Neuro Flashcards
(163 cards)
What are the 2 tracts included in the Dorsal-Lemniscal System?
Are these sensory or motor tracts?
- Cuneatus
- Gracilis
*Sensory - touch, pressure, and vibration
Located in the posterior/dorsal cord (SAD)
SSEP monitoring evaluates what tracts?
The Dorsal-Lemniscal System
- Cuneatus
- Gracilis
Explain the pathway for the the Dorsal-Lemniscal Sensory System including the Cuneatus and Gracilis Tracts of Touch, Pressure, and Vibration?
Sensation of touch, pressure, or vibration
Ascend on the IPSILATERAL side of the spinal cord
Cross over in the brainstem
Contralateral thalamus
Primary sensory cortex
*3 neurons
What is the most “direct route” to the sensory cortex for touch, pressure, and vibration?
The Dorsal-Lemniscal System
- Cuneatus
- Gracilis
The _________ serves as an “indirect route” by which sensory info reaches the cerebral cortex.
The Reticular Activating System
What is the function of the Reticular Activating System?
Maintain the alert/awake state
General anesthetics produce sedation and hypnosis by depressing the _____________.
Reticular Activating System
Complete loss of RAS activity =
Coma
Name 4 nerves that may be stimulated to elicit SSEPs.
Where are SSEPs recorded from?
- Tibial
- Median
- Ulnar
- Radial
SSEPs are recorded from the scalp
Stimulating electrode is placed peripherally
Detecting electrode is placed centrally
SSEPs are recorded from the scalp.
The homunculus is used to determine where to place the critical electrode.
Where is the critical electrode for the tibial nerve?
Median and ulnar nerve?
Tibial - midline of scalp (longitudinal fissure/sulcus)
Median and Ulnar - lateral to the midline
Components of Typical SSEPs
What does the early component/early peak represent?
What does the late component/late peak represent?
Early peak = “direct route” - Cuneatus and Gracilis Tracts
Late peak = “indirect route” - Reticular Activating System (larger in magnitude, longer in duration) * This can be recorded from electrodes placed anywhere over the scalp
What 2 characteristics are monitored by SSEPs?
- Latency - time it takes to arrive at the cerebral cortex
2. Amplitude - magnitude or size of the potential
With SSEP monitoring, what 2 things would indicate damage is occurring in the neural pathway being monitored?
- Increase in latency
2. Decrease in amplitude
What is used to monitor for ischemia in the anterior/ventral spinal cord?
Motor evoked potentials
Stimulating electrode is placed centrally - motor cortex or cervical spine
Detecting electrode is placed peripherally - popliteal nerve (or could be the involved muscle or spinal cord)
(SSEPs monitor the posterior/dorsal spinal cord only!)
What 5 things are you going to check if the SSEP monitoring tech says there has been a decrease in amplitude and an increase in latency?
First of all, suspect spinal cord and/or cerebral ischemia!
- Temp - high or low
- BP - low, below cerebral auto-regulation levels
- PaCO2 - low d/t its affect on CBF
* Hyperventilation - vasoconstriction of vessels —Decrease ICP (good) BUT decrease BF (bad) - PaO2 - low
- Fluid balance - isovolemic hemodilution, Hct < 15%
Altered temp affects SEPs the most!
Hemodilution affects SEPs the least
Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) monitor the integrity of CN ________.
VIII - 8 - Vestibulocochlear
Visual evoked potentials (VEP) monitor the integrity of CN _________.
II - 2 - Optic
* Useful for pituitary resections, transsphenoidal
List the 3 types of evoked potentials in order from very sensitive to least sensitive.
- VEP - very
- SSEP - somewhat
- BAEP - barely
EEG Waveforms
List the 4 waveform types along with their frequencies.
- Delta: 0-4 Hz *Lowest frequency, greatest amplitude
- Theta: 4-8 Hz
- Alpha: 8-12 Hz
- Beta: >12 Hz *Highest frequency, lowest amplitude
EEG Waveforms
Describe the typical brain activities associated with the 4 types of waveforms.
- Delta - deep sleep
- Theta - THE lighter side
- Alpha - awake, but resting
- Beta - BE awake!
What MAC correlates with an isoelectric EEG pattern?
1.5-2 MAC
If you are trying to protect the brain during an ischemic insult do you titrate you level of anesthesia in order to achieve an isoelectric EEG pattern or burst suppression?
Burst suppression
All anesthetic agents except ________ depress SSEPs to a varying degree.
Muscle relaxants
Which volatile agent causes the least depression in SSEPs?
Which volatile agent causes the most depression in SSEPs?
Least depression of SSEPs - Halothane
Most depression of SSEPs - Enflurane