Unit 1b: Neuropathology Flashcards
Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)
the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord that cushions the nervous system; fluid is similar to blood plasma
Ventricle
CSF- filled cavities in the brain, four total (left, right, third, and fourth)
Choroid plexus
The specialized cells lining the ventricles responsible for the creation of CSF
Lumbar puncture
A method to withdraw CSF for testing from a low part of the column just below the spinal cord
Arachnoid granulations
the bubble- like portions of the arachnoid mater (middle layer of meninges) into the draining venous sinus system that are responsible for the removal of CSF from around the brain; CSF is ‘recycled’ into the blood stream
Hydrocephalus
(‘water on the brain’) disorder of CSF causing problems with CSF flow or reuptake; leads to head enlargement, developmental problems, changes in eye gaze, and, if left untreated, death; may be developmental or acquired; primarily treated with a shunt to siphon CSF away from the brain into the abdomen
Hydrocephalus ex vacuo
large space develop inside cortex due to loss of cortical tissue - ‘cortical atrophy’; seen in dementia; NOT really hydrocephalus
non-communicating hydrocephalus
hydrocephalus caused by a something obstructing the normal flow of CSF; CSF behind obstruction (between production in choroid plexus and obstruction) would increase in pressure; blockages can be from things like a tumor/mass or a clot of blood/infection
communicating hydrocephalus
hydrocephalus caused by a problem with the normal uptake of CSF through arachnoid granulations; whole CSF system would have increased pressure
Shunt
in brain disorders, a shunt is a tube placed inside the skull to drain off extra fluid, as seen in hydrocephalus (ventriculoperitoneal shunt) and strokes (intraventricular shunt)
Blood vessels
the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the human body. Three major types of blood vessels are the arteries, the capillaries, and the veins.
Circle of Wilis
a circle of arteries that supply blood to the brain. This arrangement of blood vessels allows for collateral blood flow to the brain.
Carotid artery
a blood vessel that supplies the head and neck with oxygenated blood. There are two carotid arteries, one on each side. They supply blood to the anterior part of the brain; carotid artery divides in the neck into the internal (supplies circle of Willis) and external (the artery you take a pulse from on the neck) carotid arteries
Vertebral artery
a blood vessel that runs up the back of the neck. There are two vertebral arteries, one on each side, that join at the base of the skull to form the basilar artery. These vessels supply the posterior part of the brain.
Basilar artery
the artery that supplies the pons, cerebellum, posterior cerebrum, and inner ear. This vessel is formed by the merging of the vertebral arteries.
Middle cerebral artery
The artery that supplies lateral cerebral cortex
and anterior temporal lobes; strokes here can affect face, arm, and language use
Anterior cerebral artery
The arteries that supply oxygen to most medial
portions of frontal lobes and superior medial parietal lobes; strokes here can affect leg use
Stroke
rapid loss of brain tissue and function as a result of disruption of the blood supply to the brain
Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
‘mini stroke’, same wide-range of possible
symptoms as a stroke, but symptoms are only temporary
Ischemia
lack of oxygen arising from a restriction in blood supply
Ischemic stroke
a stroke resulting from restriction of blood flow into a region of brain tissue
Thrombus
a clot, or atherosclerotic plaque, that forms in place within a blood vessel obstructing blood flow. A thrombus can close off blood flow at the place it forms or may break apart to form an embolus.
Embolus
a moving clot that then lodges in a small vessel
Carotid stenosis
abnormal narrowing of the carotid artery, often caused by atherosclerotic plaque formation
Hemorrhage
bleeding, the loss of blood from the circulatory system
Hemorrhagic stroke
a stroke resulting from blood bleeding into the brain, damaging tissue
Aneurysm
a localized, blood-filled bulge of a blood vessel
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
bleeding that occurs between the arachnoid and the pial meningeal layers. The subarachnoid space is the space where the CSF flows around the brain and spinal cord, the space that is also filled with spider-web-like protrusions of the arachnoid mater.
Intracerebral hemorrhage
bleeding that occurs within the brain tissue itself; this would be below the pia mater.
Intraventricular hemorrhage
bleeding that occurs from vessels along the
ventricles; the bleeding in this case would be directed into the ventricles.
tPA
drug made from tissue plasminogen activator, a protein involved in the breakdown of blood clots; used to treat ischemic stroke if within 3 hours of symptom onset
Venous malformation
a general term for congenital vascular anomalies; the anomalies – unusual formations – can involve only veins or veins and arteries. Such malformations often increase the patient’s risk of bleeding in the brain and/or abnormal oxygen delivery to the brain tissue.
Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
a vascular malformation that is a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in the brain; has increased risk of bleeding and decreases normal oxygen flow to local tissues (no capillary bed for gas exchange).
Venous thrombosis
a blood clot that forms within a vein. In the brain, this may occur in the large venous sinuses and block off blood flow out of the brain, which frequently is fatal.
Bridging veins
veins that drain the neural tissue and puncture (‘bridge’) through the dura mater to drain into the venous sinuses. They may tear with trauma and bleed to cause a subdural hematoma. Bridging veins have a higher risk of rupturing from trauma from a fall in patients who suffer from alcoholism. Long-term alcoholism both weakens the vein vessel walls throughout the body and shrinks the brain, which puts greater stress on the bridging veins specifically.
Hematoma
a solid swelling of clotted blood within the tissues, which can be located anywhere in the body. A hematoma is also called a bruise when in/under the skin. In the brain, a hematoma causes local mass effects, such as compressing and injuring surrounding brain tissue like a brain tumor can.
Subdural hematoma
bleeding that occurs below the dura – between the dura and the brain (or spinal cord), resulting in a build-up of blood that compresses the brain (or spinal cord). This type usually come from trauma, like a fall that tears the bridging veins. Compared to epidural hematomas, these usually have a slower onset, as lower-pressure venous blood is usually involved
Epidural hematoma
bleeding that occurs between the skull and the dura (or spinal column and dura), resulting in a build-up of blood that compresses the brain (or spinal cord). This type usually develops from trauma, especially in conjunction with a skull fracture. Compared to subdural hematomas, these tend to have a faster (and, thus, more serious) onset, as higher-pressure arterial blood is usually involved.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
damage to the brain as a result of external
physical force; common term = concussion
Coup / contra-coup injury
results from focal injury or whiplash, in which the side of the brain directly hit and the opposite side are both damaged
Diffuse shearing injury
rapid acceleration/deceleration forces separates cell bodies and axons, causing widespread brain injury
Phineas Gage
A man who had a train spike shoot through his frontal cortex inan accident. He survived, but was emotionally disturbed from that point forward.
Blood brain barrier
a filtering mechanism of the capillaries that carry blood to the brain and spinal cord tissue, blocking the passage of certain substances (i.e.,
infectious agents, immune cells, some drugs).
Meningitis
Viral or bacterial infection of the meninges. Symptoms include rash, stiff neck, headache, vomiting, mental status change
Encephalitis
Usually viral (herpes) infection of brain tissue. Symptoms include personality changes, seizures, weakness
Measles
is a childhood infection caused by a virus. Once quite common, measles can now almost always be prevented with a vaccine. Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus and typically include high fever,
cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. Measles rash appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms.
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)
SSPE is characterized by a history of primary measles infection, followed by an asymptomatic period that lasts 7 years on average, but can range from 1 month to 27 years. After the asymptomatic period, progressive neurological deterioration occurs, characterized by behavior change, intellectual problems, myoclonic seizures, blindness, ataxia, and eventually death.
Rabies
Virus that enters the brain by following peripheral nerves, causing diffuse brain swelling. Symptoms include headaches, fever, rages, inability to swallow water, coma, and death.
Prion
infectious protein molecules
Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (CJD) / transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
commonly known as mad cow disease; prional infection kills off brain cells, creating numerous lacunae (‘lakes’) in the brain tissue. Symptoms include dementia and problems with coordination
Encephalopathy
means disorder or disease of the brain. In modern usage, encephalopathy does not refer to a single disease, but rather to a syndrome of
global brain dysfunction; this syndrome can be caused by many different
illnesses.
Cysticercosis
condition resulting from infection with the pork tapeworm. Symptoms include headache, stroke-like effects, brain swelling, risk of death.
Brain tumor
any intracranial growth created by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division, normally either in the brain itself (e.g., neurons, glial cells, lymphatic tissue, blood vessels), in the cranial nerves (e.g., myelin-producing Schwann cells), in the brain envelopes (e.g., meninges), skull, pituitary and pineal gland, or spread from cancers primarily located in other organs (e.g., metastatic tumors). Any type of tumor in the brain can cause damage either through direct
damage to the surrounding tissue or through a mass effect – in which the pressure of the tumor squishes down parts of the brain
Holoprosencephaly
a congenital disorder caused by the failure of the embryonic forebrain to sufficiently divide into the double lobes of the cerebral hemispheres. The result is a single-lobed frontal brain structure usually with severe skull and facial defects.
Autism
Diffuse development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication
Epilepsy
chronic neurological disorder that is characterized by recurring seizures
Neurodegeneration
progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, including death of neurons
Dementia
progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the brain
Atrophy
loss of cells
Alzheimer’s disease
the most common form of dementia, characterized by loss of memory, cognitive abilities, and widespread neurodegeneration
