Neuropathology Flashcards
What are three classic symptoms of increased intracranial pressure?
Headache
Papilledema (optic disc swelling)
Nausea & vomiting
What are three treatments to relieve intracranial pressure?
Catheter (extraventricular drain)
Craniotomy
Trepanning
What are the three membrane levels that form the meninges?
Dura mater
Arachnoid
Pia mater
What happens when there is haemorrhaging involving the meninges?
The small veins which connect the meninges are torn, usually during an accident and blood can leak to this area
What happens when there is an infection of the meninges?
Meningitis
Due to fungal, bacterial or viral infection
What happens when there is cancer of the meninges?
Meningiomas arising from the meninges or from tumours formed elsewhere in the body which metastasize in the meninges
What is the function of cerebrospinal fluid?
Physical support for the brain
Carries away toxic metabolic byproducts
What is autoregulation?
Constriction or dilation of the cerebral blood vessels to control cerebral blood flow direction
What is the blood-brain barrier?
A separation of circulating blood from the brain extracellular fluid
What is the purpose of the blood-brain barrier?
Block the diffusion of microscopic objects (bacteria)
Prevent large or hydrophillic molecules into the CSF
Allows the diffusion of small hydrophobic molecules
What does an external post-mortem include?
Covering of the brain Gyrus patterning Focal lesions Herniation Blood vessels Cranial nerves
What does an internal post-mortem include?
Cerebral hemispheres cut in coronal sections and grey matter, white matter, deep grey matter and ventricular system examined
What are most neurological symptoms related to?
Location of the lesion within the brain not the cause of the lesion
What is broca’s aphasia?
Can understand language but can not speak
What is Wernicke’s aphasia?
Can speak but makes no sense
What are the brainstem and medulla responsible for?
Controlling heartbeat Breathing Blood circulation Swallowing Urination
What is Ondine’s curse?
Congenital malformation where patient suffers from respiratory arrest during sleep
What is the thalamus responsible for?
Directing messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex
Transmitting replies to the cerebellum and medulla
Regulation of consciousness, sleep and alertness
What is fatal familial insomnia?
A prion disease affecting the thalamus
What is the cerebellum responsible for?
Helping coordinate voluntary movement and balance
What does damage to the cerebellum cause?
Motor disturbances
Can still move but uncoordinated
What are three components of the limbic system?
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Hypothalamus
What is the hippocampus responsible for?
Memory processing
Consolidation of information from STM to LTM
Which is the first region of the brain to suffer damage in Alzheimer’s disease?
Hippocampus
What is anterograde amnesia?
Inability to form or retain new memories
What is the amygdala linked to?
Emotion and fear
Aggression
What is the cerebrum?
The largest division of the brain which is split into two hemispheres each which is divided into 4 lobes
What are the left-brain functions?
Analytic thought
Logic
Language
Science and math
What are the right-brain functions
Holistic thought
Intuition
Creativity
Art and music
What is grey matter composed of?
Neurons
What is white matter composed of?
Glial cells
Myelinated axons
What are the four lobes of the cerebral hemispheres?
Frontal lobe
Parietal lobe
Occipital lobe
Temporal lobe
What are the functions of the frontal lobe?
Memory formation
Emotion
Decision making
Personality
What are the functions of the parietal lobe?
Senses
Spatial awareness and perception
What are the functions of the occipital lobe?
Processing, integration and interpretation of vision
What are the functions of the temporal lobe?
Hearing
Information retrieval
What types of organisms can affect the brain?
Bacteria Viruses Fungi Parasites Prions
What are the early symptoms of spinal tumours?
Back pain
Distal paresthesias
Loss of sensation
What is the difference between a primary and secondary brain tumour?
Primary starts in the brain and doesn’t spread to another part
Secondary begins elsewhere in the body and spreads to the brain
What is a benign brain tumour?
Grows slowly
Distinct boundaries
Rarely spreads
What is a malignant brain tumour?
Grows quickly
Irregular boundaries
Spreads to nearby brain areas but no organs outside brain
What do survival rates depend on?
Type of tumour Tumour grade Location and size of tumour Patient's ability to function How far the tumour has spread Patient's age
What are grade I tumours?
Least malignant
Most likely for long term survival
Surgery alone can most likely correct
What are grade IV tumours?
Reproduce rapidly
Move to other areas
Induce blood vessel growth to tumour
Have dead cells at the centre
What is meningitis?
Inflammation of the meninges
Caused by bacteria
What is encephalitis?
Inflammation of the brain
Caused by many types of organism
What is syphilis caused by?
Treponema pallidum
What is toxoplasmosis?
Intracellular parasite acquired by contact with cat faeces or raw/undercooked meat
What viruses can cause encephalitis?
Herpes simplex virus
West nile virus
Rabies virus
How does rabies travel to the brain and what are the symptoms?
Along the peripheral nerves
Violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, mania then coma
What causes brain abscesses?
Inflammation and collection of infected material from multiple infected sites
What is the pathology of Parkinson’s?
Loss of dopaminergic neurons
