferent fibers
are responsible for motor function and terminate at the neuromuscular junction of skeletal muscle.
Autonomic afferent fibers
are involved in the sensations of smell and taste as well as identification of distension or ischemia within the tissue of organs.
Autonomic efferent fibers
help to innervate cardiac muscle, muscles of the pharynx and larynx, and play many other roles throughout the body.
Neuron: Resting state
even when the neuron is resting, it is still working to maintain its resting state.
– cell membranes of neurons are electrically polarized at rest, like tiny charged batteries.
— Specialized molecules located in the neuron’s cell membrane pump sodium ions (Na+) from the inside of the neuron to the outside and pump potassium ions (K+) from the outside to the inside.
— called the sodium–potassium pump
Sodium diffusion
(Na+) cannot readily diffuse or leak through the cell membrane on its own. the action of the Na+/K+ pump causes a higher concentration of sodium to accumulate outside the cell.
– action of Na+/K+ pump and the negative charges inside the cell cause a higher concentration of potassium to accumulate inside the cell.
— By keeping the Na+ on one side of the membrane (outside) and K+ on the other (inside), the cellular membrane separating the two is said to be polarized (because it has two distinct poles of ions on either side of the membrane).
Resting membrane potential
– This electrical difference in charges across the membrane
– distribution of positive and negative charges from sodium, potassium, proteins, and other charged ions on either side of the neuronal membrane creates a difference in electrical charge across the membrane, with the inside of the neuron being more negatively charged than the outside.
Depolarization
– impulse from an adjoining neuron or from a specific type of external stimulus (e.g.,heat, touch, or taste) stimulates a neuron, a set of specific steps occurs, resulting in the nerve “firing” or depolarizing.
– At the point where the stimulus occurs on the neuron, a specialized molecular structure on the neuron cell membrane called a Na+ channel opens
– Na+ channel allows only Na+ ions to pass through it.
– Because a higher concentration of Na+ ions exists outside the cell than inside the cell, the sodium ions readily flow through the open sodium channels from the outside to the inside by passive diffusion
– positive Na+ ions are attracted into the cell by the net negative charge inside the cell
Action potential
If we hooked an electric meter to the neuron, we would see the inside of the neuron go from a negatively charged resting membrane potential to a net positive charge during depolarization.
– shift inside the cell from negative to positive makes sense when we consider the positive sodium ions flooding into the neuron.
– the significant change in electric charge from negative to positive is also referred to as an action potential.
Repolarization
Within a fraction of a second after sodium begins to flood into the cell during depolarization, the sodium channels snap shut, halting the influx.
Almost simultaneously, specialized potassium channels open in the cellular membrane Analogous to the sodium channels, the potassium channels allow only potassium ions to pass through them
– outflow of potassium ions continues until these specialized potassium channels snap shut a split second after they have opened
– Because the potassium ions (K+) are positive, the exodus of potassium ions from the neuron causes the charge inside the cell to swing back in the negative direction
– change of the cell’s charge back toward the net negative resting membrane potential is called repolarization
Threshold and Threshold stimulus
– stimulus is strong enough to cause complete depolarization, it is said to have reached the threshold, and this causes the cell to depolarize or “fire.”
– A stimulus of sufficient intensity to generate a nerve impulse is called a threshold stimulus.
Refractory Period
– a very brief period during and after a neuron has generated a nerve impulse, it cannot generate another impulse. This is called the neuron’s refractory period
– absolute vs relative
Synapse
junction between two neurons or a neuron and a target cell
Synaptic transmission
perpetuation of the nerve impulse from one neuron to the next cell
presynaptic neuron
The neuron bringing the nerve impulse to the synapse and releasing the chemical to stimulate the next cell
postsynaptic neuron
the neuron that contains the receptors that receive the neurotransmitter
Excitatory neurotransmitters
– excitatory effect on the postsynaptic membrane when they combine with their specific receptors
– cause an influx of sodium so that the postsynaptic membrane moves toward threshold.
– If the postsynaptic membrane is stimulated sufficiently by enough excitatory neurotransmitters, threshold will be reached and depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane will occur, beginning a new nerve impulse.
ex: Acetylcholines
Inhibitory neurotransmitters
tend to hyperpolarize the postsynaptic membrane, making the inside of the cell more negative instead of positive and moving the charge within the postsynaptic cell farther away from threshold.
– negatively charged (Cl − ) ions to enter the postsynaptic cell and allows (K+) ions to leave the cell
– makes it more difficult for the postsynaptic membrane to begin a new impulse
Ex: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine
Acetylcholine
Can be either this or that?
– It can be either an excitatory or inhibitory neurotransmitter depending on its location in the body
– At the junction between somatic motor neurons and the muscles they supply, acetylcholine is an excitatory neurotransmitter that stimulates muscle fibers to contract
– at the site where parasympathetic nerves synapse with the heart, acetylcholine has an inhibitory effect that slows the heart rate
Excitatory Neurotransmitters : Catecholamines
– Norepinephrine is associated with arousal and fight-or-flight reactions of the sympathetic nervous system
– Epinephrine is released from adrenal medulla (center of the adrenal gland) and plays more of a role as a hormone in the fight-or-flight reactions of the SANS
– Dopamine is found in the brain, where it is involved with autonomic functions and muscle control
Inhibitory neurotransmitters
GABA is found in the brain
glycine is found in the spinal cord
– tranquilizers, diazepam (Valium), work by increasing the GABA effect on the brain, thus inhibiting activity in the brain and producing tranquilization (reduced anxiety) with sedation (drowsiness).
Gray matter
contains most of the neuron cell bodies and grossly appears a dark brownish-gray. It is usually thought of as the “thinking” part of the CNS
White matter
contains most of the myelinated nerve fibers and appears white because of all the myelin. It is the “wiring” that connects the various components of the brain.
4
Sections of the Brain
- cerebrum,
- cerebellum,
- diencephalon
- brainstem
Cerebrum
–largest part of the brain
– made up of gray matter in the cerebral cortex (the outermost superficial layer of the brain)
– white matter beneath the cortex, including the corpus callosum (a set of fibers that connects the two halves of the cerebral cortex)
– responsible for functions associated with higher-order behaviors, such as learning, reasoning, and intelligence
– receives and interprets sensory information, initiates conscious (voluntary) nerve impulses to skeletal muscles
Longitudinal fissure
most prominent groove in the cerebrum is the longitudinal fissure, which divides the cerebrum into right and left cerebral hemispheres
Cerebellum
– located just caudal to the cerebrum, is the second largest component of the brain, wrinkled with grey and white matter
– allows the body to have coordinated movement, balance, posture, and complex reflexes
– also uses this same sensory feedback from the muscles to maintain posture and balance
Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Kittens
what causes this?
– born with an underdeveloped cerebellum
– One known cause of CH in kittens is infection of the dam with feline panleukopenia virus during pregnancy
Diencephalon
– serves as a nervous system passageway between the primitive brainstem and the cerebrum
1. thalamus acts as a relay station for regulating sensory inputs to the cerebrum.
2. hypothalamus is an interface between the nervous system and the endocrine system.
3. pituitary is the endocrine “master gland” that regulates production and release of hormones throughout the body
Brainstem
the connection between the rest of the brain and the spinal cord.
– most primitive part of the brain and is composed of the medulla oblongata, the pons, and the midbrain
– heavily involved in autonomic control functions related to the heart, respiration (including coughing, sneezing, and hiccupping), blood vessel diameter (vasomotor control), swallowing, and vomiting
Meninges
set of connective tissue layers that surround the brain and spinal cord
– fibrous dura mater, the delicate, spiderweb-like arachnoid, and the very thin pia mater, which lies directly on the surface of the brain and spinal cord
– contain a rich network of blood vessels that supply nutrients and oxygen to the superficial tissues of the brain and spinal cord
Cerebrospinal Fluid
brain and spinal cord are bathed and protected from the hard inner surfaces of the skull and spinal column by a fluid
–CSF’s chemical composition may be involved in the regulation of certain autonomic functions, such as respiration and vomiting
– Ex: pH of the CSF becomes more acidic, the respiratory center in the brainstem will increase the respiratory rate.
CSF Tap
– Since CSF circulates throughout the CNS, infection, inflammation, or cancer in the brain or spinal cord can cause changes in the amount of protein contained in the CSF; they can also cause changes in the composition of the CSF cells, including white blood cells or cancer cells.
– certain nervous system diseases or cancers by doing a CSF tap and examining it for particular types of cells or for specific changes in composition.
Blood–Brain Barrier
functional barrier separating the capillaries in the brain from the nervous tissue itself
– tightly constructed capillary wall and the additional glial cell membranes result in a cellular barrier that prevents many drugs, proteins, ions, and other molecules from readily passing from the blood into the brain
– protects the brain from many poisons circulating in the bloodstream.
Cranial Nerves
set of 12 nerve pairs in the peripheral nervous system that originate directly from the brain.
–identified as I through XII (1 through 12)
– contains axons of motor neurons, axons of sensory neurons, or combinations of both.
Cranial Nerves I - IV
I Olfactory; Sensory; Smell
II Optic; Sensory; Vision
III Oculomotor; Motor; Eye movement, pupil size, focusing lens
IV Trochlear; Motor; Eye movement
Cranial Nerves V - VIII
V Trigeminal; Both sensory and motor; Sensations from the head and teeth, chewing
VI Abducent; Motor; Eye movement
VII Facial; Both sensory and motor; Face and scalp movement, salivation, tears, taste
VIII Vestibulocochlear; Sensory; Balance, hearing
Cranial Nerves IX - XII
Name; Type; function
IX Glossopharyngeal; Both sensory and motor; Tongue movement, swallowing, salivation, taste
X Vagus (wanderer); Both sensory and motor; Sensory from gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tree; motor to the larynx, pharynx, parasympathetic; motor to the abdominal and thoracic organs
XI Accessory; Motor; Head movement, accessory motor with vagus
XII Hypoglossal; Motor; Tongue movement
Spinal Cord
caudal continuation of the brainstem outside the skull that continues down the bony spinal canal formed by the vertebrae.
– conducts sensory information and motor instructions between the brain and the periphery of the body
– contains many neuron cell bodies (in the gray matter) and extensive synapses (connections) between ascending nerve fibers conducting sensory information toward the brain and descending nerve fibers conducting motor information to muscles and other organs
divisions of the spinal cord
- cervical region (C1–C5)
- cervical intumescence region (C6–T2)
- thoracolumbar region (T3–L3)
- lumbar intumescence region with the cauda equina region (L3–cauda equina)
Spinal cord anatomy
– surrounded by meninges which support and protect it
– most superficial to most deep → dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.
– spinal cord is segmental in that it has paired spinal nerves that enter and leave at each intervertebral space
– Afferent fibers enter the cord via the dorsal root while efferent fibers leave at the ventral motor root
Myasthenia gravis
MG is an immune-mediated disease characterized by antibody inactivation of the neuromuscular end plate, often manifesting as muscle weakness.
– can occur as a focal or generalized disease and can lead to life-threatening complications, such as respiratory depression and aspiration pneumonia secondary to megaesophagus.
Optho
Exophthalmos
– Orbital fractures, retrobulbar space‐occupying lesions (e.g. neoplasia, abscess, zygomatic mucocele), traumatic proptosis
Ophtho
Enophthalmos
Horner’s syndrome, loss of retrobulbar fat, orbital fracture, temporal muscle atrophy
Ophtho
Small globe
Globe rupture, microphthalmos
Ophtho
Enlarged globe
Glaucoma, neoplasia
Ophtho
Anterior chamber: Turbidity
Lipid‐laden aqueous, uveitis (hypopyon, hyphema)
Ophtho
Hyphema
– Chronic glaucoma, congenital, hypertension, neoplasia, retinal detachment, trauma, uveitis
Optho
Dialated pupils
– Coloboma, dysautonomia, glaucoma, iris atrophy, oculomotor nerve lesion, optic nerve lesion, retinopathy, drugs, anxiety, pain
Optho
Constricted pupils
– Uveitis, Horner’s syndrome, drugs
Ophtho Anatomy
The Globe
– composed of three layers
1. fibrous tunic
2. nervous tunic
3. vascular tunic (uvea)
Ophtho
fibrous tunic
– includes the sclera, cornea, limbus, and area cribosa
Ophtho
nervous tunic
– photoreceptor layers and the fundus, which can be viewed with an ophthalmoscope
Ophtho
vascular tunic (uvea)
– composed of the choroid, ciliary body, and iris.
Ophtho
Which cranial nerves control movement of the globe?
– The third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerves, along with the extraocular muscles, control movement of the globe within the orbit, allowing nearly 240° of vision in the dog and cat versus the 200° degrees of human vision
Ophtho
Ciliary Body
caudal portion of the iris in which aqueous humor is produced by the ciliary epithelium
Ophtho
What is the fluid called that is produced in the Ciliary Body
– Passive ultrafiltration and active secretion of carbonic anhydrase within the ciliary epithelium produce a fluid known as the aqueous humor
– helps to distend the eye and is directly affected by mean arterial pressure.
What influences IOP
– inflammation, or lack thereof, in the anterior uvea
– obstruction of this outflow tract through the trabecular meshwork will increase IOP
The Iris and pupil
– Iris lies within the pupil
– divides the anterior and posterior portions of the eye
– keeps aqueous‐filled anterior portion separated from the posterior (between lens and iris) portions
– controls size of pupil allowing more or less light
– Contriction controlled by PANS
– Dilation controlled by SANS
Ophtho
Choroid
– most posterior portion of the vascular tunic (uvea) is the choroid
Ophtho
Lens
– fixed and anchored by zonules, small fibers connecting to the ciliary body
– lens luxation, the lens can become detached from the zonules and move either forward or backward in the eye
Ophtho
Retina
– photoreceptor of the eye
– onnect to bipolar cells which then connect to ganglion cells within the inner plexiform
– Axons of the ganglion form the nerve fiber layer joining to the optic nerve
Cornea
3 layers
– is collagenous, clear, smooth, and avascular, and is the most anterior portion of the fibrous tunic and eye
– has three layers, consisting of surface epithelium, collagenous stroma, and Descemet’s membrane
Ophtho
descemetocele
– Descemet’s membrane is relatively elastic, resisting damage in trauma
– If a laceration or wound reaches this membrane and is full thickness is it considered a descemetocele
Ophtho
Schirmer tear test
– measure the adequacy of tear production
– Inadequacy of tear production is suggestive of chronic keratoconjunctivitis sicca or a temporary cause of decreased tear production such as concurrent drug therapy
Ophtho
Tonometry
– measure intraocular pressure
– Pressures below 10 mmHg are often seen with uveitis
– Pressures greater than 25 mmHg are consistent with glaucoma
Ophtho
Hyphema
– blood collecting in the anterior chamber of the globe
– causes include coagulopathy, hypertension, trauma, and neoplasia
– can lead to glaucoma due to fibrin collection not allowing drainage of aqueous humor.
Ophtho
Anterior Uveitis
– inflammation of the iris and ciliary body
can be acute or chronic
– more advanced cases may result in the eye appearing cloudy or red due to inflammatory cells accumulating within the anterior chamber
– IOP will be low (opposite of glaucoma)
– can be caused by a variety of systemic dz’s
Ophtho
anterior flare
– used when the anterior chamber looks hazy (e.g. like a snow globe) when a bright light is shone into the eye
Ocular causes of uveitis
- trauma
- lens lux
- neoplasia
Fungal causes of uveitis
- Blasto
- Crypto
- Coccidio
Rickettsial causes of uveitis
- Rickettsia rickettsii
- Ehrlichiosis
Bacterial causes of uveitis
x4
- Sepsis
- Brucellosis
- Lepto
- Lyme dz
Viral causes of Uveitis
- Feline: feline infectious peritonitis, feline leukemia virus, feline immudodeficiency virus, herpesvirus, rabies
- Canine: adenovirus, distemper, rabies
Acute Glaucoma
– defined as an IOP greater than 25 mmHg in one or both eyes with associated clinical signs
– can be congenital or acquired
English and American cocker spaniels, Siberian husky, toy poodles, and basset hounds
Acquired causes of glaucoma
related to disease processes such as neoplasia, trauma, foreign bodies, anterior lens luxation, cataracts, severe uveitis, iris bombé, preiridial fibrovascular membrane, large number of iridial cysts, or high cellular debris
Glaucoma treatment
– inhibiting the enzyme carbonic anhydrase
dorzolomide 2% and brinzolamide 1%
Sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS)
– leading causes of currently incurable canine vision loss
– acute onset of blindness due to loss of photoreceptor function, extinguished electroretinogram with an initially normal‐appearing ocular fundus, and mydriatic pupils which are slowly responsive to bright white light, unresponsive to red light, but responsive to blue light.
– Both neuroendocrine and autoimmune mechanisms
Progressive retinal atrophy
– congenital inherited photoreceptor dysplasia seen in many dogs
– early‐onset form called retinal dysplasia vs late‐onset form detected in adult dogs
Retinal Detachment
– often caused by systemic hypertension
– hypertensive crisis, agents such as nitroprusside, hydralazine, and clevidipine may be selected to rapidly lower arterial blood pressure
Cerebral metabolic oxygen consumption (CMRO2)
– high degree of oxygen delivery to meet brain’s metabolic demands
– accomplished by maintaining a consistent cerebral blood flow (CBF)
– can be reduced (e.g. propofol administration) or increased (e.g. ketamine administration) through many modalities