PBL Topic 3 Case 1 Flashcards
What is gastrulation?
- The process that establishes all three germ layers in the embryo
Identify the three germ layers in the embryo and what they form.
- Ectoderm: nervous system
- Mesoderm, cardiovascular system, renal system, spleen
- Endoderm, GI tract and epithelia of respiratory systme
Where is the primitive streak located and when is it visible?
- Surface of the epiblast
- Day 15/16
What is invagination?
- Epiblast cells move towards primitive streak
- They become flask-shaped, detached from the epiblast
- They slip beneath the epiblast
Describe the molecular regulation of gastrulation.
- Fibroblast Growth Factor 8
- Which down-regulates E-cadherin between epiblast cells
Which cranial nerves does the ectodermal germ layer give rise to?
- Vagus nerve (10)
- Glossopharyngeal (9)
- Vestibulocochlear (7)
- Trigeminal (5)
- 1975
Describe the molecular regulation of neural plate formation.
- Fibroblast Growth Factor
- Which upregulates chordin and noggin
- Which inhibits Bone Morphogenetic Protein
- Which allows ectoderm to become neural tissue
Describe the process of neurulation.
- Lateral edges of neural plate become elevated to form neural folds
- Depressed mid-region forms the neural groove
- Neural folds approach each other in the midline
What is the function of neuropores during neurulation?
- Allow neural tube to communicate with amniotic cavity until neurulation is complete
On which days do the anterior and posterior neuropores close?
- Anterior: day 25
- Posterior: day 28
Identify the transition that neural crest cells undergo
- Epithelial to mesenchymal
- Mesenchyme refers to embryonic connective tissue regardless of origin
Identify the two pathways of neural crest cells.
- Dorsal pathway: to form melanocytes and hair follicles
- Ventral pathway: neurons, Schwann cells and cells of the adrenal medulal
Describe the molecular regulation of neural crest cells.
- Intermediate levels of BMP
- Which induce transcription factors
- PAX3, SNAIL, FOXD3 are responsible for specification
- SLUG which promotes migration
Identify the embryological origin of the structures of hearing and equilibrium
- Otic placodes
Identify the embryological origin of the structures sight
- Lens placodes
Name the three primary brain vesicles and what they refer to.
- Prosencephalon - forebrain
- Mesencephalon -midbrain
- Rhombencephalon - hindbrain
Where is the cervical flexure located?
- At the junction between the hindbrain and spinal cord
Where is the cephalic flexure located?
- In the midbrain region
Identify the two portions of the prosencephalon
- Telencephalon
- Diencephalon
Identify the two portions of the rhombencephalon and how are these two structures separated?
- Metencephalon
- Myelencephalon
- Pontine flexure
Identify the ventricles of the brain
- Cerebral hemispheres are lateral ventricles
- Diencephalon is third ventricle
- Rhombencephalon is fourth ventricle
How are the third and fourth ventricles connected?
- Cerebral aqueduct
How are the lateral ventricles connected to the third ventricle?
- Interventricular foramina of Monroe
Where are neuroepithelial cells located?
- The walls of the recently closed neural tube
Neuroepithelial cells differentiate into what type of cell?
- Neuroblasts which form the mantle layer
What does the mantle layer form?
- Grey matter
What does the marginal layer form?
- White matter
- Which appears white due to myelination
How are basal and alar plates formed and what do they form?
- Thickening of mantle layer due to addition of neuroblasts to form ventral (basal) and dorsal (alar) thickenings
- Basal plate forms motor areas of spinal cord
- Alar plate forms sensory areas
What is the name of the longitudinal groove that separates the basal and alar plates?
- Sulcus limitans
In which region is the intermediate horn located?
- T1-L3
Describe the molecular regulation of nerve differentiation in the spinal cord.
- Ventral motor neuron differentiation is dependent on low TGF-B and high SHH
- Dorsal sensory neuron differentiation is dependent on high TGF-B and low SHH
Outline the epidemiology of spina bifida
- 2/ 1000 births affected
- M:F ratio of 2:3
Describe the pathology of spina bifida occulta.
- Vertebral arches are not covered by skin
- Does not involve underlying neural tissue
- Marked by tuft of hair in affected region (typically S1-S2
Describe the three types of Spina Bifida Cystica
- Meningocele, in which fluid-filled meninges protrude through the defect
- Myelomeningocele, in which neural tissue is included in the sac
- Myeloschisis, in which neural tube does not elevate but remains flattened
What is an Arnold-Chiari malformation?
- Herniation of part of the cerebellum into the foramen magnum
- Due to spinal cord being tethered to vertebral column
- Which pulls the cerebellum into the foramen magnum
Identify three causes of neural tube defects.
- Hyperthermia
- Valproic acid
- Hypervitaminosis A
What reduces the occurance of NTDs?
- Folic acid (folate)
- Which is responsible production, repair and functioning of DNA
How does the risk of NTDs increase if folic acid is not taken?
- Risk if one sibling has condition= 4%
- Risk if two siblings have condition = 10%
Where is cerebrospinal fluid secreted from?
- Choroid plexuses of the brain ventricles
Outline the pathway taken by CSF from the choroid plexus to the venous system
- Leaves lateral ventricles through interventricular foramina of Monroe
- Enters the third ventricle
- Passes through cerebral aqueduct into fourth ventricle
- Either enters spinal canal or passes into subarachnoid space through medial and lateral apertures
- Passes arachnoid granulations into the superior sagittal sinus.
What is the role of CSF?
- ‘Floats’ the brain, providing cushioning
- Gives its buoyancy so that it does not compress the cranial nerves
Outline the pathology of exencephaly
- Failure of cephalic part of neural tube to close
- Skull does not form so brain is exposed
- Leading to necrotic tissue (anencephaly)
Which cranial nerves arise from the brain stem?
- Olfactory (1)
- Optic (2)
Which cranial nerve arises from outside the hindbrain?
- Oculomotor (3)
Which cranial nerves arise from the rhombomeres of the hindbrain?
- Trochlea (4)
- Trigeminal (5)
- Abducens (6)
- Facial (7)
- Vestibulocochlear (8)
- Glossopharyngeal (9)
- Vagus (10)
- Accessory (11)
- Hypoglossal (12)
What is bipolar disorder?
- Episodes of depression and hypomania (mania if severe)
How is one cycle of bipolar disorder defined?
- From euthymic to manic, to depressed and returns to euthymic
What is the difference between bipolar 1 and bipolar 2?
- Bipolar 1: one or more manic or mixed episodes
- Bipolar 2: depressive episodes which are more frequent than manic episodes, with a history of at least one hypomanic episode
How heritable is bipolar disorder?
- Very heritable (80%)
What is meant by cyclothymia?
- Personality trait with spontaneous mood swings not sufficient or persistent enough to warrant anther diagnosis
Identify 6 clinical features of mania
- Elevated and irritable
- Flight of Ideas
- Grandiose and self-confident
- Delusions of wealth, power and influence
- Disinhibition with increased sexual activity, excessive drinking and spending
- Insomnia
Identify 6 clinical features of depression
- Depressed and irritable
- Slow, monotonous speech
- Feelings of guilt, worrying, suicidal thoughts
- Weight gain / loss
- Loss of libido / erectile dysfunction
- Reduced energy lacking motivation
Outline the mechanism of action of lithium
- Inhibition of inositol monophosphatase blocking PI pathway
- Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase
Identify three adverse effects of short-term lithium use.
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Tremor