Neuropathology Flashcards
REVIEW:
What are the three layers
of the meninges and
what spaces lie between them?
Skull
Epidural
Dural
Subdural
Arachnoid
Subarachnoid
Pia
Brain
Review:
What are the primary functions
of each lobe of the cerebrum?
Frontal: Motor functions,
behavior, emotions, higher intellect
Parietal: sensory
Temporal: hearing, smelling
Occipital: Visual
REVIEW;
What are the three components
of the brainstem and
what do they do?
Midbrain: visual & auditory reflex centers
Pons: connection between cortex, cerebellum and medulla
Controls chewing, biting, swallowing, facial expressions, sensation
Medulla Oblongata: cardiac, vasomotor and respiratory centers
REVEIW:
What does the Cerebellum do?
Major regulator of motor activities
Integration of:
Sensory impulses from spinal cord and vestibular organ
Motor impulses of Cerebral Cortex
REVIEW
Where is the gray matter
and white matter
in the brain and spinal cord?
Brain: generally gray on the outside, white on the inside (but some gray on the inside as well.
Spinal Cord: gray on the inside, white on the outside
REVIEW:
What are key differences
between neurons and glial cells?
Neurons:
Nondividing, postmitotic, permanent cells
Glial Cells:
facultative, mitotic (labile), capable of dividing
What are the six types of cells in the nervous system,
what do they do,
and what do you call their tumors?
Neurons: signalling/information, neuroma
Glial Cells: support, glioma
Astrocytes: support, blood brain barrier, astrocytoma
Oligodendrocytes, myelination in brain, oligodendroma
Ependymal Cells: lining ventricles, ependymoma
Schwann cells: peripheral myelination, Shwannoma
Microglia, immune response, NO tumors!
What are the nine major types of diseases
of the nervous system?
- Developmental, genetic diseases
- Malformations
- Trauma
- Circulatory (vascular) disorders
- Infectious diseases
- Autoimmune diseases
- Metabolic, nutritional diseases
- Neurodegenerative and demyelinating diseases
- Brain tumors
What is a dysraphic disorder?
Incomplete closure
of the embryonic neural tube
What are three types of
dysraphic disorders
occuring at the hind end?
Spina bifida: incomplete closing of the backbond and membranes around the spinal cord. Three types:
Spina bifida occulta: outer part of vertebrae slightly open
Myelomeningocele: spinal cord and meninges protruding
Meningocele: meninges protruding
What happens
when the head end of the neural tube
does not close properly?
Anencephaly: absense of a major part of the brain and skull
Encephalocele: protursions of the brain through the skull that are coverered with membrane
What are four types of
CNS hemorrhages
and their causes?
Epidural Hematoma: middle meningeal artery rupture
Subdural Hematoma: bridging vein rupture
Subarachnoid Hematoma: 1. Trauma, 2. Aneurism
Intercerebral Hemorrhage: 1. Trauma, 2. HTN
What is the fifth leading cause of death in the US?
Hint: it used to be number 3!
Cerebrovascular Disease
What are the two types of stroke and their incidence?
Ischemic (85%)
atherosclerosis, occlusion of blood vessels
Hemorrhagic (15%)
often a complication of HTN
REVIEW:
What are the three large cerebral arteries?
What part of the brain to they perfuse?
Where do they originate?
Anterior Cerebral Artery (ACA) from Internal Carotid,
perfuses medial surface of frontal and parietal lobes
Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) from Internal Carotid
perfuses lateral surfaces of frontal, temporal, parietal lobes
Posterior Cerebral Arteries (PCA) from Vertebral Artery
perfuses posterior aspect of temporal, occipital lobes
A patient has an MRI
showing an intracerebral hemorrhage
in the basil ganglia.
What is the likely cause?
Hypertension
(Trauma is most common cause
of intracerebral hemorrhage though)
What causes cerebral herniations?
Cerebral Edema
Where are the four most common locations
for cerebral herniations?
Which is most serious?
Tonsillar Herniation (most serious)
(cerebral tonsil exits skull through foramen magnum)
Transtentorial (uncinate) herniation
(cerebral uncus at cerebral-pontine angle)
Subfalcine herniation
(cingulate gyrus at falx)
Herniation through opening in broken skull
Which is more serious,
a concussion or a brain contusion?
A contusion is more serious.
Concussion: transient loss of consciousness
Contusion: disruption of blood supply, can lose consciousness later, produce neurological deficit
What is Coup and Counter Coup?
Coup (a “blow” in French) is the damage to your brain near where your head is hit
Counter Coup (on Contre Coup) is the damage where your brain hits the opposite side in response to the coup
What are three ways
an infection can get inside the brain?
Penetrating trauma
Hematogenous Spread (blood vessels)
Nearby infections (otitis media, sinuses)
NOTE: if you squeez a pimple, it drains into your sinuses!
What are the four most common organisms
causing as infection
in the nervous system?
Bacteria
Viruses
Fungus
Protazoa
What bacteria
can cause an infection
in the nervous system?
Neisseria meningitidis,
S. pneumo,
E. coli,
H. influenza,
Treponema pallidum
(Hematogenous Route or Septic Emboli)
What viruses
can cause an infection
in the nervous system?
Measles
Rubella
Adenovirus
Herpesvirus
Cytomegalovirus
Rabesvirus
(via Hematogenous Route)