38 Questions
What is the primary target of the immune system's attack in Multiple Sclerosis?
Fatty tissue called myelin and spinal cord
What is the result of severe damage in Multiple Sclerosis?
Destruction of both myelin and axon/nerve
What is the term used to describe the process of myelin destruction in Multiple Sclerosis?
Demyelination
Which part of the nervous system is affected in Multiple Sclerosis?
Central nervous system, spinal cord, and optic nerves
What is the effect of plaques on neurotransmission in Multiple Sclerosis?
They block neurotransmission
What is the characteristic of the disease Multiple Sclerosis?
It is a chronic and progressive autoimmune disease
What is the typical duration of viral meningitis?
A week or two
What is the result of inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis?
Creation of plaques in the white matter
What is the most common complication of bacterial meningitis?
All of the above
What is the gold standard for diagnosing meningitis?
CSF analysis
What is the primary reason for photophobia in meningitis patients?
Vasodilatation
What is the typical WBC count in CSF analysis for bacterial meningitis?
High (neutrophils)
What is the most common cause of chronic meningitis?
Chronic infection such as TB
What is the primary reason for headache in meningitis patients?
Increased intracranial pressure
What is the consequence of a reduction in blood flow to brain tissue?
Hypoxia and infarction
Which type of hydrocephalus is characterized by obstruction within the ventricular system?
Non-communicating or obstructive hydrocephalus
What is the name of the rare congenital malformation that involves the cerebellum and fourth ventricle?
Dandy-Walker syndrome
What is the normal function of the foramen magnum in the skull?
It allows the spinal cord to pass through it
Which of the following is NOT a cause of hydrocephalus?
Hypoxia
What is the term for the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain?
Hydrocephalus
What is the name of the structural defects in the base of the skull and cerebellum?
Chiari malformation
What is the primary mechanism by which abnormal T-cells enter the brain in Multiple Sclerosis?
Via a receptor that allows their passage through the Blood-Brain Barrier
What is the consequence of the activation of abnormal T-cells in Multiple Sclerosis?
Secretion of cytokines and cellular mediators that attract B-cells and macrophages
What is the role of T-regulator cells in Multiple Sclerosis?
To suppress the immune system and promote remyelination
What is the long-term consequence of the failure of remyelination in Multiple Sclerosis?
Permanent demyelination and scar formation
What is the primary cause of neurological symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis?
Formation of plaques in the white matter
What is the characteristic of Charcot's Neurological Triad in Multiple Sclerosis?
It is a triad of symptoms involving speech, movement, and eye movements
What determines the specific symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis?
The location of the plaques in the white matter
What is the primary effect of plaques along motor pathways in Multiple Sclerosis?
Muscle weakness, spasms, tremor, ataxia and paralysis
What is the correlation between vitamin D levels and the incidence of Multiple Sclerosis?
Lower vitamin D levels are associated with a higher incidence of MS
What is the role of HLA-DR2 in Multiple Sclerosis?
It is an overexpressed receptor that contributes to MS
What is the effect of plaques on sensory pathways in Multiple Sclerosis?
Numbness, paresthesia, and tingling
What is the correlation between EBV infections and the development of Multiple Sclerosis?
EBV infections increase the risk of developing MS
What is the effect of plaques on autonomic nervous systems in Multiple Sclerosis?
Bladder and bowel symptoms
What is the role of vitamin D receptors in immune function?
They promote immune function
What is the correlation between sunshine hours and the incidence of Multiple Sclerosis?
Less sunshine hours increase the incidence of MS
What is the effect of plaques on higher order activities in Multiple Sclerosis?
Poor concentration and critical thinking
What is the primary factor that contributes to the development of Multiple Sclerosis?
Genetic factors
Study Notes
Multiple Sclerosis
- Chronic and progressive autoimmune disease
- Body attacks and destroys myelin, a fatty tissue that insulates axons and oligodendrocytes
- Also known as demyelination disease
- Can damage the nerve/axon itself if severe
- Affects the central nervous system, spinal cord, and optic nerves, leading to sensory, motor, cognitive, and visual problems
- Inflames the white matter in the brain, creating plaques that block neurotransmission and inhibit communication between neuronal cells
Meningitis
- Caused by viral or bacterial infection
- Viral meningitis: less severe, resolves without specific treatment within a week or two, also known as aseptic meningitis
- Bacterial meningitis: quite severe, may result in brain damage, hearing loss, learning disability, and even death
- Clinical presentation:
- Fever
- Neck stiffness
- Poor feeding in neonates
- Lethargy
- Nuchal rigidity
- Headache due to cerebral edema, increasing intracranial pressure
- Photophobia due to vasodilation, increasing blood vessel permeability and intracranial pressure, causing optic nerve compression
Laboratory Investigations
- History and physical examinations
- Complete blood counts to measure WBC for infections
- Blood culture
- CSF analysis (gold standard)
- CSF findings:
- Bacterial: turbid, high WBC (neutrophils), very high protein, very low glucose
- Viral: clear, high WBC (lymphocytes), moderately increased protein, moderately decreased glucose
- TB: turbid, high WBC (lymphocytes), very high protein, very low glucose
Hydrocephalus
- Accumulation of CSF in the brain
- Caused by obstruction within the ventricular system (non-communicating or obstructive) or malfunction of arachnoid villi (communicating or non-obstructive)
- Types:
- Non-communicating (obstructive)
- Communicating (non-obstructive)
- Causes:
- Lesions or malformations of the posterior fossa
- Chiari malformations
- Dandy-Walker syndrome
- Tumors
- Meningitis
- Hemorrhage
Test your knowledge of the nervous system, specifically on the pathology of hydrocephalus, CSF accumulation, and its effects on brain tissue. Learn about the formation and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid and its relation to brain health. This quiz covers the causes and consequences of hydrocephalus, including stroke, hypoxia, and sclerosis.
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