Principles in Neurology_1 Flashcards
what happens in neural development between day 18 and day 21?
neural plate + notochord → neural crest → neural tube and neural crest cells
notochord induces overlying ectoderm to differentiate into what?
neuroectoderm and form the neural plate
neural plate gives rise to what?
the neural tube and neural crest cells
notochord becomes what in adults?
nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc
what are the name and function of the dorsal part of the neural tube?
Alar plate: sensory
what are the name and function of the ventral part of the neural tube?
Basal plate: motor
what are the three primary vesicles of the developing brain?
- Forebrain (prosencephalon) • 2. Midbrain (mesencephalon) • 3. Hindbrain (rhombencephalon)
what are the five secondary vesicles of the developing brain?
- telencephalon • 2. Diencephalon • 3. Mesencephalon • 4. Metencephalon • 5. Myelencephalon
the Forebrain (prosencephalon) gives rise to which secondary vesicles?
- Telencephalon • 2. Diencephalon
the Midbrain (mesencephalon) gives rise to which secondary vesicles?
- Mesencephalon
the Hindbrain (rhombencephalon) gives rise to which secondary vesicles?
- Metencephalon • 2. Myelencephalon
the walls of the telencephalon give rise to what?
cerebral hemispheres
the cavities of the telencephalon give rise to what?
lateral ventricles
the walls of the diencephalon give rise to what?
thalamus
the cavities of the diencephalon give rise to what?
third ventricle
the walls of the mesencephalon give rise to what?
midbrain
the cavities of the mesencephalon give rise to what?
aqueduct
the walls of the metencephalon give rise to what?
Pons and Cerebellum
the cavities of the metencephalon give rise to what?
upper part of fourth ventricle
the walls of the myelencephalon give rise to what?
medulla
the cavities of the myelencephalon give rise to what?
lower part of the fourth ventricle
what happens in neural tube defect?
neuropores fail to fuse (4th week) → persistent connection between amniotic cavity and spinal canal
neural tube defects are associated with what?
low folic acid intake before conception and during pregnancy
what are the lab levels in neural tube defect?
- ↑ AFP in amniotic fluid and maternal serum • 2. ↑ AChE in amniotic fluid is a helpful confirmatory test
why is it that AChE can be measured in NTD?
fetal AChE in CSF transudates across defect into the amniotic fluid
what is spina bifida occulta?
failure of bony canal to close, but no structural herniation
spina bifida occulta is usually seen where?
lower vertebral levels
status of dura in spina bifida occulta?
intact
spina bifida occulta is associated with what?
tuft of hair or skin dimple at level of bony defect
what is meningocele?
meninges (but not the spinal cord) herniate through spinal canal defect
what is meningomyelocele?
meninges and spinal cord herniate through spinal canal defect
what are the types of forebrain anomalies?
anencephaly • holoprosencephaly
what happens in anencephaly?
malformation of anterior neural tube resulting in no forebrain, open calvarium (frog like appearance)
what are the clinical findings in anencephaly?
↑AFP, polyhydramnios
why is there polyhydramnios in anencephaly?
no swallowing center in the brain
anencephaly is associated with what?
maternal diabetes type I
what decreases the risk of anencephaly?
folate supplementation
what is holoprosencephaly?
failure of left and right hemispheres to separate
when does holoprosencephaly happen?
usually occurs during weeks 5-6
what is the etiology of holoprosencephaly?
complex multifactorial etiology that may be related to mutations in sonic hedgehog signaling pathway
what is the spectrum of severity of holoprosencephaly?
moderate form has celf lip/palate, most severe form results in cyclopia
what are the posterior fossa malformations?
Chiari II (Arnold-Chiari malformation) • Dandy Walker
what is an Arnold Chiari malformation?
Significant cerebellar tonsillar and vermian herniation through foramen magnum with aqueductal stenosis and hydrocephalus
Chiari II (Arnold-Chiari) malformation often presents with what?
thoraco-lumbar myelomeningocele and paralysis below the defect
what is a Dandy-Walker malformation?
Agenesis of cerebellar vermis with cystic enlargement of 4th ventricle (fills the enlarged posterior fossa)
Dandy Walker malformation is associated with what?
hydrocephalus and spina bifida
what is syringomyelia?
cystic enlargement of central canal of spinal cord
which fibers of spinal cord are damaged first in syringomyelia?
crossing fibers of spinothalamic tract
syringomyelia results in what?
cape like bilateral loss of pain and temperature sensation in upper extremities (fine touch sensation is preserved)
syringomyelia is associated with what?
Chiari I malformation
what is Chiari I malformation?
> 3-5mm cerebellar tonsillar ectopia
where is syringomyelia most common?
C8-T1
which embryonic structures form the tongue?
1st branchial arch forms anterior 2/3 • 3rd and 4th branchial arches form posterior 1/3
muscles of the tongue are derived from what?
occipital myotomes
which nerves carry taste?
CN VII, IX, X (solitary nucleus)
which nerves carry tongue pain?
CN V3 (ant 2/3), IX, X
which nerve is responsible for motor function of tongue?
CN-XII
neuroectoderm gives rise to which neural tissue?
CNS neurons • ependymal cells • oligodendroglia • astrocytes
neural crest gives rise to which neural tissue?
PNS neurons • schwann cells
mesoderm gives rise to which neural tissue?
Microglia
which are the signal transmitting cells of the nervous system?
neurons
how often do neurons divide?
permanent cells- do not divide in adulthood (and, as a general rule, have no progenitor stem cell population)
what are neurons?
signal relaying cells with dendrites (receive input), cell bodies, and axons (send output)
cell bodies and dendrites of neurons can be stained how?
via the Nissl substance (stains RER)
why doesn’t Nissl stain the axon?
RER is not present in the axon
what happens if an axon is injured?
undergoes Wallerian degeneration- degeneration distal to the injury and axonal retraction proximally
what are the functions of astrocytes?
Physical support • repair • K+ metabolism • removal of excess neurotransmitter, maintenance of blood-brain barrier
how do astrocytes respond to injury?
reactive gliosis
what is the astrocyte marker?
GFAP
what are microglia?
CNS phagocytes • Scavenger cells of CNS
what is the germ layer origin of microglia?
mesoderm
how do microglia stain with Nissl?
not readily discernable in Nissl stains
what is the function of microglia?
respond to tissue damage by differentiating into large phagocytic cells
what happens to microglia in HIV?
HIV-infected microglia fuse to form multinucleated giant cells in the CNS
what is the function of myelin?
Wraps and insulates axons: ↑ space constant and ↑ conduction velocity
the function of myelin results in what action?
saltatory conduction of action potentials between nodes of Ranvier, where there are high concentrations of Na + channels
what makes myelin in the CNS?
oligodendrocytes
what makes myelin in the PNS?
Schwann cells
Each oligodendrocyte myelinates how many CNS axons?
multiple (up to 50 each)
how do oligodendroglia appear in Nissl stain?
much smaller nuclei with dark chromatin and little cytoplasm
what is the predominant type of glial cell in white matter?
oligodendrocyte
oligodendroglia are destroyed in which disease?
MS
how do oligodendroglia look in H&E stain?
like fried eggs
each Schwann cell myelinates how many PNS axons?
only 1
Schwann cells also promote what?
axonal regeneration
Scwhann cells are derived from what?
Neural crest
Schwann cells are destroyed in which disease?
Guillan-Barre syndrome
what is Acoustic neuroma?
type of Schwannoma typically located in internal acoustic meatus CNVIII
what are the 2 types of free nerve endings?
C • Aδ
what type of fibers are C fibers?
slow, unmyelinated fibers
what type of fibers are Aδ fibers?
fast, myelinated fibers
what are the locations of C fibers and Aδ fibers?
All skin, epidermis, some viscera
what are the senses carried by C fibers and Aδ fibers?
Pain and temperature
what type of fibers are Meissner’s corpuscles?
Large, myelinated fibers that adapt quickly
what is the location of Meissner’s corpuscles?
glabrous (hairless) skin
what are the senses carried by Meissner’s corpuscles?
dynamic, fine/light touch; position sense
what type of fibers are Pacinian corpuscles?
Large, myelinated fibers
what is the location of Pacinian corpuscles?
deep skin layers, ligaments, and joints
what are the senses carried by pacinian fibers?
vibration • pressure
what type of fibers are Merkel’s discs?
Large, myelinated fibers that adapt slowly
what is the location of Merkel’s discs?
hair follicles
what are the senses carried by Merkel’s discs?
Pressure, deep static touch (shapes, edges) position sense
what is the endoneurium of a peripheral nerve?
invests single nerve fiber layers
the endoneurium of peripheral nerve contains inflammatory infiltrate in which condition?
Guillain-Barre
which part of the peripheral nerve forms the permeability barrier?
Perineurium
the perineurium of a peripheral nerve surrounds what?
a fascicle of nerve fibers
which part of a peripheral nerve must be rejoined in microsurgery for limb reattachment?
Perineurium
what is the epineurium of a peripheral nerve?
dense connective tissue that surrounds the entire nerve (fascicles and blood vessels)
how does NE change in disease?
↑ in anxiety • ↓ in depression
where is NE synthesized in the brain?
Locus ceruleus (pons)
how does dopamine change in disease?
↑ in schizophrenia • ↓ in Parkinsons • ↓ in depression
where is dopamine synthesized in the brain?
Ventral tegmentum and SNc (midbrain)
how does 5-HT change in disease?
↓ in anxiety • ↓ in depression
where is 5HT synthesized in the brain?
Raphe nucleus (pons)
how does ACh change in disease?
↓ in Alzheimers • ↓ in Huntingtons • ↑ in REM sleep
where is ACh synthesized in the brain?
Basal nucleus of Meynert
how does GABA change in disease?
↓ in anxiety • ↓ in Huntingtons
where is GABA made in the brain?
Nucleus accumbens
Functions of the Locus ceruleus?
stress and pain
functions of the nucleus accumbens and septal nucleus?
reward center • pleasure • addiction • fear
Blood brain barrier does what?
prevents circulating blood substances from reaching the CSF/CNS
blood brain barrier is formed by which 3 structures?
- tight junctions between nonfenestrated capillary endothelial cells • 2. basement membrane • 3. astrocyte foot processes
can glucose and amino acids cross BBB?
glucose and amino acids cross slowly by carrier mediated transport mechanism
do nonpolar/lipid soluble substances cross BBB?
cross rapidly via diffusion
what are the specialized areas of the brain with fenestrated capillaries and no BBB that allow molecules in the blood to affect brain function?
area postrema- vomiting after chemo • OVLT- osmotic sensing
what are the specialized areas of the brain with fenestrated capillaries and no BBB that allow molecules in the blood to affect neurosecretory products to enter circulation?
neurohypophysis- ADH release
besides BBB what are the other notable barriers?
blood-testis barrier • maternal-fetal blood barrier of placenta
what happens when infarction and/or neoplasm destroys endothelial cell tight junctions of the BBB?
vasogenic edema
how do hypothalamic inputs and outputs get to their target?
they permeate the BBB
BBB helps prevent what?
bacterial infection from spreading into the brain • also restricts drug delivery to the brain
what are the functions of the hypothalamus?
TAN HATS: • 1. Thirst and water balance • 2. Adenohypophysis control • 3. Neurohypophysis releases hormones produced in the hypothalamus • 4. Hunger • 5. Autonomic regulation • 6. Temperature regulation • 7. Sexual urges
what are the inputs to the hypothalamus?
OVLT (senses changes in osmolarity) • area postrema (responds to emetics)
supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus makes what?
ADH
paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus makes what?
oxytocin
Lateral area of hypothalamus controls what?
hunger
destruction of lateral area of hypothalamus → what?
anorexia, failure to thrive
lateral area of the hypothalamus is inhibited by what?
leptin
ventromedial area of the hypothalamus controls what?
satiety
what can destroy the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus?
craniopharyngioma
destruction of the ventromedial area of the hypothalamus leads to what?
hyperphagia