Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Pathology > Nervous System > Flashcards

Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the functions of the four major lobes of the brain.

A

Frontal **motor functions, behavior, emotions, higher intellect.

Parietal **sensory functions.

Occipital* visual center. *

Temporal **hearing and smelling.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Compare the functions of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata with that of the cerebellum.

A

midbrain, pons, MO = myelinated nerve bundles connecting brain to SC
visual and auditory reflex, cardiac, vasomotor, respiratory centers

cerebellum = sensory input from SC and inner ear to cortex

balance, muscle tone, mvmt coordination

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Describe the function of the spinal cord.

A

anterior horn >> peripheral nerves

  • extensions of cortical and subcortical brain neurons
  • carry motor impulses

posterior horn >> spinal ganglia

  • carry sensory input
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Describe the circulation of the cerebral spinal fluid.

A

Produced by choroid plexus in 3rd ventricles. Flows at low pressure lateral ventricles >> 3rd V >> 4th V >> lateral openings + median opening >>* central canal of SC*

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

List the main cells of the nervous system.

A

Glial cells (support) = astrocytes, oligodendroglia, microlia, ependymal

Neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the most important diseases of the nervous system.

A
  • Developmental and genetic diseases
  • Diseases caused by trauma
  • Circulatory disorders
  • Infectious diseases
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Metabolic and nutritional diseases
  • Neurodegenerative diseases
  • Brain tumors
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the sites of brain herniation caused by intracranial hypertension?

A

Subfalcine herniation: cingulate gyrus protrudes beneath the falx cerebri

Transtentorial herniation: uncus protrudes tentorium cerebelli

Tonsillar hernation: cerebellar tonsils protruding into the foramen magnum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

List the main dysraphic disorders of the CNS and describe their pathogenesis.

A

Incomplete fusion of the neural tube >> dysraphic disorders

anencephaly **calvaria not formed

meningocele **meninges protrude through defect

myelomeningocele **protrusion of meninges + SC

spina bifida absence of vertebral arches

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

List the most important intracranial hemorrhages and describe their causes

A

**Epidural hematoma **usually from fracture, rupture of middle meningeal artery, lethal

**Subdural hematoma **tearing of thin-walled veins, accumulation over lateral hemispheres

**Subarachnoid hemorrhages **ruptured aneurysms, typically at the base of the brain, may be preceded by HTN

Intracerebral head trauma, stroke, hematologic disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is stroke?

A

Ischemic (85%)

or hemorrhagic (15%)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is global cerebral ischemia, and what are its consequences?

A

Widespread atherosclerotic narrowing over entire cerebrovascular system

small lacunar infarcts >> multi-infarct dementia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the pathogenesis of “watershed infarcts” and laminar necrosis of the brain?

A

Watershed infarcts: hypoperfusion of the marginal zones between arteries (carotid and basilar)

Laminar necrosis: hypoperfusion of deeper zones of gray matter that receive blood from penetrating arteries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe the pathology of cerebral infarcts.

A

Thrombotic occlusion >> infarct

ischmic brain = liquefactive necrosis = encephalomalacia

  • pale or hemorrhagic (more common with arterial thrombi)

infarct becomes pseudocyst

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Correlate the pathology of intracerebral hemorrhage with the clinical features of the disease.

A

Most common site: basal ganglia

infarct >> pseudocysts with wall of hemosider laden macrophages

Basal ganglia: hemiplegia, hemiparesis

Cerebellar: nausea, vomiting, loss of balance, HA

Pontine: death

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the main pathologic findings after brain injury?

A

**Concussion: **transient LOC, NO significant brain changes

**Contusion: **bruise, hemorrhagic coup and contercoup lesion

Laceration: open trauma, neurologic deficit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Compare hyperextension and hyperflexion injuries of the cervical spine.

A

hyperextension - rupture of anterior spinal ligaments, compression of posterior SC

hyperflexion - compression of anterior SC

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Compare bacterial and viral infections of the CNS

A

Bacterial

Spread: sepsis, bacteremia, septic emboli, open wounds, sinus infection, inner ear infection
*Strep pneumoniae causes most cases of bacterial meningitis in adults

Viral
Spread: hematogenous spread

*herpes = most common viral cause of localized encephalitis in the US

18
Q

What are prions?

A

Prions = small infectious particles composed of proteins

*do not contain dna/rna

19
Q

List the most important protozoal and fungal causes of opportunistic diseases of the CNS.

A

Protozoal: toxoplasmosis (neonates, AIDs)

Fungal: candida, aspergillus, cryptococcus (AIDs)

20
Q

Compare the pathology of encephalitis and meningitis.

A

encephalitis = localized or diffuse inflammation of brain parenchyma

usually virus invades neural or glial cells

meningitis = inflammation of the meninges

21
Q

Describe the features of neurosyphilis.

A
  • usually presents as chronic meningitis
  • meninges: infiltrated with lymphocytes and plasma cells (small BV)
  • perivascular inflammation >> cortical ischemia
  • tabes dorsalis = atrophy of dorsal (sensory columns)
22
Q

What are the most important AIDS-related CNS lesions?

A

HIV infects macrophages and T lymphocytes, and these cells “import” the virus to the CNS

toxoplasma, cryptococcus

23
Q

What is MS?

A

An autoimmune demyelinating disease

W > M, 20-45 y/o

24
Q

Correlate the pathologic features of MS with the clinical signs and symptoms of this disease.

A

Presence of IgG oligoclonal bands >> responding to antigen?

  • Typically involves white matter >> both sensory and motor abnormalities
  • Periventricular plaques (lateral hemispheres)
  • early lesions = lymphocytes and foamy macrophages
  • late lesions = demyelinated axons and reactive astrocytes (gliosis)
25
Q

How do inborn errors of metabolism affect the CNS?

A

Tay-Sachs = deficiency of hexosaminidase A >> accumulation of gangliosides

Neimann-Pick = deficiency of sphingomyelinase >> accumulation of sphingomyelin >> atrophy

26
Q

What is the cause and what are the signs of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome?

A

Thiamine deficiency!

  • Wernicke’s = ocular, gait, mental*
  • Korsakoff’s = amnesia, confabulation*

hypothalamus, periaqueductal region (midbrain), mamillary bodies

27
Q

How does alcohol affect the brain?

A
  • Dementia (atrophy of gyri)
  • Dilated ventricle
  • Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
  • Pontine myelinolysis (r/t vigorous Na correction)
  • Myelopathy
  • Neuropathy
  • Myopathy
  • Subdural hematoma
  • Cerebellar atrophy
28
Q

What are the most important neurodegenerative diseases?

A

Alzheimers >> frontal/occipital cortex

Huntingtons >> frontal cortex and basal ganglia

Parkinsons >> substantia nigra

ALS >> motor neurons in anterior horn of SC, brainstem, frontal cortex

29
Q

What is Alzheimer’s disease, and how is it diagnosed?

A

Clinical diagnosis based on demonstration of progressive dementia (excluding other causes)

30
Q

Describe the macroscopic and microscopic pathologic findings in Alzheimer’s disease.

A

Chromosome’s 21 &19 >> APOE4 (19) mutation >> beta amyloid= extracellular

hyperphosphorylation of tau protein >> axonal microtubule binding = intracellular

**Brain is atrophic, neuritic plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, deposition of amyloid **(see with silver impregnation and congo red stain)

31
Q

What is Parkinson’s disease?

A

A subcortical neurodegenerative disorder characterizd by movement disorder and changes of EPS nuclei

*decreased number of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra

32
Q

Correlate the pathology of Parkinson’s disease with the clinical features of the disease.

A

depigmented substantia nigra, due to loss of dopaminergic neurons, decreased amount of dopamine in striatum

loss of neurotransmitters correlates with the clinical appearance of movement disorders

loss of melanin-rich neurons, remaining neurons contain round eosinophilic inclusions = lewy bodies (beta synuclein)

33
Q

What is ALS?

A

Possibly caused mutation of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) on chromosome 21

motor weakness and progressive muscle wasting

34
Q

Correlate the pathology of ALS to the clinical features.

A

Loss of motor neurons in SC, midbrain, cerebral cortex

(most prominent lateral cerebrospinal pathways)

weakness and wasting of small hand muscles >> fasciculation >> slurred speech >> paralysis of respiratory muscles

35
Q

Classify brain tumors.

A

50% are metastases

75% glial

15% meningeal

5% cranial/spinal nerves

2% neural cell precursors

36
Q

List the most common brain tumors and their predominant location.

A
  • medulloblastoma >> cerebellum
  • astrocytoma >> cerebrum (children = cerebellum)
  • meningioma >> falx cerebri
  • glioblastoma multiforme >> cerebrum
  • oligodendroglioma
  • ependymoma >> 4th ventricle
  • schwannoma
37
Q

Compare glioblastoma with other gliomas.

A

glioblastoma = most common

  • butterfly-like appearance (crosses hemispheres)
  • highly anaplastic astrocytic cells (fetal appearance, small blue nuclei, no cytoplasm)

or multinucleated, bizarre

38
Q

Which brain tumors occur most often in children?

A

Medulloblastoma!

Ependymoma

Pilocytic astrocytoma

39
Q

Why do medulloblastomas metastasize?

A

They can enter CSF and be carried by CSF

40
Q

What are meningiomas?

A

Most are benign, impinge from outside the cerebral hemispheres

10x more common in Women

surgically curable, good prognosis

41
Q

Which tumors originate from the peripheral nerves?

A

schwanomma

neuroma

42
Q
A

Pathology (16 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions