SC Pathology Flashcards
(42 cards)
syndrome
collection of S/S associated with each other, suggest common origin
Myopathy
- disease of motor unit
- weakness, endurance
- tends to be proximal
Muscular Dystrophies
- hereditary myopathy
- progressive weakness, wasting
Myotonic Disorders
- abnormality of fiber membrane
- muscle can’t relax, increased stiffness
- can come from CNS dysfunction
Myasthenia Gravis
- autoimmune – antibodies attack Ach receptors
- affects synapse
- patchy/fluctuating weakness, decreased endurance
- eyes (ptosis)
Chromatolysis
- cell and nucleus swell, nucleus migrates peripherally
- occurs at cell body of injured axon
Wallerian Degeneration
- neurofilaments/axons break up
- myelin broken down, phagocytized
- occurs anterograde to lesion
synaptic stripping
synaptic terminals withdraw from neurons and are replaced by processes of glial cells
Central Lesion (4 factors leading to poor regrowth)
- poor regrowth
- scarce glia
- oligodendrocytes inhibit growth
- no neurolemma sheath
- no trophic factors for regeneration
Peripheral Lesion (4 factors for good regrowth)
- chemotrophic factos secreted by schwann cells attract axons
- adhesive molecules in distal stump promote axon growth
- ihibitory molecules in perineurium prevent regenerating axons from growing astray
- neurolemma sheath
Paralysis/Paresis Defined
decreased voluntary motor unit recruitment
Ipsalateral Segmental Motor Syndrome (lesion to ventral horn)
- paralysis
- hypotonia
- areflexia
- atrophy
- fasiculation, fibrillation
Polio
- LMNL sx (loss of ventral horn)
- normal nerve conduction
- usually follows phase of fever, myalgia (pain and cramping), and malaise
- asymmetrical weakness (focal or unilateral)
- NO sensory loss
Tabes Dorsalis
- syphilis
- S/S indicate marked involvement of dorsal roots, esp. lumbosacral region
- results in degeneration of dorsal columns
- S/S are IPSA and BELOW level of lesion
Tabes Dorsalis – common complaints (4)
- unsteadiness
- sudden lacerating somatic pains
- urinary incontinence
- excruciating abdominal pain
Tabes Dorsalis – neuro exam (5)
- marked impairment of vibration, jt position
- severe deficits in touch/pressure
- ataxic gait
- positive Rhomberg
- Abadie’s sign - no achilles reflex
Brown Sequard Syndrome – ipsa signs (4)
- UMN signs
- loss of kinesthesia and discrim. touch
- LMN signs (segmental)
- autonomic signs
Homer’s syndrome
- associated with Brown Sequard
- ptosis, dry/warm/red face, miosis (contracted pupil)
- due to loss of SNS, PSNS takes over, blood vessels dilate
Brown Sequard – Contra and bilat signs
- Bilat - segmental loss P&T
2. Contra - loss P&T
Anterior White Commissure pathology
- bilateral, segmental loss P&T
* goes up down 1-2 segments – eg) T8-L3 lesion = T10-L5 loss
Syringomyelia – early lesion
- knocks out AWC - crossing fibers of LSTT
- bilateral loss P&T 2 seg below
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- affects pyramidal, rubrospinal tracts, AHC, brain stem
- LMN and UMN sx
- cells still alive are hyperreflexive, hypertonic
- NO sensory loss
Primary Lateral Sclerosis
- affects pyramidal tracts only
- only UMN sydrome
Progressive Muscular Atrophy
- AHC only
- LMN only