Pathophys Miscellaneous Flashcards
What is hyperkeratosis and give at least one skin condition it occurs in?
Increased thickness of stratum corneum
-> psoriasis
What is parakeratosis and give at least one skin condition it occurs in?
Hyperkeratosis with RETENTION OF NUCLEI in the stratum corneum
-> psoriasis
What is hypergranulosis and give at least one skin condition it occurs in?
Increased thickness of stratum granulosum (Granular layer, 3rd layer)
-> lichen planus
What is spongiosis and give at least one skin condition?
Epidermal accumulation of edema fluid in intercellular spaces (will see spaces between stratum spinosum)
-> occurs due to allergic inflammation, especially eczema (atopic dermatitis) or allergic contact dermatitis
What is acantholysis and give at least one skin condition?
Separation of epidermal cells, especially in the spinosum layer (acantho = spiny, like spur cells in hematology)
-> Pemphigus vulgaris
What is acanthosis and give at least one condition?
Hyperproliferation of epidermis leading to increased spinosum layer
- > acanthosis nigricans -> thickened skin
- > acanthosis also occurs in psorasis
What type of inflammation is most specific for multiple sclerosis?
Perivenular inflammatory infiltrates with autoreactive T cells and macrophages. This occurs due with breakdown of BBB, but not destruction of the blood vessel. #919
How do OCPs work and how do they affect your risk of ovarian cancer?
Work by giving exogenous supply of estrogen -> FSH release by the pituitary is inhibited. Thus, the follicle never develops and cannot be stimulated. LH surge never occurs because estrogen supplied is not high enough to induce this positive feedback mechanism.
Ovarian surface epithelial cancer risk is decreased because less ovulation -> less rupture of ovary surface.
What is the function of the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum?
Only cell involved in the output of the cerebellar cortex
- > they are inhibitory “PurkINje” to the deep nuclei of the cerebellum
- > when the deep nuclei are not inhibited, that send glutamate neurons out of the cerebellum
What are the three structures which communicate with the cerebellum called / where do they hook up? What is the most inferior one also called?
Superior cerebellar peduncle - Attaches to midbrain
Middle cerebellar peduncle - attaches to pons
Inferior cerebellar peduncle - attaches to medulla. Also called the “restiform body”
What is the juxtarestiform body?
Axons which run from the vestibular nuclear complex (at the junction of rostral medulla / caudal pons) to the vestibulocerebellum / spinocerebellum (involved in regulation of vestibular system).
Called juxtarestiform because it runs near the ICP (“restiform body”).
What are archicerebellum, paleocerebellum, and neocerebellum also called? Their function?
Archi = vestibulocerebellum, the oldest one. Includes fastigial nucleus as well as flocculonodular lobe and uvula. Maintains equilibrium with medial most trunk muscles + help from LVST/MVST of vestibular system.
Paleo = Spinocerebellum -> includes globose and emboliform nuclei, coordinates trunk and proximal limb flexor activity thru red nucleus / rubrospinal
Neo = Lateral zone -> includes dentate nucleus, projects to VL thalamus to synergize skilled movements of digital / appendicular muscle
What portion of the hypothalamus primarily control the parasympathetic vs sympathetic nervous system?
parasympathetic -> chills you out and cools you down. Think A/C -> Anterior nucleus of the hypothalamus
Sympathetic is just the opposite -> heats you up when active. Posterior nucleus of hypothalamus.
What will stimulating the anterior vs posterior hypothalamus do?
Anterior -> cools you down. Stimulates vasodilation / sweating (parasympathetic)
Posterior -> heats you up. Stimulates vasoconstriction, shivering (sympathetic)
How does melatonin and the suprachiasmatic nucleus work?
Exact mechanism is unknown, but generally the SCN projects to the pineal gland via norepinephrine. It’s rate of firing dictates melatonin release, which feeds back on the SCN to inhibit its firing. Higher melatonin levels = lower firing rate of SCN to other nuclei = decreased wakefulness. A major afferent to the SCN is also light.
What are the waveforms on EEG in wakefulness, Stage 1 NREM, Stage 2, stage 3, and REM sleep?
Awake, eyes open - Beta (concentrating) Awake, eyes closed - Alpha Stage 1 - Theta / alpha Stage 2 - Spindles and K complexes within Theta background Stage 3 - Delta (slow wave) REM - Beta
BATS Drink Blood
What’s the mnemonic for the layers of the spermatic cord?
ICE tie
Internal spermatic fascia = transversalis fascia derived
Cremasteric muscle and fascia = internal oblique
External spermatic fascia = external oblique
Internal / external mean deep / superficial inguinal ring
How is cranial nerve 3 affected differently if damaged due to ischemia vs compression?
PANS fibers controlling pupillary reflex and accommodation are on outside
Motor fibers controlling LPS / muscles are located centrally.
Ischemia - i.e. diabetic nephropathy -> central motor fibers affected first. Eyes will be down and out with normal pupillary reflex / accommodation
Compression - periphery affected first -> initial loss of pupillary constriction before down and out gaze. I.e. due to Posterior communicating artery aneurysm or uncal herniation.
What type of brain hemorrhage does cerebral amyloid angiopathy typically cause?
Lobar hemorrhages, especially in the elderly. These are intraparenchymal hemorrhages located more superficially in the cortex, especially in the occipital lobes #499
Can an optic tract lesion cause a pupillary light reflex defecet?
Actually yes -> there will be a RAPD showing “dilation” on flashlight test when the light is shone in the eye contralateral to the lesion since photoreceptors on the nasal side contribute disproportionately to the reflex
How does Hep A often present in adults?
Often presents as prodrome of fever and anorexia, followed by jaundice symptoms that make it mimic extrahepatic cholestasis (i.e. dark colored urine, acholic stools, icterus)
What liver disease of middle age women often presents with xanthelasmas / xanthomata? What’s the pathognomonic finding in the liver?
Primary biliary cholangitis
Florid duct lesion (granuloma due to intralobular bile duct destruction) is pathognomonic
What is the cause of obstructive atelectasis and how will it appear on CXR?
Causes include:
- Foreign body obstruction
- Obstruction by bronchial secretions / exudate, i.e. asthma, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis
Obstruction needs to be COMPLETE to collapse the lung, the absorption of the air behind the block
CXR -> tracheal deviation towards the affected side since volume is lost.
Progressive loss of air -> loss of radiolucency -> progressive opacification of lung on CXR.
What is the numeric definition of pulmonary hypertension and what gene causes inherited PAH?
mean pulmonary arterial pressure > 25 mmHg at rest.
BMPR2 mutation (bone morphogenic protein receptor 2) -> inactivating mutations will cause vascular smooth muscle proliferation -> normal function is to inhibit proliferation
What is the constellation of symptoms in tuberous sclerosis? Include CNS and renal findings as well
Hamartomas:
Cardiac rhabdomyoma
Angiofibromas - connective tissue hamartomas of face
Ash-leaf spots - hypomelanotic lesions seen by wood’s lamp
mental retardation
renal angiomyolipoma - often biolateral causing renal failure #6
Shagreen spots - CT hamartomas seen on trunk
Ungual fibromas - nailbed tumors
Subependymal giant cell astromacytomas
What are the features of von Hippel Lindau disease?
Chromosome 3, VHL gene deletion (tumor suppressor)
Hemangioblastomas, especially in cerebellum
Angiomatosis - especially cavernous
Bilateral renal cell carcinomas
Pheochromocytomas (VHL and RET (MEN2), as well as NF-1 associated with this)
What are the three types of melanocytic nevi and how does this explain how they appear?
- Junctional - at the DEJ
- Compound - both extension into dermis + DEJ involvement (compound)
- Intradermal - extension into dermis leads to the nevus becoming raised. Also flesh-colored due to loss of DEJ component. #11502
What germ layers are the meninges derived from?
Dura - mesoderm
Arachnoid - neural crest
Pia - neural crest
What is often the earliest sign of hypothyroidism and what are its clinical features?
Delayed / slow relaxing deep tendon reflexes (think of generalized slowing seen in hypothyroidism) and hypothyroid myopathy
- > proximal muscle weakness and ELEVATED creatinine kinase from breakdown of fast twitch muscle fibers
- > implies there is some actual muscle DAMAGE going on
What is myoedema which can be seen in hypothyroid myopathy? How is this type of myopathy definitively told apart from steroid myopathy?
Myoedema - sustained contraction of the muscle groups around where it is percussed due to impaired reuptake of Ca+2 into SR, due to generalized slowing.
Hypothyroid myopathy - elevated CK due to muscle damage (inflammatory)
Glucocorticoid myopathy - CK will be normal due to muscle loss being strictly for gluconeogenesis. (atrophy)
What histologically characterizes dermatitis herpetiformis and where does it appear?
Microabscesses containing fibrin and neutrophils at dermal papillae types due to IgA deposition
-> coalesce to form blisters in tips of involved papillae
anti-gliadin antibodies are reacting with epidermal transglutaminase
Appears on the extensor surfaces
What is the mechanism which is thought to underlie Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea?
Decreased circulating leptin levels suppress GnRH
What way does the iliopsoas rotate your leg?
Externally rotates it, since it inserts very inferomedially on the lesser trochanter, contraction of the muscles will cause the leg to undergo external rotation
What are the most common cardiovascular symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis?
Ascending aortitis -> can lead to aortic regurgitation due to dilation of the aortic ring
What is one big way to tell primary glioblastoma apart from a metastatic brain cancer?
Metastases tend to be well circumscribed since they are a foreign tissue in the brain -> get walled off.
Also there are frequently multiple lesions in metastases.
Where does phrenic nerve irritation refer to?
Diaphragmatic irritation (i.e. lung cancer, or gallbladder pain) refer to shoulder -> C3-C5 nerve roots (phrenic) refers to supraclavicular nerve (C3/C4) -> #647
Where are most craniopharyngiomas?
Often suprasellar, since the oral ectoderm is at such an angle that the tumor tends to appear above the pituitary.
Idk man just look at a brain
What are common presenting symptoms of giant cell arteritis?
- Polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms - hip / shoulder achy pain
- Jaw / tongue claudication - specific
- Headache
- Amaurosis fugax - “fleeting darkness” - transient, painless monocular vision loss
What is the cause of vitiligo?
Complete autoimmune destruction of melanocytes. They will be completely absent in macules and patches.
What is bronchioalveolar carcinoma and how does it present? What does the epithelium look like?
Adenocarcinoma in situ - presents as hazy infiltrates similar to pneumonia on CXR. This is a standalone carcinoma which may represent part of a progressive to invasive adenocarcinoma
May present as bronchorrhea - copious amounts of watery sputum from mucinous discharge of AIS.
What does the epithelium of bronchioalveolar carcinoma look like?
Epithelium is tall, columnar cells often containing mucin, which line the alveolar septae (apparent thickening of alveolar walls). Alveolar architecture is preserved (vs invasive adenocarcinoma).
What vasculitis is commonly associated with wrist / foot drop?
Eosinophilic granulomatosus with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss) -> CNS / PNS involvement is common due to ischemic damage to the epineural blood vessels secondary to vasculitis damage
Remember this condition is also associated with necrotizing granulomas, asthma, sinusitis and peripheral eosinophilia
What is the cause of Meniere’s disease and what is the triad?
Increased endolymphatic pressure. Triad:
Tinnitus
Vertigo
Progressive sensorineural hearing loss
Tinnitus / vertigo are generally episodic
How is BPPV told apart from Meniere’s disease?
BPPV is NOT associated with tinnitus / hearing loss, and episodes are generally briefer, brought on by head movement
What are the risk factors for pigment gallstones?
- Chronic hemolysis -> increased biliary excretion of conjugated bilirubin, and a small percentage always becomes unconjugated. Obv higher risk of forming stones with more bile produced.
- Biliary tract infections -> microbial deconjugation of bile acids
- Gallbladder hypomotility -> thickens bile
What are the two morphological types of pigment stones? What causes them? Are they radio-opaque or translucent?
Black - occur in chronic hemolysis -> majority are radio-opaque from complexing with calcium. Multiple and smooth. Think “black is white” baby!!
Brown - occur in biliary tract infections -> soft and soapy, radiotranslucent