7: Neuropathology 3 Flashcards Preview

Neurology Week 4 2018/19 > 7: Neuropathology 3 > Flashcards

Flashcards in 7: Neuropathology 3 Deck (45)
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1
Q

Which glial cells cover neurons in myelin in the CNS?

A

Oligodendrocytes

2
Q

Which structures are found between myelinated sections of CNS neurons?

A

Nodes of Ranvier

3
Q

What channels are found in the Nodes of Ranvier?

A

Ion channels

4
Q

What is meant by saltatory conduction?

A

The way an action potential jumps between Nodes of Ranvier in CNS neurons

5
Q

What is the most important primary demyelinating disease you need to know about?

A

Multiple sclerosis

6
Q

Which demyelinating disease has a typical onset between 30 and 40?

A

Multiple sclerosis

7
Q

In which age of patient does MS tend to present?

A

30s - 40s

8
Q

The lesions seen in MS are said to be“disseminated in ___ and ___”.

A

disseminated in time and space

9
Q

What is the typical course of MS?

A

Relapsing and remitting

10
Q

MS tends to affect the (white matter / grey matter) of the brain.

A

white matter

11
Q

What are demyelinating lesions called in MS?

A

Plaques

12
Q

What do MS plaques look like grossly?

A

Small, irregular, translucent

but well-demarcated

13
Q

Where can MS plaques be found?

A

Virtually anywhere in the CNS

14
Q

Which cell types can be seen in active MS plaques?

A

Inflammatory cells

Microglia - brain’s immune cells

15
Q

Inflammatory cells and microglia can be seen in (active / inactive) MS plaques.

A

active

16
Q

Which pathological process is ongoing in active MS?

A

Demyelination

17
Q

In which process do glial cells hypertrophy, increase in number and then scar?

A

Gliosis

18
Q

Which pathological process is seen in inactive MS plaques?

A

Gliosis

19
Q

Which evidence of MS can be seen in the CSF of affected patients?

A

Oligoclonal bands

20
Q

What is the most common type of dementia?

A

Alzheimer’s disease

21
Q

What happens grossly to the brain in Alzheimer’s disease?

A

Widespread atrophy

22
Q

Which lobes atrophy in Alzheimer’s disease?

A

Frontal lobe

Temporal lobes

Parietal lobes

23
Q

As the brain atrophies in Alzheimer’s disease, what do the ventricles do to compensate?

A

Dilate

Causing a form of hydrocephalus

24
Q

Which brain areas, responsible for memory, are particularly affected in Alzheimer’s disease?

A

Hippocampus

Temporal lobes

25
Q

Neurofibrillary tangles are a histological feature of Alzheimer’s disease.

What protein are they made of?

A

Tau protein

26
Q

What is a starch-like protein which is distributed around the body in certain diseases?

A

Amyloid

27
Q

Neuritic plaques are a feature of Alzheimer’s disease.

What abnormal, starch-like protein are they made of?

A

Amyloid

28
Q

What are three microscopic features of Alzheimer’s disease?

A

Widespread atrophy

Neurofibrillary tangles - tau protein

Neuritic plaques - amyloid

29
Q

Which two abnormal proteins are implicated in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease?

A

Amyloid

Tau

30
Q

Which type of dementia presents with hallucinations?

A

Lewy body dementia

31
Q

Lewy body dementia is associated with which other neurodegenerative disease?

A

Parkinson’s disease

32
Q

Which basal ganglion degenerates in Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia?

A

Substantia nigra

33
Q

Which protein are Lewy bodies made of?

A

Alpha synuclein

34
Q

Which neurodegenerative disease causes chorea, sensory disturbance and dementia?

A

Huntington’s disease

35
Q

What is the mode of inheritance of Huntington’s disease?

Which gene is implicated?

A

Autosomal dominant

Huntingtin gene

36
Q

Which mutation causes Huntington’s disease?

A

CAG triplet repeats

37
Q

How many CAG triplet repeats do you need to develop symptoms of Huntington’s disease?

A

> 35

so 36 or more

38
Q

Which brain structures, responsible for modifying movement information, atrophy in Huntington’s disease?

A

Basal ganglia

39
Q

What is Pick’s disease also known as?

A

Frontotemporal dementia

40
Q

In its early stages, how does frontotemporal dementia present?

A

Changes in behaviour and personality

41
Q

Which rare neurodegenerative disease is frontotemporal dementia closely related to?

A

Motor neuron disease (MND)

42
Q

What is vascular dementia?

A

Decline in cognition caused by a series of cerebral infarctions over time

43
Q

Vascular dementia can be differentiated from other types of dementia by its ___ onset and ___ progression.

A

abrupt onset

stepwise progression

44
Q

Patients with vascular dementia will have a past history of ___ disease.

A

cardiovascular disease e.g hypertension

cerebrovascular disease - stroke

45
Q

Which type of stroke tends to cause vascular dementia?

Which area of the brain is implicated?

A

Lacunar stroke

Basal ganglia