Week 2

Question 1

Describe the Golgi tendon reflex

Answer 1

Prevents tension in muscle by relaxing it and contracting complementary muscles

Active shortening in muscle/tendon => afferent sensory neuron => synapse with motor neurons which will inhibit that muscle and activate compensatory muscles

Question 2

Define Hemi-cord syndrome and its clinical features

Answer 2

One half of the spinal cord is damaged/interrupted

Ipsilateral loss of upper motor neuron control and proprioception

Contralateral loss of pain and temperature

Question 3

Define transverse cord syndrome and list its clinical features

Answer 3

Whole spinal cord is damaged

Deficit in motor and sensory modalities below level of lesion

Question 4

Define posterior cord syndrome and its clinical symptoms

Answer 4

damage to the posterior column

Ipsilateral loss of proprioception below the level of the injury

Question 5

Define neurulation

Answer 5

The process by which the ectoderm folds into the neural tube

Question 6

What signalling proteins initiate neurulation?

Answer 6

Noggin and chordin

Question 6

Name the primary vesicles does the brain form during embryological development?

Answer 6

Prosencephalon

Mesencephalon

Rhombencephalon

Question 6

What bends form alongside the primary brain vesicles during embryological development?

Answer 6

Cephalic flexure

Cervical flexure

Question 6

Name the secondary vesicles that the brain forms during embryological development, and what structures they are precures to

Answer 6

Telencephalon
- Cerebrum

Diencephalon
- Thalamus, hypothalamus

Mesencephalon
- Midbrain

Metencephalon
- Pons/cerebellum

Myelencephalon
- Medulla

Question 7

Define upper motor cord lesion

Answer 7

Lesion above the anterior horn cell of the spinal cord (brain, medulla, spinal cord)

Question 8

Define lower motor cord lesion

Answer 8

Lesion on peripheral efferent nerves after leaving the ventral horn

Question 9

What are the signs of upper motor neuron lesion?

Answer 9

• Muscle weakness
• Increased tone
• Increased Reflexes

Question 10

What are the signs of a lower motor neuron lesion?

Answer 10

• Muscle weakness and wasting
• Reduced tone
• Reduced reflexes
• Fasciculations

Question 11

How do you differentiate between incomplete and complete spinal injury?

Answer 11

Complete spinal injury inhibits both sensory and motor function. Incomplete only affects one or the opther

Question 12

What is the scoring of the AIS?

Answer 12

A = Complete injury
B = Sensory incomplete (no motor function)
C = Muscle incomplete (less than key muscles work)
D = Muscle incomplete
(more than half key muscles work)
E = normal

Question 13

Define spinal shock and its progression

Answer 13

Definition = Temporary suspension of all reflexes below level of injury

Reflexes begin to return from the bottom up

Question 14

Define neurogenic shock and the complications it can cause

Answer 14

Definition = A state of hypoperfusion (reduced blood flow) the body goes into after sudden loss of sympathetic control

• Hypotension
• Bradycardia
• Hypothermic

Question 15

Define autonomic dysreflexia and the complications it can cause

Answer 15

Definition = An overreaction of the autonomic nervous system in response to un UMN lesion at T6 or above.

• hypertension
• Bradycardia
• seizures

Question 16

How are nerve conduction studies performed?

Answer 16

Two stimulous (one close and one far away) activate motor neurons. They should both initiate the same muscle action potential but the further away stimulous should take slightly longer to produce an effect

Question 17

What pathology will cause longer latency times in a nerve conduction study?

Answer 17

A demyelination pathology

Question 18

What pathology will cause reduced muscle action potential in a nerve conduction study?

Answer 18

Axonal body pathology