Neuropathology I: Introduction & Cerebrovascular Disease

Learning point: A good way to remember layers of the cranium is with the acronym SCALP [blank_start]Skin[blank_end] [blank_start]Connective Tissue[blank_end] [blank_start]Aponeurosis[blank_end] [blank_start]Loose Connective Tissue[blank_end] [blank_start]Pericranium[blank_end]

The central structure of a eukaryotic neuron responsible for producing rRNA is called the [blank_start]nucleolus[blank_end]

Acute neuronal injury, whereby hypoxia/ischaemia causes irreversible damage to the neuronal cell (loss of nucleolus, etc) is known as ...

The most important histological indicator of CNS injury is [blank_start]gliosis[blank_end].

Gliosis is acute [blank_start]hyperplasia[blank_end] and [blank_start]hypertrophy[blank_end] of glial cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia) and is a major indicator of CNS damage.

Which type of glial cell is typically damaged as part of demyelinating conditions such as multiple sclerosis?

The immune mediators of the CNS are called ...

Are brain infarctions more frequently embolic or thrombotic?

Cerebral infarction (due to e.g. thrombosis or emboli) is more prevalent in women than men.

Differentiate thrombotic from embolic cerebral infarction: [blank_start]Thrombotic[blank_end] = Atherosclerotic segment formed in the arteries of the brain [blank_start]Embolic[blank_end] = Substance formed elsewhere in the body (commonly internal carotid, aortic arch or heart) that travels to the brain in the blood and becomes lodged, thus causing infarction.

Venous thrombi (red thrombi) typically form via blood stasis in which bodily organ? The [blank_start]heart[blank_end] Would this cause an embolic or thrombotic cerebral infarction? [blank_start]Embolic[blank_end] cerebral infarction

In which artery of the brain is a thrombus most likely to form?

Approximately 48 hours after a cerebral infarct, neutrophils are no longer the predominant cell type. What is the dominant cell type? [blank_start]Microglial[blank_end] cells

In terms of Haemorrhagic infarcts, match the site of lesion to the clinical findings. [blank_start]Carotid artery disease[blank_end]: Contralateral weakness or sensory loss. If dominant hemisphere may experience aphasia/apraxia [blank_start]Middle cerebral artery[blank_end]: Weakness predominantly contralateral face and arm [blank_start]Anterior cerebral artery[blank_end]: Weakness and sensory loss in contralateral leg [blank_start]Vertebro-basilar artery disease[blank_end]: Vertigo, Ataxia, Dysarthria, Dysphagia, among other brain stem syndromes

Which clinical condition is the biggest risk factor for stroke? [blank_start]Hypertension[blank_end]

Hypertension typically predisposes to which type of stroke?

What is the most common type of stroke? [blank_start]Lacunar[blank_end] stroke

Intracerebral haemorrhages most typically occur in the ...

What are the most common vascular malformations?

Arteriovenous Malformations... Involve shunting from [blank_start]artery to vein[blank_end], leading to formation of easily ruptured smooth muscle and aneurysms Typically occur in the territory of the [blank_start]middle[blank_end] cerebral artery

Subarachnoid haemorrhages most typically occur due to rupture of [blank_start]berry[blank_end] aneurysms. 90% of subarachnoid haemorrhages occur in the territory of the [blank_start]internal carotid[blank_end] artery.