Neurology Flashcards
What happens in neural development?
- notochord induces overlying ectoderm to differentiate into neuroectoderm and form the neural plate
- Neural plate gives rise to neural tube and neural crest cells
- Notochord becomes nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc in adults
- Alar plate (dorsal) - sensory
- Basal plate (ventral) - motor
What are the 3 primary vesicles at week 4 for the brain?
- forebrain = prosencephalon
- midbrain = mesencephalon
- hindbrain = rhombencephalon
What do the primary vesicles differentiate into at week 5 for the brain?
- Pro becomes telencephalon and diencephalon
- Mese stays mese
- Rhombo becomes metencephalon and myelencephalon
What does the telencephalon become?
Ceberal hemispheres, basal ganglia, hippocampus, and amygdala. Forms lateral ventricles
What does the diencephalon become?
thalamus, hypothalamus, optic nerve and tracts. Forms 3rd ventricle
What does the mesencephalon become?
midbrain and forms aqueduct
What does the metencephalon become?
pons and cerebellum and forms upper part of 4th ventricle
What does the myelencephalon become?
medulla and forms the lower part of the 4th ventricle
What are neural tube defects caused by?
-neuropores fail to fuse (4th wk) –> persistent connection b/w amniotic cavity and spinal canal. Associated w/ low folic acid intake before conception and during pregnancy.
What is usually seen in labs for neural tube defects?
elevated AFP in amniotic fluid and maternal serum. Elevated AChEsterase in amniontic fluid
What is spina bifida occulta?
failure of bony spinal canal to close but NO structural herniation. Usually seen at lower vertebral levels. Dura is intact. Assocated w/ tuft of hair or skin dimple.
What is meningocele?
Meninges ( but not the spinal cord) herniate through spinal canal defect
What is meningomyelocele?
Meninges and spinal cord herniate through spinal canal defect
What is anencephaly?
- malformation of anterior neural tube = no forebrain, open calvarium (frog-like appearance)
What are the clinical findings for anencephaly?
increased AFP, polyhydraminos (no swallowing center in brain). Associated w/ maternal diabetes. Maternal folate supplement decreases risk.
What is holoprosenecephaly?
- failure of left and right hemispheres to separate. usually occurs during 5-6 weeks.
- may be related to Sonic hedgehog gene
- Patau syndrome (trisomy 13)
- Fetal alcohol syndrome
What is clinical presentation of holoprosenecephaly?
moderate form has cleft lip/palate. Most severe forms result in cyclopia
What are examples of forebrain anomalies?
anencephaly and holoproenecephaly
What are examples of posterior fossa malformations?
- Chiarii II
2. Dandy- Walker
What is Chiarii II?
Significant cerebellar tonsillar and vermian herniation through foramen magnum w/ aqueductal stenosis and hydrocephalus. Often presents w/ thoraco-lumbar myelomeningocele and paralysis below the defect.
- syringomyelia can occur as well
What is Dandy-walker?
agenesis of cerebellar veins w/ cystic enlargement of 4th ventricle. Associated w/ hydrocephalus and spina bifida.
What is syringomyela?
- cystic enlargement of central canal of spinal cord.
- crossing fibers of spinothalamic tract are typically damaged first.
What is the clinical presentation of syringomyelia?
- bilateral loss of pain and temperature sensation in upper extremities (fine touch sensation is preserved)
- most common at C8-T1
What is involved w/ tongue development?
- 1st branchial arch forms anterior 2/3 (sensation via CN V3, tase via CN 7)
- 3rd/4th arches form posterior 2/3 (sensation and taste via CN 9, extreme posterior - CN 10)
Motor innervation via CN 12
Muscles of tongue are derived from occipital myotomes.
What are the cells of neurology and their embryologic derivatives?
- neurons - neuroectoderm
- astrocytes - neuroectoderm
- microglia - mesoderm
- oligodendria - neuroectoderm
- Schwann cells - neural crest cells
What are neurons?
- signal transmitting cells of nervous system.
- permanent cells
What are components of a neuron?
- dendrites - receive input; stained via Nissl substance
- cell bodies
- axons - send output. RER is NOT Present here.
What happens if the axon is injured?
undergoes Wallerian degeneration - degeneration distal to injury and axonal retraction proximally; allows for potential regenerations of axon if in PNS
What is the role of astrocytes?
physical support, repair, K metabolism, removal of excess NTs, maintenance of BBB
- Reactive gliosis in response to injury.
- marker = GFAP
What is the role of microglia?
CNS phagocytes. have small irregular nuclei and relatively little cytoplasm. Scavenger cells of CNS. Respond to tissue damage by differentiating into large phagocytic cells.
What does HIV do to infected microglia?
fuse to form multinucleated giant cells in the CNS
What is myelin?
used to increase conduction velocity of signals transmitted down axons. Results in saltatory conduction of AP btw nodes of Ranier where there are high concentrations of Na channels. Increase space constant as well.
What are oligodendrocytes?
myelinate multiple CNS axons.
- small nuclei w/ dark chromatin and little cytoplasm
- make up a lot of glial cell in white matter
What cells are destroyed in multiple sclerosis? and in Gulliain- Barre Syndrome?
MS - oligodendrocytes
GBS- Schwann cells
What is the role of Schwann cells?
- myelinate one PNS axon
- promotes axonal regeneration
- increases conduction velocity via saltatory conductions btw nodes of Ranvier where there are high concentrations of Na channel.
What is an acoustic neuroma?
type of schwannoma
- typically located in internal acoustic meatus ( CN 8 affected)
What makes up the BBB?
- tight junctions btw nonfenestrated capillary endothelial cells
- basement membrane
- astrocyte foot processes
Where are the following NTs synthesized?
- NE
- Dopamine
- 5HT
- Ach
- GABA
- NE - locus ceruleus (pons), reticular formation, solitary tract
- Dopamine - ventral tegmentum and SNc (midbrain)
- 5HT - raphe nucleus (pons)
- Ach - basal nucleus of meynert
- GABA - nucleus accumbens
What effects are seen in anxiety when it comes to Nts?
increased NE
decreased 5HT
decreased GABA
What effects are seen in depression when it comes to Nts?
decreased NE
decreased Dopamine
What effects are seen in schizophrenia when it comes to Nts?
increased dopamine
What effects are seen in Parkinson’s when it comes to Nts?
decreased dopamine
What effects are seen in Alzheimer’s when it comes to Nts?
decreased Ach
What effects are seen in Huntington’s when it comes to Nts?
decreased Ach and decreased GABA
What is seen in REM sleep w/ nts?
increased ACH
What is GABA made from?
glutamate and need Vit B6 to make
How do glucose and aa cross the BBB?
slowly via carrier mediated transport mechanisms
What is reticular activating system?
mediates consciousness, attentiveness, and alertness.
- lesion in this place will cause coma
What are the 3 parts of the reticular activating system?
- reticular formation
- locus ceruleus
- raphe nuclei
What are the 4 levels of the cerebrum?
- neocortex - toolbox
- limbic system - instincts
- Prefrontal cortex- can inhibit limbic system, decision making, delayed gratification
- Basal ganglia; thalamus; hypothalamus
What are all the roles of the Hypothalamus?
- Thirst and water balance
- Adenohypophysis control
- Neurophyophysis releases hormones
- Hunger
- Autonomic regulation
- Temperature regulation
- Sexual urge
What are all the nuclei of the hypothalamus?
- lateral
- ventromedial
- anterior/preoptic
- posterior
- suprachiasmatic
- dorsomedial
- arcuate
What is the function of the lateral area of the hypothalamus?
Hunger.
- destruction of this area = anorexia, failure to thrive.
- inhibited by leptin
What is the function of the ventromedial area of the hypothalamus?
Satiety.
- destruction = hyperphagia
- stimulated by leptin