Neuropathology

Question 1

What are three classic symptoms of increased intracranial pressure?

Answer 1

Headache
Papilledema (optic disc swelling)
Nausea & vomiting

Question 2

What are three treatments to relieve intracranial pressure?

Answer 2

Catheter (extraventricular drain)
Craniotomy
Trepanning

Question 3

What are the three membrane levels that form the meninges?

Answer 3

Dura mater
Arachnoid
Pia mater

Question 4

What happens when there is haemorrhaging involving the meninges?

Answer 4

The small veins which connect the meninges are torn, usually during an accident and blood can leak to this area

Question 5

What happens when there is an infection of the meninges?

Answer 5

Meningitis

Due to fungal, bacterial or viral infection

Question 6

What happens when there is cancer of the meninges?

Answer 6

Meningiomas arising from the meninges or from tumours formed elsewhere in the body which metastasize in the meninges

Question 7

What is the function of cerebrospinal fluid?

Answer 7

Physical support for the brain

Carries away toxic metabolic byproducts

Question 8

What is autoregulation?

Answer 8

Constriction or dilation of the cerebral blood vessels to control cerebral blood flow direction

Question 9

What is the blood-brain barrier?

Answer 9

A separation of circulating blood from the brain extracellular fluid

Question 10

What is the purpose of the blood-brain barrier?

Answer 10

Block the diffusion of microscopic objects (bacteria)
Prevent large or hydrophillic molecules into the CSF
Allows the diffusion of small hydrophobic molecules

Question 11

What does an external post-mortem include?

Answer 11

Covering of the brain
Gyrus patterning
Focal lesions
Herniation
Blood vessels
Cranial nerves

Question 12

What does an internal post-mortem include?

Answer 12

Cerebral hemispheres cut in coronal sections and grey matter, white matter, deep grey matter and ventricular system examined

Question 13

What are most neurological symptoms related to?

Answer 13

Location of the lesion within the brain not the cause of the lesion

Question 14

What is broca’s aphasia?

Answer 14

Can understand language but can not speak

Question 15

What is Wernicke’s aphasia?

Answer 15

Can speak but makes no sense

Question 16

What are the brainstem and medulla responsible for?

Answer 16

Controlling heartbeat
Breathing
Blood circulation
Swallowing 
Urination

Question 17

What is Ondine’s curse?

Answer 17

Congenital malformation where patient suffers from respiratory arrest during sleep

Question 18

What is the thalamus responsible for?

Answer 18

Directing messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex
Transmitting replies to the cerebellum and medulla
Regulation of consciousness, sleep and alertness

Question 19

What is fatal familial insomnia?

Answer 19

A prion disease affecting the thalamus

Question 20

What is the cerebellum responsible for?

Answer 20

Helping coordinate voluntary movement and balance

Question 21

What does damage to the cerebellum cause?

Answer 21

Motor disturbances

Can still move but uncoordinated

Question 22

What are three components of the limbic system?

Answer 22

Hippocampus
Amygdala
Hypothalamus

Question 23

What is the hippocampus responsible for?

Answer 23

Memory processing

Consolidation of information from STM to LTM

Question 24

Which is the first region of the brain to suffer damage in Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 24

Hippocampus

Question 25

What is anterograde amnesia?

Answer 25

Inability to form or retain new memories

Question 26

What is the amygdala linked to?

Answer 26

Emotion and fear | Aggression

Question 27

What is the cerebrum?

Answer 27

The largest division of the brain which is split into two hemispheres each which is divided into 4 lobes

Question 28

What are the left-brain functions?

Answer 28

Analytic thought Logic Language Science and math

Question 29

What are the right-brain functions

Answer 29

Holistic thought Intuition Creativity Art and music

Question 30

What is grey matter composed of?

Answer 30

Neurons

Question 31

What is white matter composed of?

Answer 31

Glial cells | Myelinated axons

Question 32

What are the four lobes of the cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 32

Frontal lobe Parietal lobe Occipital lobe Temporal lobe

Question 33

What are the functions of the frontal lobe?

Answer 33

Memory formation Emotion Decision making Personality

Question 34

What are the functions of the parietal lobe?

Answer 34

Senses | Spatial awareness and perception

Question 35

What are the functions of the occipital lobe?

Answer 35

Processing, integration and interpretation of vision

Question 36

What are the functions of the temporal lobe?

Answer 36

Hearing | Information retrieval

Question 37

What types of organisms can affect the brain?

Answer 37

``` Bacteria Viruses Fungi Parasites Prions ```

Question 38

What are the early symptoms of spinal tumours?

Answer 38

Back pain Distal paresthesias Loss of sensation

Question 39

What is the difference between a primary and secondary brain tumour?

Answer 39

Primary starts in the brain and doesn't spread to another part Secondary begins elsewhere in the body and spreads to the brain

Question 40

What is a benign brain tumour?

Answer 40

Grows slowly Distinct boundaries Rarely spreads

Question 41

What is a malignant brain tumour?

Answer 41

Grows quickly Irregular boundaries Spreads to nearby brain areas but no organs outside brain

Question 42

What do survival rates depend on?

Answer 42

``` Type of tumour Tumour grade Location and size of tumour Patient's ability to function How far the tumour has spread Patient's age ```

Question 43

What are grade I tumours?

Answer 43

Least malignant Most likely for long term survival Surgery alone can most likely correct

Question 44

What are grade IV tumours?

Answer 44

Reproduce rapidly Move to other areas Induce blood vessel growth to tumour Have dead cells at the centre

Question 45

What is meningitis?

Answer 45

Inflammation of the meninges | Caused by bacteria

Question 46

What is encephalitis?

Answer 46

Inflammation of the brain | Caused by many types of organism

Question 47

What is syphilis caused by?

Answer 47

Treponema pallidum

Question 48

What is toxoplasmosis?

Answer 48

Intracellular parasite acquired by contact with cat faeces or raw/undercooked meat

Question 49

What viruses can cause encephalitis?

Answer 49

Herpes simplex virus West nile virus Rabies virus

Question 50

How does rabies travel to the brain and what are the symptoms?

Answer 50

Along the peripheral nerves | Violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, mania then coma

Question 51

What causes brain abscesses?

Answer 51

Inflammation and collection of infected material from multiple infected sites

Question 52

What is the pathology of Parkinson's?

Answer 52

Loss of dopaminergic neurons