Ventricles and CSF

Question 1

What are the brain lobes and functions?

Answer 1

Frontal - decisions, voluntary movement
Temporal - memory
Parietal - sensory and spatial information
Occipital - vision

Question 2

Name the ventricles and related brain regions

Answer 2

Lateral - cerebral hemispheres
Third - thalamus and hypothalamus
Fourth - medulla oblongata, pons, cerebellum

Question 3

Parts of the lateral ventricles

Answer 3

Anterior, posterior and inferior horns
Separated by the septum pellucidum
Roof is corpus callosum
Floor - body of caudate nucleus and part of thalamus
Fornix connects them to the third ventricle
Choroid plexus produces CSF

Question 4

Fourth ventricle foramina and locations

Answer 4

2 Lushka (the front)
1 Magendie (the back)

Question 5

CSF composition

Answer 5

Colourless, inorganic salt, glucose, protein and lymphocytes

Question 6

CSF functions

Answer 6

Protection, buoyancy, waste excretion and endocrine medium

Question 7

CSF formation and drainage

Answer 7

Formed by choroid plexi in ventricles
Ependyma cells separate CSF from brain and spinal cord
Recycled 4x daily, 500ml produced a day

Question 8

CSF flow

Answer 8

Flows into subarachnoid space and cisterna magna through apertures (lateral and medial)
Arachnoid granulations allow diffusion into the bloodstream (one-way valve)

Question 9

Hydrocephalus causes

Answer 9

Overproduction of CSF
Obstruction in system
CSF absorption problems

Question 10

Hydrocephalus types and features

Answer 10

Communicating - communication between ventricles and subarachnoid space, usually defective absorption (maybe drainage insufficiency or overproduction of CSF)

Non-communicating - Flow obstructed, lack of communication between ventricles and subarachnoid space

Question 11

Hydrocephalus treatment

Answer 11

Shunt process
Decompressing of dilates ventricles by inserting shunt connecting them to jugular or abdominal peritoneum

Question 12

Explain papilledema

Answer 12

Rise in CSF pressure causing subarachnoid space around optic nerve to fill with CSF.
This compresses the retina vein in the subarachnoid space, bulging optic disc forward
Persistent papilledema = optic atrophy, blindness

Question 14

Cause of increased cerebral pressure

Answer 14

meningitis, brain edema, tumour, abscess or hematoma

Question 15

Cause of Cloudy CSF

Answer 15

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes,= or excessive protein

Question 16

Cause of increase in WBC in CSF

Answer 16

Meninges inflammation of encephalitis

Question 17

Cause of increased protein in CSF

Answer 17

Change in vascular permeability (leaking)

Question 18

Cause of presence of RBCs in CSF

Answer 18

Contamination from puncture in vertebral vein by spinal tap needle

Question 19

Cause of yellowing/xanthochromia

Answer 19

Presence of oxyhaemoglobin after cerebral haemorrhage