Neurological Disorders (Exam 1) Flashcards
Three functions of the nervous system
Detect, analyze and transmit information
Communicate through electrochemical signals
Neurons
Somatic and autonomic
Peripheral nervous system
Voluntary movement
Somatic
Involuntary movement (parasympathetic and sympathetic)
Autonomic
Arrive at CNS
Afferent
Exit from CNS (brain and spinal cord)
Efferent
Neurons do not
Divide
Sensory receptor cells to the brain
Sensory neurons
Brain to muscles
Motor neurons
Info between neurons
Interneurons
Modulate and regulate the electrical activity of a given neuron
Neurotransmitter
Electrical signal that travels down the axon and is created using NA and inhibited by K
Action potential
Three basic parts of a neuron
Soma, branching dendrites and axon
Junction between two neurons; passes info between them
Synapse
Open sodium and calcium channels leads to an action potential
Excitatory neurotransmitter
Open chloride channels > hyper polarization > resting potential
Inhibitory neurotransmitter
Resting potential average
-70 mV
Barrier between circulation and the brain (exception: olfactory lobes)
Blood brain barrier
Tight junctions from barriers
Endothelial cells
Structural support, immune properties
Pericytes
Structural support, recruits WBCs
Astrocytes
The BBB is a highly
Selective semipermeable membrane
Role of p-glycoprotein pumps
Remove harmful compounds
Lacks a functioning BBB; contains receptors to detect toxic substances that lead to emesis
Chemoreceptor trigger zone
Dysfunction of the BBB can lead to
Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s
Most drugs are transported over the BBB via
Passive diffusion
Endogenous substances and amino acid derived drugs cross the BBB via
Carrier mediated
Endogenous substances such as hormones and LDL pass the BBB via
Receptor mediated
Some proteins pass the BBB via
Absorptive transcytosis
Substances pumped out of the BBB via
Active efflux
When a neurotransmitter also functions as a hormone
Neurohormones
When a neurotransmitter also functions as a hormone
Neurohormones
Membrane potential becomes more positive
Excitatory post synaptic potentials
Membrane potential becomes more negative
Inhibitory post synaptic potential
Depolarization approximately to
+35 mV
When potassium gates close slowly
Hyper polarization
When sodium channels close and potassium channels open, potassium flows out
Repolarization
Dopamine, norepinephrine and epinepherine
Catecholamines
Serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine
Monoamines
Unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage
Pain (physiological)
Short duration and resolves
Acute
Longer than expected of healing; no useful physiological purpose
Chronic (pathophysiological pain)
How many people experience chronic pain at some point in their life?
1 in 3
From tissue damage due to trauma/inflammation; mechanical/temp/chemical stimuli
Nociceptive pain
Pain from musculoskeletal system (skin, bones, muscle, connective tissue)
Somatic
Pain from visceral organs (abdominal pain)
Visceral pain
Cancer can be from what type of pain
ALL TYPES OF PAIN :(
Functional pain
pain with no identified origin
Physiology of Pain (5 steps)
- transduction
- conduction
- transmission
- modulation
- perception
- Transduction (Pain process)
sensory neurons activated to noxious stimuli
- Conduction (Pain process)
action potential travels along the neuron to the spinal cord (A fibers and C fibers)
what are A fibers? what are C fibers?
A fibers - myelinated neurons; first pain
C fibers - unmyelinated fibers; 2nd pain
- Transmission (pain process)
sensory neurons release substances that activate a 2nd neuron in spinal cord and sends a message to the brain
- Modulation (pain process)
pain can be facilitated or inhibited depending on which substances are released
- Perception
complex interaction between ascending and descending pathways and various brain systems
overtime pain pathways become
stronger with repeated pain and leads to pain hypersensitivity
allodynia
pain caused by stimulus that does not normally provoke pain
hyperalgesia
increased response to stimulus that is normally painful
Substances that facilitate pain (3)
- Substance P
- Glutamate
- Inflammatory mediators
substances that reduce pain (4)
- endogenous opioids
- endogenous cannabinoids
- GABA
- serotonin and norepinephrine
Primary headache disorders
not due to another cause
primary headache examples (3)
- tension
- migraine
- cluster
secondary headaches
due to another medical condition
secondary headache examples (3)
- sinus headache
- brain tumor
- meningitis
migraine
moderate to severe headache interferes with normal functioning
how long do migraines last?
4-72 hours
two types of migraines
aura (25%)
without aura (75%)
aura
neurological symptoms that occur prior to and during a migraine headache; caused by cortical spreading depression
non rapid eye movement
not deep sleep, normal muscle tones, dec metabolism, HR,RR,BP
rapid eye movement
deep sleep and vivid dreams; inc in metabolism, low muscle tone, variations in VS
insomnia
difficulty falling asleep; constant awakening
the difference between primary insomnia and secondary insomnia
primary - unknown cause; 10-20%
secondary - stress; 80-90%
two types of sleep problems (insomnia types)
- onset insomnia (initiating sleep)
- maintenance insomnia (staying asleep)
Narcolepsy
uncontrollable excessive daytime sleepiness; altered REM/NREM
narcolepsy type 1
narcolepsy with cataplexy
cataplexy
loss of muscle control from strong emotions
narcolepsy part 2
narcolepsy without cataplexy
pathophysiology of narcolepsy
loss of orexin containing neurons
restless leg syndrome
desire to move limbs during rest
pathophysiology of restless leg syndrome
iron deficiency, poor circulation, dysfunction of dopaminergic neurotransmission
sleep apnea
repetitive upper airway, closure during sleep, decrease or stops in airflow leads to waking up
pathophysiology of sleep apnea
structure in jaw/neck or fatty deposits in neck
parasomnias
undesirable physical/behavioral phenomena occurs during sleep
NREM disorders of parasomnias
sleepwalking, sleep terrors, sleep talking, etc.
REM behavioral disorders
paralysis fails to occur during REM sleep, acting out in their dreams
circadian rhythms disorders
misalignment in sleep cycle
Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS)
autoimmune disorder, attacks myelin around PNS neurons leading to schwann cell and neuronal damage
what is GBS triggered by?
infection or vaccine. it is typically reversible
symptoms of Guillain Barre Syndrome
-tingling sensation in extremities (paresthesia)
-difficulty with eye muscles, vision, swallowing, speaking, chewing
-pins and needles in hands/feet
-severe pain at night
Pathogenesis of GBS
molecular mimicry between offending agents and peripheral nerve gangliosides; leads to antiganglioside antibodies