Lucy's Pathology

Question 1

How many types of primary neuronal damage?

Answer 1

2 main types

Question 2

What are the 2 main types of primary neuronal damage?

Answer 2

RAPID NECROSIS

SLOW ATROPHIC CHANGE

Question 3

What is associate with rapid necrosis?

Answer 3

Hypoxia

• Nuclear pyknosis
• Cytoplasmic shrinkage

Question 4

What is nuclear pyknosis?

Answer 4

Irreversible condensation of chromatin in nucleus

Question 5

What is slow atrophic change assoc with?

Answer 5

Gradual loss of function (dementia)

-Cells slowly become smaller and eventual dissolution

Question 6

Note about destruction of neurones?

Answer 6

No regeneration of destroyed neurons

Question 7

Explain colloquially difference between the 2 types of primary neuronal damage?

Answer 7

Rapid necrosis: No time for cell to become smaller, suddenly damaged so nucleus and cytoplasm die

Slow atrophic change: Neuron is gradually dying so it becomes smaller as it dies

Question 8

Explain secondary neuronal damage?

Answer 8

Neuronal damage isn’t main event but occurs due to something else being damaged

Question 9

2 types of secondary neuronal damage?

Answer 9

Retrograde degeneration

Trans-synaptic degeneration

Question 10

What is retrograde degenration?

Answer 10

When main axon is damaged there is degeneration of neuron as well as classical distal degeneration of axon

Cell becomes swollen and there is loss of Nissl substance

Question 11

What is more susceptible to damage astrocytes or neurons?

Answer 11

Neurons

Question 12

Describe process of gliosis?

Answer 12

Sufficient damage, astrocytes multiply and enlarge, there is an increase in fibril formation
-Later cells atrophy leaving dense meshwork of fibres, creating the analogue to scar tissue

Question 13

What can help you recognise gliosis in histological sections? and how?

Answer 13

GFAP: Cells and fibres contain this

Using antibodies to find

Question 14

What gathers round neurons when they are damaged?

Answer 14

Oligodendrocytes (increased number of larger ones)

Question 15

What reacts when there is necrosis of tissues?

Answer 15

Microglia

Question 16

Where are microglia generally found?

Answer 16

Next to blood vessels

Question 17

Where are microglial cells often seen?

Answer 17

Around infarcts and activated cells which have ingested lipids

Question 18

What is cytotoxic oedema?

Answer 18

Intracellular swelling in acute cerebral ischaemia due to hypoxia

-Causes failure of ATP dependant ion channels so influx of ions (and therefore water)

Question 19

What is vasogenic oedema?

Answer 19

Extravasation and extracellular accumulation of fluid in cerebral parenchyma

Question 20

What is vasogenic oedema due to?

Answer 20

Infarction causing damage to the endothelium
and disruption of BBB so fluid can leak out

-At this point endothelium aren’t damaged enough to let out red blood cells

Question 21

What can follow cytoxic oedema?

Answer 21

Vasogenic oedema

Question 22

What occurs due to shearing trauma and what exact moment?

Answer 22

Diffuse Traumatic Axonal Injury

-Occurs at moment of injury

Question 23

What forms at the site of sheared axons?

Answer 23

Axonal bulbs