Topic Test 3 Flashcards
what is the importance of structure (in neuroanatomy)?
tells us a lot about function
- complexity of human cerebrum surface
- size of olfactory bulb (think about purpose, ex. in rats their bulb relatively much larger = better neurons for smell and sense of smell)
Historically we didn’t have brain imaging techniques to rely on - what was used?
dissection (postmortem) and staining (cut into thin slices and stain with chemicals)
*now we can see in vivo!
new technologies (in brain imaging) allow us to see _
living brains (in vivo)
describe the 2 major types of imaging
- Structural (structure of brain)
- Functional (gives additional info where we ssee changes happening while people are thinking/doing things)
*+other techniques and advancements
list the tests used in structural imaging
- computed tomography (CT/CAT) - 70s
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - 80s
list the tests used in functional imaging
- positron emission tomography (PET) - 80s
- functional MRI (fMRI) - 90s
list other techniques and advancements (aside from structural/functional)
- diffusion tensor imaging - 90s
- improving MRIs
describe CT (and give the full name)
computed tomography (CT/CAT)
- digitally reconstructed x-rays (360 degrees to provide “slices” of the object
(cross section in different orientations)
list the pros of CT scans
PROS
- can see bone, brain, organs, etc. (good at picking up differences in tissue)
- great for bleeding and tumors (ex. intercranial hemmorhage)
- quick scan
- lower cost and shorter wait times than MRI
List the cons of CT scans
CONS
- low doses of radiation
- images may not be as detailed as other techniques
describe MRI (and provide full name)
magnetic resonance imaging
- no radiation, just a large magnetic field
- different atoms interact differently within the magnetic field (interprets this and makes a 3D picture)
- build a “map” based on this (can also have slices in any direction)
- stronger magnet = clearer images
how is the strength of the magnet communicated in MRIs?
rated as Tesla units (0.5T-3t+)
- 3T = clearer magnet and higher resolution
*can go higher but usually to 3t
describe the pros of MRIs
- no radiation
- great view of soft tissues (while CT was good at bone structure)
- can highlight different types of tissues (eg. T1 vs T2)
What’s the difference between T1 and T2 MRIs?
T1: enhances the signal of the fatty tissue and suppresses the signal of the water
T2: T2-weighted MRI enhances the signal of the water (ie. can see CSF)
list the cons of MRI
- longer scan times
- can be very noisy
- metal implants may cause issues
- longer wait times and more expensive
- magnet can be dangerous (attracts everything metal, is always on)
MRI provides _ based on specific sequences of the scan
“slices” of images
what brain imaging technique is often used in MS?
MRI is the best way to see lesions
- preferred diagnosis technique (not only diagnosing factor but can help)
- symptoms + imaging and other tests
- can identify previous damage, new inflammation, and even atrophy over time (can see fluid/edema/inflammation around myelin)
describe PET (and provide full name)
- imaging with radioactive tracer
- can be used with CT or MRI
- IV with tracer and compounds used by the body (e.g. glucose)
- measures metabolic activity of the cells of body tissues (highlights active areas when certain areas use more glucose)
- used to diagnoses brain disorders, cancers, etc.
describe what fluorodopa is and how it’s used
- specific tracer that can be used in PET scan (but maybe also MRI?)
- mimics dopa, used as building block to create dopamine
- used to detect damaged or lost dopaminergic neurons
- support the diagnosis and the evaluating progression and treatment
Describe FMRI (and provide full name)
- measure changes in blood flow
- increased blood flow (RED on picture) means increased neural activity, decreased (BLUE)
- no injection required and better resolution than PET
- used to map brains for surgery, diagnose diseases, and provides many research opportunities
describe new technique - diffusion tensor imaging
- visualizes large bundles of axons in the brain
- uses an MRI to compare the diffusion of water that occurs along axons
- direction of traces are represented with different colours
- understand and track the changes in teh structure of the brain with aging/disease
describe the new technique - improving MRIs
- most “new” techniques come in the form of improvements of this technology
- improving scan times (2-3 minutes to seconds)
- improving resolution of images (<3T)
- segmentation of images (could be helpful in identifying/monitoring disease)
- measuring different tings (fluid levels, tissue stiffness, etc.)
while we have amazing tech adcances and ongoing breakthroughs in imaging, moving these techniques into _ takes time
clinical practice
name the anatomical planes
*three major planes, all 90 degrees to each other
- sagittal (midsaggital split down the middle)
- frontal (coronal)
- transverse (horizontal)