Pathology of Cerebral Disease

Question 1

Do veins accompany arteries in the brain?

Answer 1

No

Question 2

Where are large venous sinuses located?

Answer 2

Within dura

Question 3

What is a stroke?

Answer 3

Focal neurological deficit due to disruption of blood supply
Interruption of supply of oxygen and nutrients causing damage to bran tissue

Question 4

What is virchows triad?

Answer 4

Change in vessel wall
Blood flow
Blood constituents
Three factors that contribute to thrombosis

Question 5

In practice what are the 3 mains causes of localised interrupted blood supple?

Answer 5

Atheroma leading to thrombosis
Thromboembolism
Rupture aneurysm

Question 6

At which level does the CCA bifurcate?

Answer 6

C4

Question 7

Where is atheroma formation common?

Answer 7

At bifurcation junction of CCA

Question 8

Where is ischaemia common in the ICA?

Answer 8

At middle cerebral artery

Question 9

What is a TIA?

Answer 9

Mini stroke
Transient symptoms <24 hours
Tissue is still viable

Question 10

What is a stroke?

Answer 10

When the symptoms are long standing>24hours
Due to irreversible ischaemia
Causing localised brain death

Question 11

Is the brain sensitive to oxygen ischaemia?

Answer 11

Yes

Question 12

Do neurons regenerate?

Answer 12

No

Question 13

What is gliosis?

Answer 13

CNS equivalent to fibrosis

Scarring of glial cells

Question 14

Desciribe the feature on histology of infarcted brain tissue

Answer 14

Loss of neurones
Foamy macrophages
Gliosis

Question 15

What is more important the size of location of infarction?

Answer 15

Location

Question 16

What usually causes thromboembolism in the LA?

Answer 16

Arrhythmias such as AF

Question 17

What does AF typically cause?

Answer 17

Stroke

Question 18

What does the weakening of cerebral artery walls form?

Answer 18

Aneurysms

Question 19

Describe artery walls beyond the carotid and vertebral arteries

Answer 19

Have very thin walls

Question 20

What is a major risk factors for aneurysms in the brain

Answer 20

Hypertension

Question 21

What are common sights for aneurysms?

Answer 21

Basal ganglia

Circle of Willis

Question 22

What is a berry aneurysm?

Answer 22

A small aneurysm that looks like a berry and classically occurs at the point at which a cerebral artery departs from the circular artery (the circle of Willis) at the base of the brain.

Question 23

What type of aneurysms typically form at basal ganglia?

Answer 23

Microaneurysms

Question 24

What are the 3 ways in which the brain can receive low O2?

Answer 24

Low O2 in blood
Inadequate supply of blood (oxygenated or not)
Rarely inability to use O2

Question 25

What would be a cause of inability of tissue to use O2?

Answer 25

Cyanide poisoning