Neurology Q's for assessment

Question 1

describe what is meant by Central nervous system

Answer 1

Made up of the brain and spinal cord

Question 2

describe what is meant by Peripheral nervous system

Answer 2

Lies outside the CNS
· Nerves in PNS connect CNS to sensory organs
· Includes the 12 cranial nerves, the spinal nerves and root and autonomic nerves

Question 3

describe the anatomy and function of nervous system

Answer 3

-composed of groups of individual specialized cells called neurons
- transmit motor and sensory information back and forth between the PNS and central nervous system (CNS).

Question 4

describe the anatomy and function of the brain

Answer 4

• The brain contains about 100 billion nerve cells.
• The brain’s surface has many ridges and grooves that gives it a wrinkled (convoluted) appearance.
• Each ridge is called a gyrus, the groove or space between two gyri is called a sulcus
• Horizontal fissure splits 2 hemispheres

Question 5

describe the anatomy and function of each lobe of the brain

Answer 5

• Frontal = Problem solving, Emotional traits, Reasoning, Speaking
• Occipital = Vision, Colour, Perception
• Parietal = Right from left, Reading, Sensation
• Temporal = Understanding language, behaviour, memory

Question 6

describe the anatomy and function of Basal Ganglia

Answer 6

• Involved in the initiation, execution and regulation of gross intentional movements
• Allows fine movements e.g. of the hand
• Inhibition of stretch reflexes to allow smooth movement

Question 7

describe the anatomy and function of Thalamus

Answer 7

• Your body’s information relay station.
• Information from your body’s senses (except smell) must be processed through your thalamus before being sent to your brain’s cerebral cortex

Question 8

describe the anatomy and function of Midbrain

Answer 8

the topmost part of the brainstem, the connection central between the brain and the spinal cord

Question 9

describe the anatomy and function of Pons

Answer 9

Contains
· Nuclei of cranial nerves including (V) Trigeminal nerve and (VIl) Facial nerve which are involved in swallowing and also (VIll) Vestbulocochlear nerve involved in balance
· Nuclei pontis - small masses of grey matter.
· Longitudinal fiBres - corticopontine & corticospinal tracts

Question 10

describe the anatomy and function of Medulla

Answer 10

Contains
· Olivary nucleus
· Initiation of sensory and motor tracts
· Visceral motor nuclei controlling autonomic activities / homeostasis e.g. respiratory
· Origin of cranial nerves which are involved in swallowing

Question 11

describe the anatomy and function of Spinal cord

Answer 11

Segmented
- Cervical
- Thoracic
- Lumbar
- Sacral
- Conducts motor info down spinal cord
- Conducts sensory info up spinal cord

Question 12

describe the anatomy and function of Cerebellum

Answer 12

(little brain) part of your brain located at the back of your head, just above and behind where your spinal cord connects to your brain itself.
- Controls balance, coordination and fine muscular movement

Question 13

describe the anatomy and function of White matter

Answer 13

• Found in the deeper tissues of the brain
• It contains nerve fibers (axons) and myelin makes it white
• Ascending and Descending tracts originate

Question 14

describe the anatomy and function of Grey matter

Answer 14

• Located centrally
• grey matter gets its grey tone from a high concentration of neuronal cell bodies.
• Comprising dorsal and ventral horn

Question 15

describe the anatomy and function of Myelination

Answer 15

Myelin is an insulating layer, or sheath that forms around nerves
Allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly (Saltatory) and efficiently along the nerve cells.

Question 16

describe the function of Efferent neurons

Answer 16

Nerve fibers responsible for carrying signals from the brain to the peripheral nervous system in order to initiate an action

Question 17

describe the function of Afferent neurons

Answer 17

Nerve fibers responsible for bringing sensory information from the outside world into the brain.

Question 18

describe the function of Autonomic nervous system

Answer 18

• part of the nervous system that controls muscles of internal organs (such as the heart, blood vessels, lungs, stomach, and intestines) and glands (such as salivary glands and sweat glands).
• Normal body actions, involuntary

Question 19

describe the function of Somatic nervous system

Answer 19

consists of sensory nerves carrying afferent nerve fibers, which relay sensation from the body to the central nervous system and striated muscle to perform our daily functions.

Question 20

describe the function of Sympathetic nervous system

Answer 20

a network of nerves that helps your body activate its “fight-or-flight” response.

Question 21

describe the function of Parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 21

network of nerves that relaxes your body after periods of stress or danger.

Question 22

describe the function of Neurotransmitters

Answer 22

Chemical messengers that your body can’t function without. Their job is to carry chemical signals from one neuron (nerve cell) to the next target cell.

Question 23

What are the different elements of a neurotransmitter

Answer 23

amino acids, monoamines, and peptides

Question 24

components of the brain and
brain stem

Answer 24

Includes the midbrain + pons + medulla

Functions:
Alertness
Arousal
Breathing
Blood Pressure
Digestion
Heart Rate and other Autonomic Functions

Question 25

Describe the structure and function of a neuron

Answer 25

dendrites, an axon, cell body or soma, schwann cells, sometimes myelin
- Communicates with other neurones and sends signals to eachother
- Saltatory conduction occurs

Question 26

describe how action potentials are sent along a neurone and between
nerves (both unmyelinated and myelinated nerves)

Answer 26

• Signal is sent to the pre-synaptic neurone which is polarized (more negative inside then out)
• Depolarization
• Repolarization
• Hyperpolarization
• Depolarization is caused when positively charged sodium ions rush into a neuron with the opening of voltage-gated sodium channels.
• In myelinated neurones, saltatory conduction occurs where the signal “jumps” the nodes of ranvier

Question 27

define Neuroplasticity

Answer 27

the ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by re-organizing its structure, functions, or connections.

Question 28

define Dermatome

Answer 28

areas of skin on your body that rely on specific nerve connections on your spine

Question 29

define Myotome

Answer 29

defined as a group of muscles which is innervated by single spinal nerve root

Question 30

define reflex arc

Answer 30

neural pathway that controls a reflex

Question 31

define Stretch reflex

Answer 31

the contraction of a muscle in response to its passive stretching.

Question 32

define Withdrawal reflex

Answer 32

a spinal reflex intended to protect the body from damaging stimuli.

Question 33

define Golgi tendon reflex

Answer 33

If there is too much muscle tension the golgi tendon organ will inhibit the muscle from creating more force (via a reflex arc)

Question 34

define Reciprocal innervation

Answer 34

principle of motor neuron activity stating that when one set of muscles receives a signal for a reflex action, the antagonistic set of muscles receives a simultaneous signal that inhibits action

Question 35

define Crossed extensor reflex

Answer 35

allows the body to compensate on one side for a stimulus on the other. (contralateral reflex)

Question 36

define Motor learning

Answer 36

complex process occurring in the brain in response to practice or experience of a certain skill resulting in changes in the central nervous system.

Question 37

describe how the central nervous system controls reflexes

Answer 37

• Sensory information goes to the brain eg. Pain
• Defending tract from the brain carries information to reflex
• Neurotransmitter produces either EPSPs or IPSPs modifying the reflex

Question 38

describe in a paragraph the basic pathophysiology,
common symptoms and normal progression:

Question 39

describe in a paragraph the basic pathophysiology,
common symptoms and normal progression of Stroke (haemorrhagic & ischaemic):

Answer 39

• Blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or leaking or
• Bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke).
• Inhibits the transmission of nerve signal

Symptoms
- Face (droops)
- Arms (imobolised)
- Speech (slurred)
- Time (dial 999)

Question 40

describe in a paragraph the basic pathophysiology,
common symptoms and normal progression Multiple sclerosis:

Answer 40

Autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. In the case of MS , this immune system malfunction destroys the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord (myelin).

Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Difficulty walking
- Vision problems
- Problems controlling the bladder
- Numbness
- Muscle stiffness and spasms
- Problems with balance and co-ordination
- Problems with thinking, learning and planning

Question 41

describe in a paragraph the basic pathophysiology,
common symptoms and normal progression Parkinson’s disease:

Answer 41

caused by a loss of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra.
Release of dopamine is inhibited

Symptoms
- Involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body
- Slow movement
-Stiff and inflexible muscles

Question 42

describe in a paragraph the basic pathophysiology,
common symptoms and normal progression Dementia

Answer 42

Dementia is not a single disease. There are different diseases that can cause dementia. Many of these diseases are associated with an abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain.

Can be Alzhiemers and Vascular

This build-up causes nerve cells to function less well and ultimately die. As the nerve cells die, different areas of the brain shrink.

Symptoms
- Memory loss
- Thinking speed
- Such as using words incorrectly, or trouble speaking
- Mood
- Movement

Question 43

describe in a paragraph the basic pathophysiology,
common symptoms and normal progression Spinal cord injury (complete & incomplete)

Answer 43

• Complete spinal cord injury causes permanent damage to the area of the spinal cord that is affected.
• Incomplete spinal cord injury means that the brain can still send some signals up and down the spinal cord after the injury.

Symptoms
- If all feeling (sensory) and all ability to control movement (motor function) are lost below the spinal cord injury, your injury is called complete. Incomplete. If you have some motor or sensory function below the affected area, your injury is called incomplete.

Question 44

List the ways the nervous system can recover following an injury and, in a sentence or two
each, describe what these methods are

Answer 44

Neurodevelopment
- Unmasking of silent synapses
- Diaschisis
- Neural regeneration – regenerative synaptogenesis
- Collateral sprouting – reactive synaptogenesis
- Cortical reorganisation - neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is the brains ability to adapt and the process by which we learn, after a stroke it is the process by which people are able to re-learn activities and improve their function

Question 45

List the factors that affect motor-sensory learning

Answer 45

Physical
- Sensory feedback – sight, hearing, proprioception
- Musculoskeletal: ROM, muscle strength and posture
Psychological
- Pleasure – pain
- Motivation, drive and desire – boredom, failure anxiety
Cognitive
- Decision making
- Sequencing – planning
- Reasoning
- Concentration and attention
- Language and comprehension – ability to understand instructions

Question 46

List three changes that occur in the peripheral nervous system in response to tissue damage that highten the amount of nociception sent to the central nervous system

Answer 46

• Increased heart rate
• Sweating (sweat glands stimulated)
• Increased blood flow