Year 3: Neurology Flashcards
Everything you need to know to pass for Neurology in Dundee Medical School
Prosencephalon becomes
Telencephalon > Cerebrum Diencephalon > Thalamus and Hypothalamus
Mesencephalon becomes
Midbrain
Rhombencephalon
Metencephalon > Pons and Cerebellum
Myelencephalon > Medulla
Ascending Pathways are
Somatosensory
2 Ascending pathways
- Spinothalamic Tract
- Dorsal Column Medial Leminiscus (DCML)
Spinothalamic Tract is responsible for
Pain and Temperature
Spinothalamic fibres decussate at
Spinal cord
A lesion in the spinothalamic tract would cause
Contralateral loss of pain and temperature
Spinothalamic tract is
Anterior
DCML Pathway is responsible for
Fine touch, pressure and vibration
DCML fibres decussate in
the medulla
A lesion in the DCML pathway would cause
ipsilateral loss of fine touch, pressure and vibration sensations
DCML pathway is
Posterior
DCML is split into
- Fasciculus cuneatus: Upper limbs and trunk
- Fasciculus gracilis: Lower limbs and trunk
“You stand with grace”
Fasiculus Cuneatus ends at
T6
Descending pathways are
Somatomotor
2 main descending pathways
- Pyrimidal (Corticospinal, Corticobulbar)
- Extrapyrimidal (Reticulospinal, Rubrospinal)
Pyramidal Tracts are
Anterior
Extrapyramidal tracts are
Anterior
Corticospinal tract is split into
- Lateral corticopsinal tract
- Anterior corticospinal tract
Lateral Corticospinal tract is responsible for
Voluntary motor control of the limbs and digits
Lateral corticospinal fibres decussate in the
Medulla (pyramidal decussation)
A lesion in the lateral corticospinal tract would cause
Weakness in ipsilateral limbs and digits
Anterior corticospinal tract is responsible for
Voluntary motor control of the trunk (maintains posture)
Corticobulbar tract is responsible for
Motor control of the muscles of the face, head and neck
Corticobulbar tract is associated with
Cranial Nerves
Rubrospinal tract
controls flexion in the upper limbs
“RuBROspinal as they are bicep curling”
Origin of rubrospinal tract is in the
red nucleus (in the midbrain)
Reticulospinal tract
excites extensor muscles
Decerebrate posture
- Extension of all upper and lower limbs
- Pronation of the wrist
- Damage to brain, including midbrain
“You De-celebrate because they are dead, or look like it”
Decorticate
- Flexion of upper limbs
- Extension of the lower limbs
- Damage to brain, excluding midbrain (rubrospinal is intact)
“Your arms are flexed to your deCOREticate”
- Ipsilateral loss of touch, pressure, vibration
- Ipsilateral loss of motor strength
- Contralateral loss of pain and temperature
Brown Sequards Syndrome
“Hemi-section of the cord”
Bilateral loss of touch, pressure and vibration
Posterior Cord Syndrome
- Bilateral loss of pain and temperature in a cape-like pattern
- Bilateral weakness in proximal upper limbs
Central Cord Syndrome
- Bilateral loss of motor strength
- Bilateral loss of pain and temperature sensation
Anterior Cord Syndrome
- Bilateral loss of touch, pressure and vibration
- Bilateral loss of pain and temperature
- Bilateral loss of motor strength
Complete Cord Sydnrome
Muscle weakness is a sign of
Upper and lower motor neuron lesion
Muscle atrophy is
LMN lesion
“Loss of muscle = Lower”
Hyperreflexia is
UMN lesion
Hyporeflexia is
LMN lesion
Increased tone
UMN lesion
Decreased tone
LMN lesion
Fasciculations
LMN lesion
Babinski sign is positive
UMN lesion
Types of Motor Neurone Disease (MND)
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)
- Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMS)
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
ALS
UMN and LMN lesions
At the beginning ALS involves
upper limbs (starts distally)
Frontotemporal Dementia is seen in
ALS
The gene that links FTD and ALS is
C9ORF gene
Treatment to improve survival in ALS
Riluzole
Treatment to improve spasticity in ALS
Baclofen
Treatment to reduce the viscosity of sputum in ALS
Carbocisteine
Primary Lateral Sclerosis presents with
UMN symptoms
Progressive Muscular Atrophy presents with
LMN symptoms
Spinal Muscular Atrophy presents with
LMN symptoms
“Floppy Baby Syndrome” - hypotonia
Gene for SMA
SMN 1 gene
Cyst in spinal cord
Syringomyelia
- Sensory loss (pain and temperature) in the upper limps and “cape” area
- Paralysis
- Muscle weakness
- Neck pain
- Bladder problems
Syringomyelia
- Sciatica
- Lower back pain
- Lower Limb/buttocks loss of sensation/ tingling
Lumbar stenosis
Compression of the spinal cord
Spinal Stenosis
Pain relieved on sitting forward or walking uphill
Lumbar stenosis
Spinal cord stops at
L1/2
Lumbar punctures are taken at
L3/4
Intervertebral disc prolapse causing Cauda Equina Syndrome usually happens at
L4/5
- Lower limb weakness/ pain/ loss in sensation
- Saddle area anaesthesia
- Bladder/bowel incontinence
Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Unliateral mydriasis (dilated pupil)
- Down and out eye
- Ptosis (drooping eye lid)
Third Nerve Palsy
- Facial drooping
- Loss of forehead wrinkles
- Inability to close eye
- Inability to produce tear film (dry eyes)
- Hyperacusis (stapedius)
Bell’s Palsy (Facial Nerve palsy)
Treatment for Bell’s Palsy
Steroids
- Miosis (constricted pupil)
- Partial ptosis
- Enophthalmos (sinking of the eyeball in socket)
- Ipsilateral anhidrosis
Horner’s Syndrome
Horner’s Syndrome is due to
Sympathetic nerve problem/damage
- Damage to C5/C6
Erb’s Palsy
- Internally rotated arm
- Pronated forearm
- Flexed wrist
“Waiters tip posture”
Erb’s Palsy
Damage to C8 and T1
Klumpke’s Palsy
“Claw hand”
Klumpke’s Palsy
- Muscle fatigue at the end of the day
- Diplopia, ptosis, heavy head
Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia Gravis pathophysiology
- Autoimmune neuromuscular junction disorder (B-cell mediated)
- Auto-antibodies attack post-synaptic Acetylcholine receptors
Myasthenia Gravis Antobodies
Anti Acetylcholine receptor antibodies (AChR)
(Produced in thymus)
1st line Treatment for Myasthenia Gravis
Pyridostigmine (Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor)
2nd line for myasthenia gravis
Thymectomy
Side effect of Pyridostigmine
Can cause a cholinergic crisis
Tx: Plasmapheresis and Ig
- Distal proximal weakness in arms and legs
- Pins and needles in hands and feet
- Recent GI campylobacter infection
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Autoimmune destruction of peripheral nerves and their myelin insulation
Guillain-Barré Syndrome Antibodies
Anti-ganglioside antibodies
Treatment for Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Immunoglobins
- “Wine bottle legs/stork like legs”- like a saber tooth
- “Claw hand”
- “Hammer toe”
- Foot drop
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
Pathophysiology of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Motor and sensory neuropathies of the peripheral nervous system with associated muscle loss
Lambert-Eaton Myasthenis Syndrome
Muscle weakness to the limbs due to autoimmune antibodies attacking presynaptic Ca2+ channels, interfering with cell signals from nerve cells
Voltage gate calcium channel antibodies (VGCC)
Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome
Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome is associated with
Small cell carcinoma (lung cancer)
Treatment for Lambert Eaton Syndrome
- 3,4-Diaminopyridine +Steroids
- Pyridostigmine
- Optic neuritis
- Incontinence
- Ataxia
- Weakness
- Spasticity
- Pyramidal Dysfunction (Weakness in UL extensors, weakness in LL flexors)
Symptoms separated in space and time
Increasing frequency of symptoms
Relapsing and remitting disease
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Pathophysiology of MS
- Inflammatory process of demyelination of CNS
- Deposition of plaques around lateral ventricles “dawson’s fingers”
- Acute: Pink
- Chronic: Pearl grey
*
Lhermitte’s Sign
Movement of neck sends electric shock pain down spine
Present in MS
Investigations for MS
- MRI: lesions will be seen
- LP: Oligoclonal Bands seen in CSF
Raised Lymphocytes in CSF
Acute treatment of MS
High dose steroids (methylprednisolone)
1st line Treatment for MS
- Beta-interferon (Avonex, Extavia)
- or sometimes Copaxone
2nd line for MS
- Natalizomab (Monoclonal antibody)
- or sometimes Fingolimod
MS treatment for fatigue
Amantidine
MS treatment for increased sleepiness
Modafinil
MS treatment for spasticity
Baclofen, botox
Type types of Seizure
- General (all of the brain)
- Focal (partial bits of the brain)
Types of generalised seizures
- Tonic-clonic
- Myoclonic
- Myotonic
- Atonic
- Absence
Tonic-Clonic Seizure
- Tonic: Muscles tense up
- Clonic: Convulsions and shaky movements
Often bite tongue
Myotonic seizure
Muscles tense up
Myoclonic Seizure
Clonic jerks: Shaky movements
Common in kids, often happen in the morning
Atonic seizure
All muscles lose tone
They fall to the floor like in Toy Story
Absence seizure
Motionless stare for 15-30s
Types of Focal/Partial Seizures
- Simple: Remains consciousness
- Complex: Loss of consciousness + Aura
Classifications of Focal/Partial Seizures
- Frontal
- Temporal
- Parietal
- Occipital
Frontal Seizure
Motor signs: Twitching movements, stiffness
Temporal Seizure
- Deja Vu feeling
- Weird smell / taste
- Lip smacking
- Feeling of impending doom
Parietal Seizure
Loss of sensation in distal limbs
Burning / tingling sensation
Occipital Seizure
Visual problems
Todd’s Paralysis
A period of temporary paralysis following a seizure
Can last up to 24hrs
Investigation for someone having a seizure
ECG
1st line treatment of Generalised Seizures
Sodium Valproate
2nd line treatment for Generalised Seizures
Lamotrigine
Myoclonic: Levetiracetam
Absence: Ethosuximide
1st line treatment for Focal/Partial Seizures
Carbamazepine
2nd line treatment for Focal/Partial Seizures
Lamotrigine
or sometimes Levetiracetam
Contraindications for sodium valproate
- Teratogenic (don’t use in pregnancy), but can use in breastfeeding
- Weight gain
- Hair loss
- Fatigue
Contraindications of carbamazepine
Makes general seizures worse
Side effects of Lamotrigine
Dizziness and a rash
Contraceptive contraindications of Epileptic medications
- POP won’t work
- Increase dosage of COC
- Take 5mg Folic Acid for pregnancy
Status Epilepticus
- Single epileptic seizure lasting more than five minutes
- Two or more seizures within a five-minute period without the person returning to normal between them
Acute treatment of Status Epilepticus
1st: Rectal Diazepam, IV Lorazepam
2nd: Phenytoin
Single seizure patient can’t drive for
6 months
Single Seizure patient who drives heavy goods vehicles can’t drive for
5 years
Epilepsy patient without seizures has to wait
1 year of being seizure free to drive again
Epilepsy patient who drives a heavy goods vehicle has to wait
10 years seizure free while off of their medication
4 main types of Dementia
- Alzheimer’s
- Frontotemporal “Picks disease”
- Vascular
- Lewy Body’s
Criteria for dementia
2 or more of:
- Forgetfulness
- Memory loss
- Confusion
- Poor reason
- Personality changes
- Decreased concentration
- Visual perceptions
Tools for diagnosing Dementia
- 4AT
- MMSE
- MOCA
Frontal lobe is responsible for
Sequencing, fluency and behaviour
Parietal lobe is responsible for
- Language- Left side
- Spacial awareness- Right side
Temporal lobe is responsible for
Memory and speech
Alzheimer’s criteria
a decline in function in 2+ areas
Pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s Dementia
- Deposition of amyloid plaques (alphabeta) that are neurotoxic and cause an inflammatory response when broken down
- Deposition of Tau protein which is also neurotoxic
Alzheimer’s effects
Frontal, temporal and parietal lobes first
Starts in nucleus basalis of meynert