Week 5

Question 1

what can increase flexor spasm?

Answer 1

sensory stimuli -
cutaneous
nocicepetive
bladder and bowel distension or irritation

Question 2

What can increase extensor spasm?

Answer 2

non-painful cutaneous stimulation to groin, buttocks, posterior part of leg
body movement
assuming an upright posture

Question 3

Describe parkinson’s disease

Answer 3

Progressive degenerative disorder of the basal ganglia that results in variable combinations of tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia

Question 4

Why does L-DOPA treat parkinson’s symptoms?

Answer 4

precursor to dopamine
restores dopaminergic neurotransmission in the corpus striatum by enhancing the synthesis of dopamine in the surviving neurons of the surviving substantia nigra

Question 5

What is often co-administered with L-DOPA?

Answer 5

Carbidopa - dopa decarboxylase inhibitor that does not cross the blood brain barrier

Question 6

Name the extrinsic muscles of the tongue

Answer 6

genioglossus (CNXII)
hypoglossus (CNXII)
styloglossus (CNXII)
palatoglossus (CNX)

Question 7

What are the two types of AMD?

Answer 7

exudative and atrophic

Question 8

Describe how visual acuity is measured

Answer 8

recorded as the distance chart is read / distance at which it should be read

Question 9

Describe how a fundus fluorescein angiogram works

Answer 9

IV fluorescein injection
binds to albumin and remains within normal capillaries because of blood retinal barrier
use blue flash and yellow filter to see details of retinal circulation

Question 10

Describe optical coherence tomography

Answer 10

low powered laser interferometry

generates detailed cross-sectional image of the retina

Question 11

How does AMD cause blindness?

Answer 11

blood vessels and scar tissue grow under the retina
leaking vessels cause retinal oedema
block transport of O2 and nutrients from choroid
eventual scarring causes destruction of photoreceptors

Question 12

What causes AMD?

Answer 12

end products of photoreceptor cells decay and are removed by retinal pigment epithelium
end products accumulate causing drusen

Question 13

What are the risk factors for AMD?

Answer 13

smoking
age
diet
family history

Question 14

What gene is strongly linked to AMD?

Answer 14

complement factor H

Question 15

What does complement factor do?

Answer 15

regulates inflammation

prevents competent-mediated attack on own cells

Question 16

What are the major causes of blindness in scotland?

Answer 16

AMD
glaucoma
diabetic retinopathy
myopic degereration
optic atrophy