Peripheral Neuropathy Flashcards
What are the subcategories in the PNS?
Somatic: Motor/Sensory
Autonomic: Sympathetic/Parasympathetic
What are the differences between the CNS and PNS?
CNS v PNS
CNS contains most somatic cell bodies v. only sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia and autonomic neurons in ganglia of sympathetic chain
BBB v. Blood nerve barrier (less efficient than BBB)
Oligodendrocytes v. Schwann cells
Mechanical protection by bone (no collagen) v. supported by fibrous collagen
How do the location of the cell bodies of sensory and motor neurons differ?
Sensory: cell body in dorsal root ganglion
Motor: cell body in ventral root (in CNS)
What is the difference in where somatic nerves arise from vs autonomic nerves?
Somatic nerves arrive from cord (except for cranial nerves in brain) while there is a separate system for autonomic nerves in the PNS
What is the difference in the kind of neuron found in dorsal root ganglia v. autonomic ganglia?
Root ganglia: Pseudo-unipolar neuron (cell body in middle of the neuron)
v.
Autonomic ganglia: Mutipolar neuron (cell body at one end of the nerve with the axon going down)
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there and what do they innervate?
31
C1-C8: neck and bits of arms
T1-T12: Trunk and bits of arms
L1-L5: legs
S1-S5 + coccygeal: foot, genitals, perineum
What do nerve trunks contain?
Sensory, motor and autonomic axon before they branch off to their afferent or efferent endings
Describe nerve hierarchy
Axon (in endoneurium)–> fascicle (in perineurium) –> nerve (in epineurium)
What are the endo/peri/epi-neriums made of?
Collagen
What is the difference between motor, sensory, and autonomic neurons?
Basically the same structure but endings are different
TRUE or FALSE?
Axon diameter does not effect whether or not the neuron is myelinated
False
Larger axons are myelinated
Which kind of neuron (myelinated or not) are more critical if damaged?
Myelinated (like ones that control fine movement in the hand)
What is the nerve that is most often biopsied?
The sural nerve
Why is the sural nerve biopsied?
Has no motor function.
Only innervates a small part of the top of the foot
What is the epineurium made of?
Fatty tissue
List the unencapsulated sensory endings in skin and their functions
Peritrichial: senses hair movement
Merkel: Mechanoreceptor that responds to pressure
List the encapsulated sensory endings in skin and their functions
Pacinian corpuscle: vibration, deep touch
End bulb: pressure
Meissner’s corpuscle: light touch, vibration
Ruffini ending: Respond to pressure, skin stretching
Why are not all neurons myelinated?
Myelin is vulnerable to damage and disease
What are the 3 main factors which dictate conduction speed?
Myelin thickness
Axon diameter
Axonal composition
What does the number of axons in the nerve increase?
The amplitude of the axon potential
What are the types of fibers in peripheral nerves?
Myelinated: A (alpha, beta, gamma, omega) and B
Unmyelinated: C
What is the difference between group A and B
A has a diameter of 1-20 micrometers while B is 1-3
The speed of conduction of A is 5-120 m/s while B is 2-15 m/s
A include afferent fibres for proprioception, virbation, touch , pressure, pain, and temperature, somatic efferent fibres
B include visceral fibres; preganglionic visceral efferents
What is the diameter, speed, and function of C group fibers?
Diameter: 0.5-1.5 micrometers
Speed: 0.6-2 m/s
Function: Afferent fibers for pain, temperature; post ganglionic visceral fibres
Which sensory ending group mediates non-specific visceral pain?
C
How can peripheral neuropathy occur?
Axons degenerate die
Myelin can degenerate
Myelin can be attacked
Other parts of the nerve can be damaged
What are the types of injury?
Wallerian degeneration: Physical damaged to the nerve, many forms including crushing, cutting, stretch
Segmental demyelination: Maybe due to damage or disease affecting Schwann cells or directly to myelin
Axonal degeneration: Metabolic damage to axon leading to degeneration
Loss of neuron: Damage where the neuron dies and therefore there is no regeneration
Can peripheral nerves regenerate after damage?
Yes, if the cell body is undamaged the axon can sprout
What guides axon sprouts during nerve regeneration?
Schwann cell basal lamina from the original fibre if intact
What is the rate of regrowth of a nerve following damage?
1-2 mm/day (slow- can take a year to fix a long nerve in leg)
What influences the success of regrowth of nerves?
The underlying cause and severity of the damage