Part 1 - Structure and Function Flashcards

1
Q

Three germ layers and their future tissues

A
  • Endoderm: Respiratory and GI
  • Mesoderm: Muscles and circulatory
  • Ectoderm: Skin, hair and CNS
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2
Q

Alternative names for hind brain, midbrain and forebrain

A

Rhombencephalon

Mesencephalon

Proencephalon

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3
Q

Content of cerebral peduncles

A

Descendign motor tracts

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4
Q

Two parts of tectum and their senses

A

Superior; optic

Inferior; auditory

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5
Q

Components of tegmentum

A
  1. Substantia nigra
  2. Red nucleus
  3. Cerebral aqueduct
  4. PAG
  5. Reticular formation
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6
Q

Which part of brain does the lateral ventricle lie within

A

Telencephalon of forebrain

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7
Q

Structure connecting leteral and third ventricle

A

Interventricular foramen

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8
Q

Which comparrtment does third ventricle lie in

A

Diencephalon

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9
Q

Structure connecting third and fourth venrticle

A

Cerebral aqueduct, also the narrowest part of ventricualr system

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10
Q

Path of CSF

A
  1. Produced in choroid plexus
  2. Flows through ventricles and into subarachnoid space via median and lateral apertures, some flows thorugh central canal of spinal cord
  3. CSF flows through the subarachnoid space
  4. CSF is absorbed into the dural venous sinuses via the arachnoid villi
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11
Q

Subtypes of hydrocephalus

A
  1. Obstructive/non-communicating: CSF flow blocked within the ventricles or between ventricles and SAS
  2. Communicating: unimpaired communication between ventricles and SAS. Problem lies outside ventricular system
    • Reduced absoroption of CSF
    • Blockage of venosu drainage system
    • CSF over production
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12
Q

Define a cistern

A

Large areas in SAS where CSF collects due to folds

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13
Q

Three main dural reflections

A

Falx cerebri - separates hemispheres

Tentorium cerebelli - Occipital lobe & cerebellum

Falx cerebelli - cerebral hemispheres

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14
Q

Major functions of lobes

A

frontal: Personality, attention, motivation, planning movement

Parietal: Integrating sensory information, language processing

temporal: Motor, memory, language comprehension

Occipital: vision

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15
Q

Main branches of carotid artery in cranium

A
  • Middle cerebral artery (stroke)
  • Anterior cerebral artires
  • Hypophysial, opthalmic, posterior communicating arise from terminal bifurcation
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16
Q

Branches of vertebral artery

A

Anterior spinal

Posterior inferior cerebellar

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17
Q

Basillar artery branches

A

Pontine (pons)

Labrynthine artery (inner ear)

Superior cerebellar artery

Posterior cerebral artery(anastamost with int carotid to form circle of willis)

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18
Q

Size limit for passing BBB

A

<2000MW

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19
Q

Histological structure of choroid plexus

A
  • A Layer of cuboidal epithelial cells sorrounding core of capillaries.
  • Continual with ependymal cell layer lining ventricles
  • However, the CP cells have tight junctions preventing blood-CSF
  • Forms villi around capillaries
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20
Q

Processes involved in CSF formation

A
  1. ultra-filtration of plasma across capillary walls into ECF beneath basolateral membrane of choroid epithelial cells
  2. Choroid epithelial cells secrete fluid into ventricle
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21
Q

Mechanism of CSF secretion from CP cells

A

Basolateral membrane

  • Transporters exchange intracellular HCO3 for Cl- by use of Na+ gradient

Apical membrane

  • Na/K/ATPases
  • AQP1
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22
Q

BBB vs Blood-CSF-Barrier

A

BBB: Tight junctions in brain capillaries control solute transport into ECF

BCSFB: Tight junctions between ependymal cells/CP cells

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23
Q

Functions of CSF

A
  • Providing nutrients
  • Removing waste from ECF
  • Medium of exchange between ECF and systemic blood
  • Shock absorber
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24
Q

Notable differences in composition of plasma/CSF

A

Plasma

  • 6000mg/dl protein
  • 175mg/dl cholestrol
  • 4.7 K+

CSF

  • 20 mg/dl protein
  • 0.2 mg/dl cholestrol
  • 2.9 K+
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25
Q

3 mechanisms of CSF reabsorption

A
  1. Bulk flow via arachnoid villi within SAS
  2. Diffusion via vascular epithelium of the choroid plexus
  3. Active transport via choroid plexus
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26
Q

Pathway of CSF

A
  • Lateral ventricle (cortex)
  • Foramina of Monroe
  • Third ventricle (thalamus)
  • Cerebral aquaduct of sylvisu (midbrain) - blockage
  • Fourth ventricle (brain stem)
  • two foramin of Luschka and foramin of magendie
  • SAS
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27
Q

Affect of lipid solubility on BBB passage

A

High lipid solubility; greater access

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28
Q

Impact of ionisatino on BBB passage

A

Drugs ionised at 7.4 have less access

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29
Q

Why can’t dopamine be used in Parkinson’s

A

Ionised at 7.4

Metabolised by MAO present in denothelial cells

Insted use L-DOPA with DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor preventing conversion outside of CNS as inhibitor is ionised at 7.4 and cant pass BBB

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30
Q

List circumventriular organs

A

= Brain areas lacking BBB, tight junction replaced by fenestrations

  • Posterior pituitary; released hormones have direct access to circulation
  • Median eminence; oxytocin, vasopressin, picks up releasing hormones
  • Area Postrema; chemoreceptor zone in control of vomiting
  • OVLT; important for actions of cytokines in periphery (fever
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31
Q

Three types of white matter tracts

A

Association fibres: exchange fibres within same hemisphere

Commisural fibres: Information between hemispheres

Projection fibres: From cortex to other regions of brain or spinal cord e.g. UMNs

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32
Q

Structures associated with fornix

A

Limbic structure, connects hippocampus in temporal lobes to mammillary bodies

i.e. memory

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33
Q

Structures associated with anterior commissure

A

Connects amygdalas of two temporal lobes

i.e. emotion

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34
Q

Structures associated with posterior commisure

A

Connects parts of Thalamus participating in vision to superior colliculus

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35
Q

Pathway for UMNs

A

Primary motor cortex area

Corona Radiata

Internal capsule

Midbrain

Spinal Cord

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36
Q

Divisions and roles of Internal Capsule

A

Anterior limb

  • Association fibres. Thalamocortical and corticostriatal

Genu

  • Projection fibres (UMN) from primary motor cortex; head and face movement(CN)

Posterior limb

  • Projection fibres(UMN) from area IV; arm, trunk, leg movement
  • Sensory fibres from thalamus to primary somatosensory cortex
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37
Q

Where do pyramidal tracts decussate

A

In the lower end of medulla

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38
Q

Divisions of pyramida ltract

A

Corticobulbar tract

  • Terminates in brainstem; inputs to cranial nerves

Corticospinal

  • Lateral: decussates; limbs and digits
  • ventral: remains ipsilateral; trunk
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39
Q

Whre in ventral horn are flexors/extensors positioned

A

Flexors towards central canal

Extensors more ventral

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40
Q

Symptoms of UMN damage

A
  • Increased tone
  • SPcaticity/increased reflexes
  • Clonus
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41
Q

ALS

A

Degeneration of UMN and LMN - extremities and inwards, progressive

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42
Q

Primary alteral sclerosis

A

Degeneration of corticospinal tracts

Begins as stiffness/weakness of legs, balance/gait issuse, spread to arm and trunk

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43
Q

Pseudobulbar Palsy

A

Degeneration of cortibulbar tract

Facial paralyiss, dribbling, speaking issues

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44
Q

Characteristics of Meissner’s corpuscles

A

Rapidly adaptive.

Light touch, 2 point discrimination

Concentrated in hairless skin e.g. finger pads

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45
Q

Charactersistics of Merkel’s disks

A

Slowly adapting

Light pressure and discriminatie touch

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46
Q

Characteristics or Ruffini corpuscles

A

Slowly adapting

Responds to skin strech; show little adaptation

Around fingernails, mointor slippage etc allowing modulation of grups

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47
Q

Pacinian corpuscle

A

rapidly adapting

Vibration and textures

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48
Q

3 Ascending Pathways

A

DCML - main sensory, discrimative/fine touchm propriception

Anterolatereal - Temperatrue and pain, non discrimative touch

Spinocerebellar - uncnscious propriception

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49
Q

Two tracts of DCML

A

Fasciculus gracilis;

  • medial, from lower limb
  • Synapses in gracile nucleus of lower medulla

Fasciculus cuneatus

  • Lateral, from upper limb
  • Synapses in cuneate nucleus of lower medulla
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50
Q

Signs of DCML damage

A
  • Loss of discriminative touch, vibration, and propriception
  • Preserved pain perception
  • A positive ROMBERG sign indicates reduced propriception
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51
Q

Outlien spinothalamic tract

A

Direct portion of anterolateral system

  • 2nd order neurons decussate in spinal cord at appropriate vertebral level
  • Transmits info to thalamus and primary somatosensory CTX
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52
Q

Outline spinoreticualr tract

A

Indirect portion of anterolateral system

  • Terminates in brainstem
  • participates in reticualr activating system (consciousness)
53
Q

Outline spinocerebellar tract

A
  • Unconscious ipsilateral propriception to cerebellum
  • Via inferior cerebellar peduncles
  • no 3rd order neurons
    • Dorsal: lower limbs and trunk; dorsalis of clarke
    • Cuneocerebellar: upper limb and trunk; cuneate nucleus
54
Q

Freidrich’s ataxia

A

Sensory condition

hereditary degeneration of DCML and spinocerebllar tract

55
Q

Role and I/O of medial geniculate body

A

Hearing

I: Inferior colliculus

O:Audiotory cortex

56
Q

Role an I/O of lateral geniculate body

A

Vision

I: retina

O: visual cortex

57
Q

I/O Anterior nuclear group

A

I: mamillary bodies

O: Cingulate Cortex

58
Q

I/O medial nuclear group

A

I: entorhinal cortex

O: prefrontal cortex

59
Q

Subdivisions of lateral nuclear groups and their roles

A

Dorsal(associaton) - vision

Ventral - movement

  • VA - basal ganglia
  • VL - basal ganglia and cerebellum
  • VP - body
60
Q

Cortex Function

A

Integrates information

Produces Motor Signals

Transmits signals to brain stem and pinal cord

61
Q

Basal Ganglia function

A

Modulate movement

Receive information from cortex; via thalamus; feed backt to cortex

62
Q

Components of basal ganglia

A
  • Corpus striatum
    • Caudate nucleus
    • Lentiform nucleus
      • Putamen
      • Globus Pallidus I/E
  • Subthalamic nucleus
  • Substantia nigra
    • Pars reticulata
    • Pars compacta
63
Q

Overall outcome from direct pathway of BG

A

Disinhibition of thalamic neurons; excites cortex, drives movement

64
Q

Overall outcome from indirect BG pathway

A

Disinhibition of subthalamic; decreased excitation of cortex; inhibits movement

65
Q

Cause of huntington’s

A

Death of GABAergic neurons in striatum

66
Q

Cause of Parkinsons

A

Decreased dopamine production in substantia nigra pars compacta

67
Q

Two types of cortex and their distinctions

A

Neocortex - isocortex

  • 90% of cortical volume
  • Phylogenetically recent
  • Laminar 6 layered structure

Allocortex - Heterogenic cortex

  • 10 % of cortical volume
  • Phylogenetically old
  • 3 layers
68
Q

Two main cell types within cortex

A

Pyramidal cells

Granule cells

69
Q

Pyramidal cell characteristics

A
  • 75-85% of cortex cells
  • Also in hippocampus and amygdala
  • Large pyramidal shaped cells body
  • EXCITATORY - Glutamatergic
70
Q

Granule cell characteristics

A
  • Cortex, and some in cerebellum and hippocampus
  • Small cell body
  • GABAergic - INHIBITORY
  • Smooth stellate, i.e. inhibitory
71
Q

Three types of glial cells

A

Astrocytes

Microglia

Oligodendrocytes

72
Q

Astrocyte characteristic and fucntion

A
  • Star shape
  • Maintain homeostasis (sequestering K+ and glutamate)
  • End feet maintain BBB and contribute to blood flow regulation
  • Repair and scarring
73
Q

Microglia function

A
  • Resident immune cells
  • Ramified, amobeoid, mobiel when activated
  • produces enzymes and cytokines, capable of phagocytosis
74
Q

Oligodendrocytes function

A
  • Small cells whose processes form individual nodes of myelin around axons
  • Make up white matter
75
Q

Layers of neocortex and brief function

A
  1. Molecular - few neurones, glial cells and apical denrites
  2. External granular - Small pyramidal and granule neurons
  3. External pyramidal - Small and medium pyramidal and granule cells
  4. Internal granula - mainly stellate cells
  5. Internal pyramidal - Large pyramidal neurons with apical dendrites streching upwards and basilar dendrites stretching laterally. Contains projection neurons
  6. Multiform - Small spindle like pyramidal and multiform neurons interactign twith thalamus
76
Q

Area 22; location and name

A

Superior temporal gyrus

Wernicke’s area

77
Q

Area 44/45 Location and Function

A

Inferior frontal gyrus

Broca’s area

78
Q

Area 1-3 location and name

A

Postcentral gyrus

Primary somatosensory area

79
Q

Area 4 location and name

A

Precentral gyrus

Primary motor area

80
Q

Area 41 Location and function

A

Superior temporal gyrus

Primary auditory area

81
Q

Difference in cortical layer structure in sensory vs motor areas

A

In sensory there is a larger layer IV(input) and a smaller V(output)

Vice versa

82
Q

Role of Wernicke’s language area

A

Inteprets spoken word

83
Q

Role of Brocas language area

A

Produces speech

84
Q

Key roles of Limbic systesm

A
  • Emotions
  • Motivation
  • Memory
  • Social behaviours
  • Reward drive activites e.g. food and sex
85
Q

Disorders in cingulate gyrus damage

A

Disorders of motivation and planning

86
Q

Role of orbitifrontal cortex in limbic system

A

Decision making

87
Q

I/O of hippocampus

A

Input

  • Sensory info from cortex via entorhinal cortex -> perforant pathway-> dentate gyrus; CA3; CA1

Output

  • Via subiculum and enthorhinal cortex -> neocortex
  • Via fornix
    1. Septal region
    2. Mamillary bodies, hypothalamus, medial forebrain bundle
88
Q

Papez circuit function and pathway

A

Important in memory. Begins and ends in hippocampus

Hippocampal formation (subiculum); fornix; Mamillary bodies; mamillothalamic tract; anterior thalamic nucleus; cingulum; entorhinal cortex; hippocampal formation

89
Q

Types of long term memory

A

Declarative (explicit)

  • Semantic (facts, knowledge, concepts)
  • Episodic

Non-declarative (implicit)

  • Uncoscious knowledge e.g. motor skill and conditioned responses
90
Q

Explain long term potentiation

A

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity. These are patterns of synaptic activity that produce a long-lasting increase in signal transmission between two neurons

It is one of several phenomena underlying synaptic plasticity, the ability of chemical synapses to change their strength. As memories are thought to be encoded by modification of synaptic strength, LTP is widely considered one of the major cellular mechanisms that underlies learning and memory

91
Q

Amygdala I/O

A
92
Q

Kluver-Bucy Pathophysiology

A

Large bilateral anterior temporal lobe restrictions

  • Remoces amygdala, hippocampus, and sorrounding temporal lobe
  • Docile; decreased agression
  • Indiscriminate sexual activity
  • Can’t discriminate edible/inedible
  • A breakdown of visual input to channelling drives
93
Q

Meso-limbic DA pathway

A

= Reward circuit

  • DA neurones in ventral tegmental area of midbrain area send axons to nucleus accumbens and other areas of ventral striatum and orbitofrontal cortex
94
Q

Changes to limbic components in depression

A

Amygdala; anxiety

Hippocampus; memory deficit

Reward circuit; anhedonia; (don’t feel pleasure) and motivation

Striatum; motor slowing

95
Q

Limbic changes in depression by imaging

A

Decreased volume in hippocampus and orbitofrontal cortex

Increased blood flow in subgenual cingulate cortex

Decreased blood flow in dorsolateral frontal cortex

96
Q

NT changes in depression

A

Decreased monoamines (5-HT & NA) function

Decreased BDNF

treatment with 5-HT agonist

97
Q

Inferior Colliculus I/O & Function

A

I: Cochlea, brain stem nuclei

O: Medial geniculate body, auditory cortex

Relays auditory information, sound localization

98
Q

Superior colliculus I/O & function

A

I: Retina, visual cortex

O: Tectospinal tract, brain stem

Eye orientatino and tracking movement, gaze shifting i.e. mediate reflex postural movements of the head in response to visual and auditory stimuli.

99
Q

Mamillary bodies I/O & Function

A

I: Cingulate, hippocampus, fornix, amygdala, hypothalamus

O: Anterior nucleus of thalamus

Episodic, implicit and spatial memory

100
Q

CN I

Type

Function

A

Olfactory

Sensory

Brings smell

101
Q

CN II

Type

Function

A

Optic

Sensory

Brings vision

102
Q

CN III

Type

Function

A

Occulomotor

Motor/psymp

Moves eyes; up, down, towards midline, and rotates outwards

Pupil constriction parasympathetic

103
Q

CN IV

Type

Function

A

Trochlear

Motor

Moves eyes down and rotates inwards

104
Q

CN V

Type

Function

A

Trigeminal

Sensory/motor

Sensory facial info

Chewing, swallowing

105
Q

CN VI

Type

Function

A

Abducens

Motor

Moves eyes away from midline

106
Q

CN VII

Type

Function

A

Facial

Sensory/motor/parsymp

Taste, Facial expression(parasympathetic), salivation

107
Q

CN VII

Type

Function

A

Vestibulocochlear

Sensory

Brings sound and motion

108
Q

CN IX

Type

Function

A

Glosso-pharyngeal

Sensory, motor, psymp

Taste, Pharynx movement, salivation

109
Q

CN X

Type

Function

A

Vagus

Sensory, Motor, Parasymp

S:Choking, gagging

M:swallowing, speaking

P: slows heart, stimulates digestion

110
Q

CN XI

Type

Function

A

Spinal accessory

Motor

Controls head rotation and scapula

111
Q

CN XII

Type

Function

A

Hypoglossal

Motor

Speech and chewing by tongue

112
Q

Pseudobulbar palsy

A

Degeneration of corticobulbar tract

113
Q

Progressive bulbar palsy

A

Degeneration of brain stem, particularly cranial nerve nuclei

114
Q

Name Extrapyramidal tracts

A

Tectospinal

Vestibulospinal

Reticulospinal

Rubrospinal

115
Q

Tectospinal tract pathway and function

A
  • From superior colliculus(ie.e retinal/visual cortex input)
  • Decussates immediately terminating in upper spinal cord
  • coordinates head and eye movements
116
Q

Rubrospinal tract pathway and function

A
  • From red nucleus(i.e input from cerebellum via sup peduncles)
  • Decussates immediately, descends with corticospinal tract
  • Terminates in upper spinal cord
  • It primarily facilitates flexion in the upper extremities
117
Q

Vestibulospinal tract pathway and function

A
  • From pontine vestibular nuclei(i.e. input from inner ear & cerebellum via inf cerebellar peduncles)
    • Medial vestibular nucleus; descends bilaterally
    • Lateral vestibular nucleus; Descends ipsilaterally and synapses at several levels

Assits in balnce and posture by maintaing head position and stimulation extensrors of the body

118
Q

Reticulospinal tract pathway and function

A
  • From reticular formation of pons/medulla(i.e. input from cortex and cerebellum)
    • Both Medial and Lateral reticular formation; descend ipsilaterally, and synapse at several levels

Assists in controlling trunk as well as upper and lower limb i.e gait and posture

119
Q

UMN or LMN disease?

Stroke

Peripheral neuropathy

MS

Polio myelitia

ALS

Myasthenia Gravis

A

UMN

LMN

UMN

LMN

UMN

LMN

120
Q

Signs of Parkinson’s

A

Poor slow movement

Postural abnormalitites/rigidity

Mask-like expression

Tremor

Later: Depression, Dementia, Endocrine dysfunction

121
Q

Which condition?

Able to assemble motor plans but unable to specify accuracy of programmes, run or sequence them

A

Parkinson’s

122
Q

4 Dopamine pathways and associated condition

A
  1. Nigrostriatal: Parkinson’s
  2. Mesocortical and Mesolimbic: Shizophrenia
  3. Tuberinfundibular: Hyperprolactineamia
123
Q

Side effect observed afte few years of L-DOPA

A

Choreic movements

124
Q

How do D2 receptors achieve their function

A

Inhibit Adenylyl cyclase

125
Q

Drug targets other than L-DOPA in parkinsons

A

D2 agonists e.g. ropinirole

Drugs that prevent Dopamine metabolism

  • MOA-inhibitors e.g.g selegiline
  • COMT-inhibitors - ONLY useful in combination with L-DOPA
126
Q

A Staged Parkinson’s treatment plan

A
127
Q

Dopamine receptor antagonist are used in?

A

Huntigton’s & Tourette’s

128
Q
A