Pathology of Cerebral Disease Flashcards
Do veins accompany arteries in the brain?
No
Where are large venous sinuses located?
Within dura
What is a stroke?
Focal neurological deficit due to disruption of blood supply
Interruption of supply of oxygen and nutrients causing damage to bran tissue
What is virchows triad?
Change in vessel wall
Blood flow
Blood constituents
Three factors that contribute to thrombosis
In practice what are the 3 mains causes of localised interrupted blood supple?
Atheroma leading to thrombosis
Thromboembolism
Rupture aneurysm
At which level does the CCA bifurcate?
C4
Where is atheroma formation common?
At bifurcation junction of CCA
Where is ischaemia common in the ICA?
At middle cerebral artery
What is a TIA?
Mini stroke
Transient symptoms <24 hours
Tissue is still viable
What is a stroke?
When the symptoms are long standing>24hours
Due to irreversible ischaemia
Causing localised brain death
Is the brain sensitive to oxygen ischaemia?
Yes
Do neurons regenerate?
No
What is gliosis?
CNS equivalent to fibrosis
Scarring of glial cells
Desciribe the feature on histology of infarcted brain tissue
Loss of neurones
Foamy macrophages
Gliosis
What is more important the size of location of infarction?
Location
What usually causes thromboembolism in the LA?
Arrhythmias such as AF
What does AF typically cause?
Stroke
What does the weakening of cerebral artery walls form?
Aneurysms
Describe artery walls beyond the carotid and vertebral arteries
Have very thin walls
What is a major risk factors for aneurysms in the brain
Hypertension
What are common sights for aneurysms?
Basal ganglia
Circle of Willis
What is a berry aneurysm?
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.
What type of aneurysms typically form at basal ganglia?
Microaneurysms
What are the 3 ways in which the brain can receive low O2?
Low O2 in blood
Inadequate supply of blood (oxygenated or not)
Rarely inability to use O2
What would be a cause of inability of tissue to use O2?
Cyanide poisoning
