Headache Flashcards
Int’l hadache society classification
Primary- headaches without identifiable structural cause
Secondary- headaches with underlying cause
Pathophys of headaches, general
Inflammation or physical traction of pain sensitive nerve fibers
Pain sensitive structures in the head:
- Dura and meninges
- Large Arteries at the base of the brain, meningeal arteries
- Venous sinuses
- Scalp muscles
- Upper Cervical muscles
- Periosteum of the skull
- Facial and head structures/organs, skin, eyes, teeth, sinuses, muscles etc…
Brain parenchyma has sensory receptors T or F?
False. Brain parenchyma has no receptors and is insensitive to pain.
Most of the pain sensitive structures lie in the dura/meninges and/or are large to medium sized arteries that lie in the back of the brain
Stimulation of cranial pain receptors carried by what nerve troots?
V. VII, IX, X and the upper cervical nerve roots C2-3
mostly 5,9, c2-3
The opthalmic branch of V innervates pain sensitive structures where
Anterior and Middle Fossa and the anterior half of the skull. Includes the tentorium
POsterior scalp and neck
C2-3
CN IX and X
Posterior fossa
Some common migraine features
frequently unilateral
- Pulsating
- 4-72 hours
- nausea with or without vomitting
- May be preceded by a prodromal phase
- May be preceded by an aura
- Triggers or precipitating factors are frequent
- Frequent family history
Migraine Prodrome
Experienced by approximately 40% or migraineurs
- a vague constellation of symptoms that include mood swings
odd food cravings
malaise or vague feeling of unwellness
fatigue
muscle aches and stiffness
Migraine aura
Usually a visual disturbance that precedes the headache by no more than 60 minutes. Begins near the center of the visual field as a small gray area with indefinite boundaries. During the next few minutes, the gray area slowly expands into a horseshoe with zigzag lines and expands out toward the periphery of the visual field
What percentage of migraineurs have clearly defined auras?
only 20%
Women affected 2-3 times more frequently than men by migraines
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Migraine carries strong family hx
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Familial hemiplegic migraine?
inherited genetic abnormalities at several different loci… dominant gene
Trigeminovascular system?
anatomical substrate for migraines
- Involves CN V1 innervation of pain receptors located in the dura, meninges, and medium/large cerebral arteries and veins that lie on the surface of the brain and above the tentorium.
Know Dermatomes of the faceo
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Slide 21
Nuclues caudalis of trigeminal system projects afferent pain sensation from the face to the VPM of the Thalamus which is then sent to sensory cortex
What is responsible for mediating the vascular changes associated with migraines?
Trigeminovascular system- AFFERENTS come from the vasculature running through the Dura Mater which comes back to the Trigeminal nucleus. EFFERENTS then come from the superior salivatory nucleus then cause vascular changes (vasodilation)
The vasodilation associated with migraine headaches is mediated by:
Superior salivatory nucleus which carries parasympathetics along CN VII
What is the current thinking on Migraine pathogenesis
It is due to polygenic predisposition that hypersensitizes both the peripheral (trigeminovascular- afferent and efferent) and central (nucleus caudalis, etc..) pathways of heahache.
- May be triggered by central causes or external causes.
- Neurogenic inflammation of meningeal vasculature
What is the most common aura
visual scintillations followed by scotoma or blind spot.
Where do aura’s usually arise from in the brain?
Cortex- triggered either remotely from a central brain stem genearator or locally by a variety of external stimuli
Clinical manifestations of an aura depend on…
What part of the brain is being excited
