Test 2 Clinicals Flashcards
Neural Tube Defects
1) Failure of neural tube to close
Rachischisis
1) Neural tube defect
- neural folds don’t join at midline
- undifferentiated neuroectoderm remains exposed
2) Rachischisis totalis
- AKA holorachischisis
- extreme form
- entire spinal cord remains open
3) Rachischisis partialis
- AKA merorachischisis
- spinal cord is partially open
Anencephaly
1) Neural tube defect
- anterior neuropore doesn’t close
- skull and brain do not develop
2) Anencephaly (Without brain)
- meroanencephaly (without part of brain)=more accurate
- brainstem intact but missing forebrain and cerebellum
Rachischisis vs Meroanencephaly
1) Most cases, especially meroencephaly
- DEATH
Spina Bifida
1) Neural tube develops normal
BUT surrounding vertebrae not formed properly
2) Spina Bifida OCCULTA
-partially missing vertebral arches
-area of defect indicated by patch of dark hairs
3) Spina Bifida CYSTICA- enlargements that contain:
-only meninges and CSF (meningocele)
-Meninges, CSF, portions of spinal cord (MENINGOMYELOCELE)
How is sensory info brought to the spinal cord?
1) Cell bodies- posterior root ganglia
2) Central Processess
- through spinal cord
3) Peripheral Processes
- through spinal nerves to innervate body structures
Sensory input originates from?
1) Body surface (GSA)
2) Deep structures such as: (GSA)
- muscles
- tendons
- joints
3) Internal Organs (GVA)
Injury to peripheral nerves
1) motor or sensory deficits distal to lesion
2) most notable in extermaties seen as:
- motor deficits (flaccid paralysis)
- decrease or loss of spinal reflexes (hyperreflexia, hyporeflexia, areflexia)
- Anesthesia (loss of sensation)
- Paresthesia (abnormal sensations)
Lumbar puncture
1) Obtain CSF
2) AKA spinal tap
3) L3/4 or L4/5
Spinal Reflex composed of:
1) Sensory neuron
2) motor neuron
3) resultant muscle contraction
Artery of Adamkiewicz
1) large spinal medullary artery
2) seen at L2 on Left side
3) important source of blood supply to the cord
4) must be preserved during surgery
Central Cervical Cord Syndrome
1) Trauma:
-hyperextension of c-spine
-mechanical injury to cord
2) Causes
-occlusion or spasm of anterior spinal artery
3) results:
Bilateral damage to cervical cord
4) Symptoms:
-bilateral weakness of extremities (primarily arms, forearms, hands)
-patchy loss of sensation below lesion
-urinary retention
Spinal Nerves
1) Formed by meeting of anterior and posterior roots
2) each nerve contains:
- afferent fibers->sensory input from periphery
- efferent fibers-spinal motor neurons
3) Fibers + circuit in gray matter=basis for spinal reflexes
- tested in neurological exams
Deafferentation pain
1) Anatomic pathways for pain perception are Partially or completely disrupted:
- nerve rootlets, tracts and nerves
2) May develop after:
- amputation
- peripheral nerve injury
- lesion of central tracts resulting in hemi/para/quadraplegia
- damage to posterior roots
3) Perceived As:
- dull and aching
- pins and needles (sharp pain)
- searing
- burning sensations
4) mechanism for pain is due to combo of:
- increased sensitivity of the central neurons (central sensitization)
- plasticity changes in damaged cell groups
- decrease in descending inhibitors
- increase in facilitate at he lesion site
Motorcycle Accident
1) Forcefull separation (avulsion) of posterior roots from spinal cord
- most often in brachial plexus
2) Tx: DREZ procedure (AKA PREZ)
- dorsal root entry zone
- small electron placed in posterior horn at entry zone
- radiofrequency lesions made at level of separation
3) Significant or total relief from pain seen in 80-90%
4) Complications:deficits related to adjacent
- corticospinal tract
- cuneate fasciculus
5) Symptoms:
- Ipsilateral weakness of upper or lower extremity
- Ipsilateral UE conscious proprioception and vibratory sense (pts describe buzzing sensation)
Myasthenia gravis
1) Moderate to profound muscle weakness
- muscle fatigue, worse as day progresses
2) presence of circulating antibodies against nicotine receptors on postsynaptic membrane
3) Result
- blockage at neuromuscular junction
4) Most common
- 20-40 y.o
- younger patients may exhibit symptoms
3 characteristics of Myasthenia gravis
1) Muscle weakness
- wax and wane for periods of mins to several days
2 Muscles controlling eye movement involved first (40%) –>result in DIPLOPIA AND PTOSIS (85% of pts)
- muscles of pharynx or larynx, face, and extremities may eventually be involved
- always with ocular muscles
- exhibit dysarthria and dysphagia
3) Weakness to administration of drugs that ENHANCE cholinergic transmission
Spinal reflex
1) Afferent fibers in spinal nerves may:
- synapse on tract cells and relay info to higher levels of neuroaxis
-terminate on motor neurons or interneurons
BOTH participate in reflex circuit
2) Require:
- afferent fiber
- interneurons or motor neurons
- target tissue (skeletal muscle)
3) Intrasegmental:
- simple reflex confined to single cord level
4) Intersegmental
- complex reflex in multiple cord segments
5) Numerous reflex apart of standard neurologic exam
Muscle Stretch Reflex
1) AKA tendon reflex or deep tendon reflex
2) Stimulus
- stretch of a muscle spindle located within the muscle
- tapping any large tendon
- ex: Knee jerk or quad stretch reflex
3) Reciprocal inhibitions
- one group of muscles is excited
- other antagonist group inhibited
4) Autogenic Inhibition
- AKA inverse myotatic reflex
- Golgi tendon organ=receptor
- responds to high tension
Flexor reflex
1) AKA withdrawal reflex
- nociceptive reflex
2) stimulis
-cutaneous input
-response to nociceptive stimuli
-protects a body part by removing from source of injury
(TAC on ground)