Neuropathy Flashcards
What are the three treatments available to relieve intracranial swelling?
Catheter
Craniotomy
Trepanning
What are the three classical symptoms of intracranial swelling?
Headache
papilledema (optic disk swelling)
Nausea and vomiting
What are the three membrane levels that form the meninges?
Dura matter
Arachnoid
Pia mater
What happens if the meninges experiences a hemorrhagic attack?
The small viens in the meninges are torn and blood leaks into the area
What is meningitis?
A microbial infection of the meninges
What is the purpose of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)?
Provide physical support for the brain
Carry away toxic metabolites
What is autoregulation?
Constriction or dilation of the cerebral blood vessels to control blood flow location
What is the purpose of the blood brain barrier?
Prevents microbial access to the brain
Prevents large or hydrophilic molecules entering the CSF
ALLOWS diffusion of small hydrophobic molecules
What determines the effects of a injury to the brain?
The location of the injury, not how it occurred
What does brocas aphasia cause?
A patient that can understand language but not could not speak
What is the result of wernickes aphasia?
A patient who could not understand language but could still speak
What is Ondine’s curse (congenital central hypoventilation syndrome)?
Patient suffers from respiratory arrest in there sleep
What is fatal familial insomnia?
A prion disease effecting the thalamus
What does damage to the cerebellum cause?
Motor disturbances
Can still move but uncoordinated
What are the 3 components of the limbic system?
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Hypothalamus
What is one of the first regions of the brain to suffer damage associated with Alzheimers?
Hippocampus
What is anterograde amnesia?
Inability to form or retain new memories
What are the 4 lobes of the brain?
Parietal
Occipital
Temporal
Frontal
What are the early symptoms of a spinal tumour?
Back pain
Distal parasthesias
What is the difference between primary and secondary tumours?
Primary form in the brain
Secondary move to the brain after formation
What characterises a benign tumour?
Grows slowly
Distinct boundaries
Rarely spreads
What characterises a malignant tumour?
Cancerous
Fast growing and aggressive
Can spread to other brain areas but not to organs outside the nervous system
What would a tumour in the occipital lobe possibly cause?
Partial or total loss of vision
Hallucinations
Possible seizures
What characterises grade I tumours?
Least malignant
Most likely for long term survival
Surgery alone can most likely correct
What characterises grade IV tumours?
Reproduce rapidly
Move to other areas
Induce blood vessel growth to tumour
Have dead cells at the center
What types of organism can infect the brain?
Bacteria Viruses Fungi Parasites Prions
What is meningitis?
Inflammation of the mengines
What is encephalitis?
Inflammation of the brain
What is different about the bacteria that cause meningitis at different ages?
They are a different bacteria
What causes syphilis?
Treponema pallidum
What is the end result of syphilis?
Insanity due to loss of cerebral cortex nerves
What are the symptoms of toxoplasmosis and where is it contracted ?
Necrotising cerebritis
Cat faeces/raw meat
Only can survive in immune compromised hosts
How does rabies travel to the brain and what are the symptoms?
Along the peripheral nerves
Causes violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, mania then coma
What causes brain abscesses?
Inflammation and collection of infected material from multiple infection sites
What is the pathology of Parkinson’s disease?
Loss of dopamergic neurons
What is contra lateral division of labor?
The left side of the brain controls the left side of the body and left visual field and vice versa
