Pre-release Flashcards
What is the spinal cord part of?
Central nervous system
Define paralysis
Loss of the ability to move some or all of the body. Often caused by damage to the spinal cord.
How can spinal cord damage be detected?
MRI
Other than spinal cord damage, what can a MRI also detect?
areas of demyelination
Why do safety considerations need to be taken into account with a MRI?
the large magnet that creates a magnetic field to line up the protons in hydrogen atoms. a beam of radio waves then spins the protons and the signal emitted is converted into a 3D detailed image.
Define stem cells
Undifferentiated cells which are either totipotent, pluripotenet or multipotent
The brain is made up of many distinct regions to coordinate control of the body, name them
- cerebrum
- cerebellum
- medulla oblongata
- hypothalamus
- pituitary gland
What does the central nervous system contain?
the brain and spinal cord
What is the CNS part of?
the nervous system
Describe the role of neurones
Adapted to transmit nerve impulses. relay neurones lie within the CNS and transfer impulses from sensory neurones to motor neurones. they have no myelin sheath
Define oligodendrocytes
A type of cell in the NS that produce myelin. Their function is to provide support and insulation to axons in the CNS. Their equivalent in the peripheral nervous system is the Swchann cell
Define axons
Part of the neurone. A single long extension that carries impulses away from the cell body.
Define quadriplegic
where the whole body is paralysed
Define paraplegic
where the legs are paralysed
Describe immune cells
White blood cells ( Leucocytes) . Leucocytes can be split into granulocytes and agranulocytes. Neutrophils are types of granulocytes and are involved in phagocytosis .
The agranulocytes include lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophage.
Define growth factor
a protein molecule made by the body; it functions to regulate cell division & cell survival.
Define free radicals
molecules which possess a single, unpaired electron in their outer shell. This makes the molecule highly reactive and will attack a wide variety of biological molecules, removing their electrons in a bid to find an electron pair.
Describe inflammation
Damage to the cell results in mast cells releasing histamine, serotonin and prostaglandins which dilate arterioles and make the walls of the capillaries so that phagocytic white blood cells ( neutrophils , monocytes and marcophage) can leave the blood more easily. They also increase blood flow to the area and increase pain sensitivity . Resulting in soreness, swelling, redness and increased temperature of the area.
Describe clinical trials
Drugs must be tested before they can be licensed and made available to patients.
Human testing happens after animal testing. In spinal cord injuries rats are used as the spinal cord is similar to humans
Phase 1 - usually involves 10-20 people - used to establish the upper limit of safe dose.
Phase 2- around 200 people. Used to assess effectivenss of the drug . Will use placebo
Phase 3 - Drug compared against the best current treatment - thousands of participants . Conducted on patients with the disease so no placebo used as unethical.
Randomised grouping of new or established drug so group is similar in terms of age, gender, lifestyle. Statistical test done.
What type of stem cell derived from human brain tissue, could make any of the three major kinds of neural cell found in the central nervous system.
Multipotent stem cells
What is the purpose of immunosuppressive drugs?
prevent organ rejection - although the donor stem cells will ideally be a close genetic match to the recipient. the immune system will still recognise foreign antigens
What are Human Leucocyte Antigens (HLA)
the human versions of the Major histocompatabilty complex (MHC). The proteins produced by these genes are on the surface of almost all cell membranes.
HLA antigens are coded for _ on chromosome _. They are close together so are often inherited as a _. This is a type of linkage is _. HLA genes exhibit _.
6 gene loci 6 set (haplotype) autosomal linkage codominance
Define mesenchymal/stromal stem cells
Multipotent stem cells found in the bone marrow, not the same as haemotopic blood stem cells also found in the bone marrow.
What is special about mesenchymal/stromal stem cells derived from the patient’s own bone marrow, adipose tissue (fat) or cord blood.
They would not have the concern of rejection
Define mesenchymal/stromal stem cells derived from cord blood
stem cells taken from umbilical cord at birth
Define oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs)
Precursor cells to oligodendrocytes that may also differentiate into neurones
Define human embryonic stem (hES) cells
pluripotent cells obtained from embryo’s that are younger than 14 days old
Describe concerns associated with the use of human embryonic stem (hES) cells
Some people view embryo’s as a ball of undifferentiated cells . Other’s see this as wrong regardless of the age.
Others concern is that this could lead to reproductive cloning of humans or the potential to develop tumours.
Robert Lanza in 2006 made it possible to obtain embryonic stem cells without destroying an embryo- reducing ethical concerns.
Define thoracic spinal cord injury
injury to the upper back, paraplegic
Define chronic injury
The sort of physical injury, illness, or disease that develops slowly and is persistent and long-lasting, or constantly recurring over time.
Define clinical trial
A series of controlled studies in which a new medicinal drug is tested.
Define inflammation
A tissue reaction to injury or an antigen that may include release of histamine, swelling , pain, itchiness, redness, heat and loss of function
Define motor (function)
movements and actions of the bone structures
Define myelin
a mixture of proteins and phospholipids forming a whitish insulating sheath around many nerve fibres, which increases the speed at which impulses are conducted
Define myelin sheath
The insulating envelope of myelin that surrounds the core of an axon; it facilitates the transmission of nerve impulses
Define neurones
Nerve cells; a cell specialised for the conduction of nerve impulses
Define scar
a mark left on the skin or within body tissue where a wound, burn, or sore has not healed completely and fibrous connective tissue has developed
Define sensory (function)
the extent to which an individual correctly senses skin stimulation, sounds, proprioception, taste and smell, and visual images
Define toxin
Poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms
Define transplantation
the process of taking an organ or living tissue and implanting it in another part of the body or in another body
