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SPM--Unit 2--Week 15--movement disorders & gait disturbances
N/A
305
Medical
Graduate
11/13/2010

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Cards

Term
What are the 3 main categories of movement disorders.
Definition
hyperkinetic
bradykinetic
tremor
Term
What are the classic manifestations of Parkinson's
Definition
Characterized by slowness of movement (bradykinesia), increased tone (rigidity), tremor (asymmetric, pill-rolling common), loss of postural reflexes

Walk: slow, hunched over, shuffled short steps, no arm swing, instability

Sometimes have trouble starting to walk, then shuffle forward quickly, almost falling down

Also common – decreased voice volume, decreased facial expression
Term
What drug is Parkinson's responsive to that no other akinetic-rigid movement disorders are?
Definition
L-dopa
Term
a heterogenous group of Akinetic-rigid syndromes which share some clinical features of idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease, but have atypical clinical features (little or no response to L-Dopa/dopamine agonists)
Definition
Parkinsonism
Term
Antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), which converts glutamic acid to GABA – so this person does not have as much GABA in their gamma motor neuron as they should. Legs are stiff – person walks like Frankenstein
Definition
Stiff-person syndrome
Term
How does Juvenile Huntington’s Disease present differently form Adult Huntington's disease?
Definition
presents with rigidity (as opposed to adult, which presents with chorea and dementia)

(and, of course, presents younger)
Term
problem with copper incorporation
Resting and postural tremor, possible intellectual problems
Treatable, but often missed diagnosis
Definition
Wilson’s Disease
Term
reflexes work, but cannot voluntarily move face (motor nuclei are normal, but there is a disconnect in the brain)

Have difficulty with balance/posture – walk rigidly with their head up, if you push them, they will just fall over
Definition
Progressive supranuclear palsy
Term
person presents with dementia, psychosis, and Parkinsonism
Definition
Diffuse Lewy Body disease
Term
How does Diffuse Lewy Body disease present differently from Idiopathic Parkinsons?
Definition
Diffuse Lewy Body Disease also presents with dementia & psychosis, while Parkinson's is strictly a movement disorder
Term
An older patient presents with rigidity and dementia, Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) dysfunction, ataxia, cerebellar dysfunction, speech impairment
Definition
Multiple system atrophy
Term
Dementia, severe impairment of proprioception (alien limb syndrome), touch them and they will jerk (stimulus-sensitive myoclonus) – also have severe contractions in one hand, tremor in the other
Definition
Corticobasal ganglionic degeneration
Term
What are the characteristics of Vascular Parkinsonism?
Definition
step-down progression

due to a series of small strokes that affect the basal ganglia

will also have evidence of strokes on MRI or CT
Term
Prescribed drugs to treat _________ may destroy the substantia nigra & induce Parkisonism.
Definition
psychosis
Term
sudden, brief, stereotyped (always the same), repetitive, normally coordinated but inappropriate movements
Definition
tics
Term
Can tics be depressed? What makes them worse?
Definition
Can be suppressed for brief periods with voluntary effort, but only with a rising sense of urgency that is relieved by expression of the tic

Can become worse with emotional stimulation
Term
typically fluctuating but relatively fixed (even compared to athetosis) postures due to persistent and abnormal patterns of increased motor tone. May be isolated to a body part (focal), multiple parts in a region (segmental), or generalized
Definition
Dystonia

Ex: writer’s cramp, spasmodic torticollis, and the severely abnormal posturing of spastic cerebral palsy
Term
brisk, rapid, unpredictable, unsustained, irregular, jerking movements with a distal predominance
Definition
Chorea (Greek for dance)
Term
irregular, forceful, slow, writhing (snake-like) movements, predominately affecting the extremities
Definition
Athetosis
Term
violent, involuntary, swinging/flinging movements due to lesions of the subthalamic nucleus (typically due to stroke, in which they occur acutely but do not persist long-term)
Definition
ballism
Term
violent, involuntary, swinging/flinging movements due to lesions of the subthalamic nucleus (typically due to stroke, in which they occur acutely but do not persist long-term)
Definition
ballism
Term
Ballism is due to lesions of the ______ nucleus
Definition
subthalamic
Term
What can you tell someone with who has had a stroke & presents with ballism?
Definition
it will go away on its own
Term
involuntary patterned, repetitive, continuous, coordinated, purposeless or ritualistic movements, postures or utterances – may be difficult to distinguish from tics. Unlike tics, these usually begin before the age of three, involve more of the body, are more rhythmic and less random, and are associated more with engrossment in another activity rather than premonitory urges
Definition
stereotypies
Term
abnormal feeling of restlessness, irresistible urge to move
Definition
Akasthisia
Term
abnormal excess involuntary movements – combined features of chorea and stereotypies (often drug or toxin-induced movement disorders with dysregulation of dopamine-modulated activities in the nigrostriatal system)
Definition
Dyskinesia
Term
Task-specific action tremor
Definition
tremor when doing something (hand shakes when write)
Term
Parkinson’s Disease, Parkinsonisms, and Wilson’s Disease present with ___________ tremor
Definition
resting
Term
Abrupt, brief shock-like jerks/muscle contractions
Definition
myoclonus
Term
a group of nuclei at the base of the forebrain and in the midbrain
Definition
Basal ganglia

(note: ganglia is a group of neurons in the spine or PNS; neucleus is a group of neurons in the grain, so it ought to be "basal nuclei", but the name is too old to change now)
Term
• responsible for action selection (that is, decision of which of several possible behaviors to execute at a given time)
Definition
basal ganglia
Term
a brain structure consisting of a relatively compact cluster of neurons (gray matter)
Definition
nucleus
Term
The striatum, pallidum, substantia nigra, & subthalamic nucleus are all part of the
Definition
basal ganglia
Term
a group of nuclei including the caudate (“tail”) nucleus, , nucleus accumbens septi (“leaning against”), and lentiform (“shaped like a lens”) nucleus (which consists of the putamen (“shell”) and globus pallidus (“pale globe”))
Definition
striatum
Term
consists of the putamen (“shell”) and globus pallidus (“pale globe”)
Definition
lentiform nucleus
Term
receives input from many brain areas
only sends output to other parts of basal ganglia
Definition
striatum
Term
receives most of its input from the striatum (either directly or indirectly)
sends inhibitory output to a number of motor-related areas, inluding the part of the thalamus that projects to the motor-related areas of the cortex

Does NOT provides dopamine input to striatum
Definition
Pallidum

(the substantia nigra functions the same way, but also provides dopamine input to striatum)
Term
Part functions like the pallidum:
receives most of its input from the striatum (either directly or indirectly)
sends inhibitory output to a number of motor-related areas, inluding the part of the thalamus that projects to the motor-related areas of the cortex

Part provides dopamine input to striatum
Definition
substantia nigra
Term
The substantia nigra provides dopamine input to the ___________
Definition
striatum
Term
Receives input mainly from striatum & cortex
Projects to the pallidum
Definition
subthalamic nucleus
Term
The caudate nucleus is lateral to & follows the course of the __________________
Definition
lateral ventricle
Term
Caudate + Putamen =
Definition
corpus striatum
Term
Bridges between caudate and putamen pass through the _________________
Definition
internal capsule
Term
Putamen + Globus Pallidus =
Definition
lentiform nucleus
Term
Caudate nucleus + putamen of the lentiform nucleus + nucleus accumbens septi
Definition
striatum
Term
Caudate, putamen, Globus Pallidus, Substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus, nucleus accumbens
Definition
basal ganglia
Term
4 loops of basal ganglia
Definition
Motor Loop—concerned with learned movements
Cognitive Loop—concerned with motor intentions
Limbic Loop—concerned with emotional aspects of movement
Oculomotor loop—concerned with voluntary saccades of eye movement
Term
saccade
Definition
a fast movement of an eye, head or other part of an animal's body or device (rather than tracking smoothly, voluntary eye movement typically consists of saccades, or jumps of focus)
Term
Parkinsons is due to degeneration of the ________________ of the substantia nigra
Definition
pars compacta
Term
In Parkinson's, a small # of ________________ accumulate in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra
Definition
Lewy bodies
(far fewer than in Lewy Body Disease)
Term
Micrographia
Definition

writing becomes small and decreases in size with continued writing

 

occurs in Parkinsons

Term
Why do people with Parkinson's have cogwheel rigidity?
Definition
people with Parkinsons have muscle rigidity, and also sub-clinical tremors that cause tiny clicking feelings when you passively move their limbs
Term
Arises from midbrain, passes into interpenduncular fossa, passes into superior orbital fissure, and separates into upper (superior) & lower (inferior) divisions
Definition
CN3, Occulomoter Nerve
Term
Innervates the muscles that raise the gaze, turn the gaze medially, and turn the gaze out & up.
Definition
CN III; occulomotor
Term
What 3 nerves move the gaze?
Definition
occulomotor CN III
trochlear nerve CN IV
abducens nerve CN VI
Term
What directions do the CN IV & CN VI move the gaze.
Definition
CN IV, trochlear--moves gaze down
CN VI, abducens--moves gaze out

(so if there's a lesion in III, gaze is stuck down & out)
Term
What happens if the CN III is lost?
Definition
CN III is the oculomotor nerve

Complete ptosis
Eye is stuck with gaze down & out
Pupil is dilated
Term
What cranial nerve moves the gaze down?
Definition
trochlear (CN IV)
Term
Emerges from dorsal surface of midbrain, passes forwards beneath the tentorium cerebella, passes thru the cavernous sinus, and enters eye orbit thru superior orbital fissure.
Definition
CN IV, trochlear
Term
Diplopia (Double vision) when attempting to read or go down a staircase is a sign of a lesion in the _____________ cranial nerve
Definition
CN IV; trochlear

(b/c the trochlear moves the gaze down; lesion to trochlear means one eye doesn't move down with the other)
Term
What is Bielchowsky sign, and what nerve damage might it indicate?
Definition
when looking down, patient will tilt head toward unaffected sign in order to better line up fields of vision

symptomatic of CN IV (trochlear) lesion
Term
What is the jaw herk reflex and what does it indicate?
Definition
the mandible—or lower jaw—is tapped at a downward angle just below the lips at the chin while the mouth is held slightly open. In response, the masseter muscles will jerk the mandible upwards.

Normally this reflex is absent or very slight. An UMN lesion in the trigeminal (CN V) tract will make it more pronounced.
Term
What cranial nerve innervates the muscles of mastication (the temporalis & masseter)?
Definition
CN V, trigeminal (specifically, the mandibular branch)
Term
What cranial nerve innervates the muscles of facial expression (ex., buccinators)?
Definition
CN VII facial
Term
Right cheek flattened b/c of atrophy of masseter
Jaw deviates to right on opening mouth

What cranial nerve has a lesion?
Definition
CN V (trigeminal)
Term
What cranial nerve turns the gaze outward?
Definition
CN VI, Abducens
Term
If you have right abducens palsy, what can't you do?
Definition
turn the gaze of the right eye toward the right (abduct the right gaze)
Term
A person has left CN VI palsy. Their eyes look completely normal, except when the try to:
Definition
look left
Term
Innervates muscles of facial expression and buccinator— a thin quadrilateral muscle that holds the cheek close to the teeth while chewing.

Does not innervate the muscles of mastication.
Definition
CN 7, facial nerve
Term
What are the 5 branches of the facial nerve, from top to bottom.
Definition
temporal (to temple)
zygomatic (to cheek)
buccal (to mouth)
mandibular (to lower jaw)
cervical (to neck)
Term
Explain the following mnemonic:

To Zanzibar By Motor Car
Definition
This is for the 5 branches of the facial nerve:

Temporal
Zygomatic
Buccal
Mandibular
Cervical
Term
Explain what happens if you have an upper motor neuron lesion in the right facial nerve tract.
Definition
hemiparesis of left lower face (b/c all lower facial nerves decussate); can't smile contralateral to lesion

no paresis of forehead & upper eyelid b/c redundant innervation from both sides (half decussate; half innervate ipsilateral forehead).
Term
LMN lesion of ALL facial nerves on one side of face. Can't smile or raise eyebrows ipsilateral to lesion.
Definition
Bell's palsy
Term
A person has complete paralysis of one side of the face. Is that an upper motor neuron lesion, or a lower motor neuron lesion.
Definition
LMN (b/c upper motor nerves have dual innervation of the forehead; specifically, it's Bell's palsy)
Term
Where does the facial nerve (CN VII) emerge from the brainstem?
Definition
between the pons & medulla
Term
This cranial nerve is mostly sensory, but also innervates one muscle on the side of the neck that faciliates swallowing.
Definition
CN9, Glossopharyngeal
Term
A lesion to what cranial nerve could cause tongue deviation ipsilateral to lesion with crevices from wasting?
Definition
CN XII, hypoglossal
Term
A person can't shrug their right shoulder and has some wasting. What cranial nerve could be damaged?
Definition
CN XI, accessory (innervates trapezius & sternocleidomastoid)
Term
Where does the vagus nerves (CN X) provide sensory and motor innervation?
Definition
the pharynx
Term
What 2 criteria must be fulfilled in order to fit Tourette's?
Definition
The following must have been present at some time (though not necessarily concurrently)

Multiple motor tics
And At least one vocal tic
Term
>60% of people tourette's have co-morbid ___________, while about 50% have co-morbid ____________
Definition
OCD
ADHD
Term
Do tics typically increase or decrease when engaging in activity that requires attention
Definition
decrease
Term
The median onset age of tourette's is _______, and it always onsets ______?
Definition
6-7 yo
before 18
Term
What is the temporal pattern of tics over a day?
Definition
ics come in bouts, separated by non-tic periods of seconds to hours
Term
What is the most common first tic in tourette's and other tic disorders?
Definition
eye blinking
Term
A child develops motor tics. If the child has tourette's, when will he or she most likely develop vocal tics?
Definition
1-2 years after developing motor tics
Term
What happens to tourette's in adulthood?
Definition
usually tics diminish in adulthood (may disappear completely or just be less severe)

Rarely, can worsen during adult life. Extreme Tourette’s in adulthood is very rare
Term
What percent of schoolchildren have some kind of tic disorder?
Definition
4-10%
Term
usually simpler than tourette’s

Single or multiple motor tics or vocal tics, but not both

Typically lasts 4 weeks-1 year (never >1 year)
Definition
Transient tic disorder
Term
What is the most common type of tic disorder?
Definition
Transient tic disorder
Term
How long must a tic disorder last to be classified as Tourette's
Definition
The tics occur many times a day (usually in bouts) nearly every day or intermittently throughout a period of >1 year

During these period, there was never a tic-free period of >3 consecutive months
Term
What is the difference between a compulsion & a tic.
Definition
Different motivation:
Compulsions tend to be performed in reponse to obsession (ex., washing hands b/c of obsession with germs) as a result of a psychological urge.
Tics are preceded by a physical tension in the muscles that is reduced by the tics.

Also, compulsions are typically more elaborate & resemble more normal behaviors
Term
Drug-induced disorder that typically involves movement of lips, mouth, & tongue.

Will improve when drugs are stopped (may also be given a dopamine agonist like levodopa)
Definition
Tardive's dyskinesia

(
(Some neuroepileptic drugs used to treate Tourette’s can cause Tardive dyskinesia)
Term
Uncontrollable urge to move legs & body (usually most affects legs & arms)
Unlike Tourettes, involves strange sensations deep within the muscle (pins & needles, tingling, numbness, itching, pain)
Normally affects older people (~60)
Urge to move is much worse in evenings
Definition
Restless Leg Syndrome
Term
How is Hunntington's chorea different than Tourette's
Definition
Chorea (more dance-like than Tourette’s tics)
Symptoms manifest in older people(onset 20-50)
Term
What is a pronation/supination movement of the hand at 3-5 Hz called?
Definition
pill-rolling tremor
Term
At what age does Parkinson's typically present?
Definition
around 65 yo
Term
Does idiopathic Parkinson's cause dementia?
Definition
no
Term
What skin condition is idiopathic Parkinson's associated with?
Definition
seborrheic dermatitis of on the face
Term
When someone first comes to you with symptoms of Parkinson's, what treatment do you give them?
Definition
First, just send to physical therapy & tell them to plan to retire early & buy a single-story house
Term
You don't want to give L-dopa (levodopa) for early Parkinson's because:
Definition
it can cause hyperkinetic movement
Term
For advanced Parkinson's, you give ________, which becomes ____________ in the brain.
Definition
L-dopa (levodopa)
dopamine
Term
If idiopathic Parkinson doesn't respond to L-dopa, what can you do? What other kinds of Parkinsonism respond to this other treatment?
Definition

deep brain stimulation

 

none; only idiopathic Parkinson's responds

Term
Suprabulbar palsy—eyes won’t look up
Problems with balance
Stiff posture
Problem with autonomic system
Definition
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Term
Large # of Lewy Bodies
hallucinations, psychosis
Stooped, shuffling
Definition
Diffuse Lewy Body Disease
Term
Rigid
Old (typically 70s or 80s)
When they stand up, BP falls to 90
Atrophic cerebellum
No tremor
Don’t respond to L-dopa
Definition
Multiple System Atrophy
Term
Rare

Most noticeable symptom: Severe contractions in one hand & tremor in the other
Use a wheelchair
Demented
Severe impairment of proprioception (“alien limb syndrome”)
When you touch them, they jerk
Definition
Corticobasal Ganglionic Degeneration
Term
only kind of Parkinsonism w/ +Babinski
Definition
Vascular Parkinsonism (due to small strokes that affect connections between basal ganglia)
Term
palsy due to lesion above the brain stem
Definition
suprabulbar palsy
Term
Is the Parkinson's pill-rolling tremor symmetrical or asymmetrical?
Definition
early on, it will be asymmetrical

later, it will become symmetrical
Term
Where is the lesion that causes ballism?
Definition
SubThalamic Nucleus
Term
What is benign tremor?
Definition
Tremor with no other problems.

(but may not actually be benign; can be completely disabling for some types of careers)
Term
What brain disorder is myoclonus often associated with?
Definition
epilepsy (as part of seizure)
Term
If a person has Wilson's disease, will the serum level of copper be low, normal, or high? What about the urine level of copper?
Definition
serum--low
urine--high
Term
impairment of incorporation of copper into plasma
so, copper is deposited all over the place (including in the brain)
causes all kinds of hyperkinetic movement, esp. resting tremor, chorea, athetosis, ballism, dystonia, tic, and myoclonus
Definition
Wilson's disease
Term
disease characterized by rapid, uncoordinated jerking movements affecting primarily the face, feet and hands.

Associated with childhood infection with Group A strep
Definition
Sydenham's chorea, aka Saint Vitus's Dance
Term
When used to apply genetic disorders, anticipation means
Definition
tend to get worse with every generation (describes trinucleotide repeat disorders)
Term
Pre-mutation
Definition
a trinucleotide expansion beyond normal, but not expanded enough to cause disease; can relatively easily cross the threshold in following generations into full mutation
Term
What kind of genetic disorder does the following process create?

DNA polymerase “slips” when copying trinucleotide repeat & creates a hairpin of too many repeats on daughter strand
When daughter strand is copied, the result is DNA with too many repeats
Definition
trinucleotide expansion disorder
Term
most common known single gene cause of autism
Definition
fragile X syndrome
Term
Is Fragile X dominant, recessive, or other?
Definition

It’s somewhere between recessive & incompletely dominant

 

Males are predominantly affected

 

Females with 1 fragile X will have some signs of fragile X (ex., long face, excessive shyness) , but may or may not be considered to have the disease

Term
a disorder in which the X chromosome has a slender, de-condensed site
Definition
fragile X syndrome
Term
>200 CGG repeats in the 5’UnTranslated Region (UTR) of the gene for Fragile Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) affects methylation of the protein and causes loss of protein function
Definition
fragile X syndrome
Term
Why is Fragile X always inherited from the mother?
Definition
pre-mutations expand (possibly to full mutations) during female meiosis

full mutation decreases to pre-mutation during male meiosis (so a father with Fragile X will have daughters with pre-mutations)
Term
Mental disability
speech delay
shy; trouble with eye contact
sensory integration problems; sensory defensiveness
Prominent ears (one or both)
Long face
High-arched palate (related to the above)
Hyperextensible finger joints
Double-jointed thumbs
Flat feet
Soft skin
Larger testes in men (macroorchidism)
Low muscle tone (May frequently need to take small breaks or lean their head on a table)
Definition
Fragile X Syndrome
Term
Autosomal Dominant Inheritance
RNA-mediated gain of function
a tri- or tetra-nucleotide repeat expansion disorder
Most common form of adult muscular dystrophy (although one form of this disorder appears in children)
Multisystem disorder
muscle weakness
cardiomyopathy
conduction defects
insulin resistance
balding
testicular atrophy
cataracts
Definition
Myotonic dystrophy
Term
What determines the age of onset of Huntington's disorder?
Definition
the number of repeats--more repeats means earlier onset
Term
Autosomal Dominant trinucleotide expansion disorder causes toxic gain of function
a neurological disorder marked by incessant, uncontrollable muscle twiches (aka St. Vitus’s dance).
Very rare in Africa; much more common in Venezuela

Atrophy of
caudate nucleus
putamen (to a lesser extent)
changes to other parts of brain (such as cortex) as disease progresses
Definition
Huntington's disorder
Term
Most common hereditary ataxia
Autosomal Recessive
Appears at age 5-15
Ataxia
Will eventually require a wheelchair, & die early
Tremor
Nystagmus
Scanning speech—speech in which syllables are separated by noticeable pauses
Kyphoscoliosis
Heart enlargement, arrhythmias, & heart failure
Frequently combined with chronic myocarditis
Definition
Friedrich's ataxia
Term
Scanning speech
Definition
speech in which syllables are separated by noticeable pauses
Term
the pathway that connects the substantia nigra to the striatum (dopamine is the neurotransmitter)
Definition
Nigrostriatal pathway
Term
The Nigrostriatal pathway is part of the basal ganglia ___________ loop
Definition
motor
Term
refers to the CNS structural pathway that indirectly modifies movement (ex., walking, posture, fine motor control) without directly innervating motor neuron
Definition
Extrapyramidal

motor cortex & pyramidal tracts (corticospinal & some corticobulbar) are involved in pathways that directly innervate motor neurons
Term
Bradykinesia, chorea, athetosis, ballism, dystonia, myoclonus, tremor, tics, & stereotypies are all symtpoms of _____________ lesions
Definition
extrapyramidal
Term
Which of the following is more likely to switch from side to side? Which is more likely to affect one side exclusively?

chorea
athetosis
Definition
chorea--switch from side to side

athetosis--one or both sides, but doesn't usually switch
Term
a neurological movement disorder in which sustained muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures
Definition
dystonia
Term
involuntary, somewhat rhythmic, muscle contractions and relaxations involving to-and-fro movements (oscillations or twitching) of one or more body parts.
Definition
tremor
Term
Dopamine is an ____________ (inhibitory/ excitatory) neurotransmitter at most receptor subtypes
Definition
inhibitory
Term
Explain the following mnemonic:

Dopamine says “Go”, while Acetylcholine says “Whoa”
Definition
In the extrapyramidal motor system dopamine inhibits an inhibitory nerve in order to allow motor activity

Acetylcholine activates the inhibitory nerve via muscarinic receptors to slow motor activity
Term

Explain what's wrong with the following statement.

 

Dopamine is mostly an inhibitory neurotransmitter, while acetylcholine is often excitatory, so dopamine in the brain inhibits movement while acetylcholine allows movement.

Definition
In the extrapyramidal motor system dopamine inhibits an inhibitory nerve in order to allow motor activity.  Acetylcholine activates the inhibitory nerve via muscarinic receptors to slow motor activity.
Term
Too many CGG repeats in the untranslated 5' end of a chromosome cause:
Definition
Fragile-X syndrome
Term
Too many CTG repeats in the untranslated 3' end of a chromosome cause:
Definition
Myotonic dystrophy
Term
Too many GAA repeats in an intron cause:
Definition
Friedreich's ataxia
Term
Too many CAG repeats in an exon cause:
Definition
Huntington's disease
Term
Why would you give a muscarinic antagonist, such as atropine, to someone with Parkinson's.
Definition
Need dopamine to inhibit an inhibitory neuron. Acetylcholine excites the inhibitory neuron at muscarinic receptors. Antagonists at muscarinic receptors for acetylcholine compensate for dopamine deficiency

(But it's not used any more b/c it has too many side effects)
Term
The _________________ is necessary b/c a lot of substances whose levels fluctuate in blood are neurotransmitters in the brain brain (unlike the PNS, which only uses acetylcholine & noradrenaline/norepinephrine)
Definition
Blood Brain Barrier
Term
Why would you give L-dopa with carbidopa to treat Parkinson's, rather than plain dopamine?
Definition
If you just give dopamine, it will have systemic effects (lots of side effects).

Carbidopa prevents L-dopa from converting to dopamine.

L-dopa can cross the blood-brain barrier, while carbidopa can’t, so L-dopa only becomes dopamine in the brian.
Term
What undesirable effects can dopamine cause in the brain?
Definition
Triggers vomiting in chemotactic trigger zone in the medulla

Too much in limbic system & frontal cortex can cause Psychosis

In the hypothalamus it inhibits pituitary release of prolactin, and has a role in temperature regulation
Term
Drug-induced Parkinsonism can be a side-effect of dopamine antagonists, which are used to treat ___________ & _________
Definition
psychosis
vomiting
Term
What are the 3 categories of symmetric broad-based gait that we learned?
Definition
sensory ataxia
loss of coordination
waddling (dystrophic) gait (that is, limb-girdle weakness)
Term
What are the 3 categories of broad based gait due to sensory ataxia that we learned?
Definition
posterior/dorsal column disease (ex., tabes dorsalis or vitamin B12 deficiency)
peripheral neuropathy
multi-sensory dizziness
Term
A “waddling” gait can result from bilateral weakness of the ______ muscles (hip abductors) that power the pelvic tilt required for clearance of the foot during efficient walking.
Definition
gluteal
Term
Why would people who have multiple sensory deficits (cataracts, hearing deficits, severe spondylosis, peripheral neuropathy, proprioception impairment) have a broad-based gait?
Definition
input is disorganized--leads to dizziness and feelings of unsteadiness

(usually occurs in the elderly)
Term
What are the 3 causes of loss of coordination associated with broad-based gait that we learned?
Definition
cerebellar ataxia
extrapyramidal disorders (chorea or dystonia) affecting gait
malingering or factitious incoordination
Term
If a person has symmetric broad-based gait as a result of loss of coordination due to cerebellar ataxia, what is the next question to ask?
Definition
is the cerebellar lesion midline or lateral
Term
Dysmetria
Definition
inability to smoothly track and touch or manipulate a target with a limb – see “finger-to-nose” and “heel-to-shin” tests
Term
Dysdiadochokinesia
Definition
impaired rapid alternating movements – such as rapid alternating pronation and supination of the hands
Term
Rebound
Definition
exaggerated and undampened rebound motion when a limb is abruptly released from active resistance
Term
Is Parkinson's gait broad-based, narrow-based, or normal-based?
Definition
normal
Term
What is the posture like in Stiff-person syndrome?
Definition
very erect; chin lifted
Term
What lab test should you do if you suspect stiff-person syndrome?
Definition
check for anti-GAD antibodies
Term
Apractic gait
Definition
difficulty initiating movement, hesitant, effortful and deliberate – with a loss of automaticity and with apparent ineffectiveness
Term
Peroneal nerve palsy and lumbar neuropathy can both cause foot drop. How can you distinguish between them using sensory symptoms?
Definition
Peroneal nerve palsy is painless
Lumbar neuropathy causes severe radiating pain down back leg
Term
What part of the cerebellum is responsible for axial control, vestibular reflexes, & keeping head & neck properly oriented
Definition
vestibulocerebellum (archicerebellum)
Term
What part of the crebellum is responsible for motor control of trunk & proximal limbs, regulation of ongoing execution in trunk & proximal limbs, & regulates balance (keeps body erect)
Definition
medial spinocrebellum (aka medial paleocerebellum)
Term
What part of the cerebellum is responsible for distal motor control & regulation of ongoing execution of movement in distal limbs
Definition
lateral spinocerebellum (lateral paleocerbellum)
Term
What part of the cerebellum is responsible for motor learning, initiation, planning, execution, and cognitive tasks like timing & rhythm
Definition
crebrocerebellum (aka neocrebellum)
Term
What problems does a lesion to the medial spinocerebellum (medial paleocerebellum) cause?
Definition
ataxic gait
dizziness that does not improve upon lying down
titubation--truncal tremors
truncal ataxia
Term
ethanol consumption causes a temporary interference (or permanent for alcohol posoining) in what part of the cerebellum?
Definition
medial spinocerebellum (aka medial paleocerebellum)
Term
What problems does a lesion of the lateral spinocerebellum (lateral paleocerebellum) cause?
Definition
action tremors
ataxia of limb movements
Term
What problems does a lesion of the cerebrocerebellum (aka neocerebellum) cause?
Definition
dysdiadokinesia (can't perform rapidly alternating movements)
dysmetria (overshoot or undershoot of arm/leg movement)
decomposition of movement (a distortion in voluntary movement in which motion occurs in a distinct sequence of isolated steps rather than in a normal smooth, flowing pattern)
Term
Titubation
Definition
truncal ataxia—cannot maintain head in steady position, so it bobs back & forth
Term
The cerebellum is dorsal (posterior) to the _______ and _________, in the posterior cranial fossa
Definition
pons
medulla
Term
Where does the vestibular cerebellum receive inputs from, and where does it send outputs to?
Definition
inputs: vestibular labyrinth

outputs: axial motor neurons that control eyes
vestibulospinal tract-->adjust postural muscles to keep upright
Term
Where does the medial spinocerebellum (medial paleocerebellum) receive inputs from, and where does it send outputs to?
Definition
inputs: vestibular labyrinth, proximal body parts, facial, visual & auditory inputs

outputs: vestbular nucleus, reticular formation (reticulospinal tract), motor cortex
Term
Where does the lateral spinocerebellum (lateral paleocerebellum) receive inputs from, and where does it send outputs to?
Definition
inputs: spinal afferents (distal muscles of limbs)

outputs: red nucleus (rubrospinal tract), motor cortex for distal limb muscles (via thalamus)
Term
Where does the cerebrocerebellum (neocerebellum) receive inputs from, and where does it send outputs to?
Definition
inputs: from pre-motor cortex

outputs: red nucleus, thalamus, pre-motor cortex
Term
connects the 2 hemispheres of the cerebellum
Definition
vermis
Term
most cerebellar lesions cause ___________ (ipsilateral/contralateral) deficits, but an exception is _________________
Definition
ipsilateral

Benedikt's syndrome
Term
receives input from vestibular nucleus, interprets, & sends signals to control eye movements & adjust postural muscles to keep upright
Definition
vestibular erebellum
Term
The lateral medullary syndrome of Wallenberg is caused by a stroke of the ____________________________ artery
Definition
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (PICA)
Term
A lateral medullary syndrome of Wallenberg (stroke of Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (PICA)), any associated cerebellar deficits are _____________ (ipsilateral/contralateral) to lesions
Definition
ipsilateral (most of cerebellar tracts don't decussate, so, except for Benedikt's syndrome, all cerebellar lesions cause ipsilateral deficits)
Term
Where do most cerebellar tracts decussate?
Definition
most do NOT decussate

(so all cerebellar lesions cause ipsilateral deficits except for Benedikt's syndrome)
Term
If a patient enters the emergency room vomiting, why do you need to make them walk?
Definition
to cehck for unilateral cerebellar ataxia, which could indicate a serious brain lesion
Term
Most common hereditary ataxia
autosomal recessive
involves the long tracts:
o Dorsal columns  bilateral loss of fine touch, conscious proprioception, vibratory sense
Spinocrebellar tracts: bilateral cerebellar ataxia
Corticospinal tracts
Dentate nuclei

Frequently combined with chronic myocarditis

Signs & Symptoms
Appears at age 5-15
Ataxia
Will eventually require a wheelchair, & die early
Tremor
Nystagmus
Scanning speech—speech in which syllables are separated by noticeable pauses
Kyphoscoliosis
Heart enlargement, arrhythmias, & heart failure
Definition
Friedrich's ataxia
Term
Subacute combined degneration (aka untreated pernicious anemia) is caused by
Definition
a deficiency of vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
Term
B12 deficiency causes a loss of what 3 tracts?
Definition
Dorsal columns --> bilateral loss of fine touch, conscious proprioception, vibratory sense
Lateral white columns --> bilateral upper motor neuron spastic paralysis
Dorsal spinocerebellar tract --> bilateral cerebellar ataxia
Term
bilateral loss of fine touch, conscious proprioception, vibratory sense
bilateral upper motor neuron spastic paralysis
bilateral cerebellar ataxia
positive Romberg sign—can stay upright with eyes open, but sway or fall with eyes closed
sensory ataxia of gait—“stamp & stick” gait (as in tabes dorsalis)
due to loss of dorsal column
revealed when patient tries to walk in tandem (heel to toe)
patient can’t feel position of foot relative to ground, so they stamp
watch feet as they walk
also, need a stick (cane) to keep their balance
Definition
vitamin B12 deficiency (aka subacute combined degeneration or untreated pernicious anemia)
Term
Pernicious anemia causes difficulty in absorbing ____________
Definition
vitamin B12
Term
Cerebellar ataxia
Ataxia of the lower limb
Ataxia of the truncal musculature
Poor results on heel-to-shin test
Pendular reflexes
Poor results on tandem walking test
Negative Romberg sign
Often associated with chronic alcoholism
Definition
anterior vermis syndrome (atrophy of rostral/anterior vermis in spinocerebellum, commonly due to chronic alcholism)
Term
Truncal ataxia
Definition
wide-based, unstable and staggering gait
Term
3 kinds of appendicular ataxia (that is, ataxia of the distal limbs)
Definition

Dysmetria—a type of lack of coordination typified by the undershoot or overshoot of intended position with the hand, arm, leg, or eye Problems with nose-finger test & heel-to-shin test

 

Dysdiadochokinesis— inability to perform rapid, alternating movements

 

Dysrhythmia—problems with rhythm

Term
postural tremor
Definition
tremor in trunk
Term
Titubation
Definition
a kind of trunk tremor that results in head bobbing (causes staggering or reeling)
Term
nystagmus
Definition
involuntary eye movement (esp. rhythmic, oscillating movements)
Term
Conjugate nystagmus
Definition
nystagmus in which the eyes move simultaneously in the same direction
Term
Disconjugate nystagmus
Definition
nystagmus in which the eyes do not move simultaneously in the same direction
Ex., slowing of the adducting eye and overshoots of the abducting eye, or “see sawing” of eyes (one up, one down)
Term
Gaze paresis (gaze paretic nystagmus
Definition
a conjugate nystagmus due to cerebral or pontine lesion, in which gaze tends to deviate in one direction (typically the direction of the lesion)
Term
The patient cannot voluntarily look to the right and the eyes spontaneously deviate to the left. The patient may be able to return the gaze voluntarily to the midline but cannot move the eyes past the midline into the paretic field of gaze.

Where is the lesion most likely?
Definition
right cerebrum or pons

(gaze paresis is usually caused by cerebral or pontine lesion ipsilateral to the paretic field)
Term
Alternating gaze paresis
Definition
a rare kind of gaze paresis in which the direction of deviation switches every few minutes
Term
Explosive speech
Definition
loud, sudden speech uttered with more force than normal
Term
Pendular reflexes
Definition
when the reflex is activated with a reflex hammer, rather than jerking once & stopping, the hanging part continues to swing for a few beats before stopping
Term
Where do midline (vermal) cerebellar syndromes cause problems?
Definition
typically near midline of body (ex., in trunk or head)
Term
Where do lateral cerebellar syndromes cause problems?
Definition
in limbs (distally)
Term
a highly malignant primary brain tumor that originates in the cerebellum or posterior fossa.
Definition
medulloblastoma
Term
Chronic alcoholism is associated mainly with atrophy of the ____________
Definition
vermis (midline of the cerebellum), esp. in the spinocerebellum
Term
In lateral (hemispheric) cerebellar syndromes, the deficit is typically ____________ (ipsilateral/ contralateral) to the lesion
Definition
ipsilateral
Term
A rare type of posterior circulation stroke of the red nucleus, with a range of neurological symptoms affecting the midbrain, cerebellum (b/c tracts from the cerebellum run thru the red nucleus to the cerebral cortex) and other related structures.
Definition
Benedikt's syndrome
Term
Cerebellar tracts decussate on the way to the red nucleus (which they pass thru on their way to the cerebral cortex). What does this mean for Benedikt's syndrome?
Definition
Benedikt's syndrome (a stroke of the red nucleus in the midbrain) causes intention tremor contralateral to the lesion

This is the only syndrome that causes cerebellar symtpoms contralateral to the lesion (b/c cerebellar tracts descending to the body do NOT decussate)
Term
Benedikt's syndrome causes ___________ tremor contralateral to the lesion
Definition
intention
Term
nuchal rigidity
Definition
inability to flex the head forward due to rigidity of the neck muscles; often seen with meningitis
Term
You flex a child's hip to 90o, and they cry when you try to straighten the knee beyond 135o. What is this sign, and what could it indicate?
Definition
kernig's sign

meningitis
Term
While a child is lying on his back, you lift his head & his knees lift up. What is this sign, and what could it indicate?
Definition
Brudzinski’s sign

could indicate meningitis
Term
If you suspect an intracranial bleed, should you request a CT with or without contrast?
Definition
without
Term
Weight gain
cold intolerance
fatigue
somnolence
carpal tunnel syndrome
dry skin/hair
irregular menses
Recurrent acute headache that is increasingly severe and persistent
Definition
hypothyroidism
Term
Scalp tenderness
Jaw claudication (aching, tired feeling)
Recurrent acute headache that is increasingly severe and persistent
Visual disturbances (often asymmetric)
Definition
cranial arteritis (also known as temporal arteritis or giant cell arteritis)
Term
Claudication
Definition
painful, aching, cramping, uncomfortable, or tired feeling that is relieved by rest
Term
Cranial arteritis is a medical emergency because it could cause _______ or _______
Definition
strokes
blindness
Term
pseudotumor cerebri
Definition
(aka idiopathic intracranial hypertension, IIH)—increased intracranial pressure without tumor (it’s idiopathic—no one knows why- it happens)
Term
A young obese female with menstrual irregularity complains of persistent fluctuating headache, dramatically exacerbated by coughing, sudden movements, or change in position (reclining, standing, bending over) that often awakens her from sleep in the early morning hours. Occasionally, she has transient blurring of her vision or double vision. She has papilledema and can't look to the right with her right eye (CN VI palsy).
Definition
pseudotumor cerebri (aka idiopathic intracranial hypertension, IIH)
Term
Patients older than age 50 who experience the new onset of headache require special consideration because they are at greater risk for what 3 conditions?
Definition
tumors
cranial/giant cell arteritis
intracranial bleeding (stroke)
Term
Where does the pain from a migraine typically occur?
Definition
usually occur on one side (though they may spread as the attack continues, attacks may not always occur on the same side).
Term

Headache that is

Bilateral in distribution

Pressing or tightening (non-pulsating) in character

Mild to moderate in intensity

Not markedly aggravated by routine physical activity (like walking)

Not associated with significant nausea, phonophobia or photophobia

Not attributable to another disorder

Definition
tension headache
Term
a distinctive craniofacial pain syndrome of severe paroxysmal unilateral pain
Recurrences typically continue to affect the same side
Attacks tend to be relatively brief (spontaneously resolving within 15 minutes – 3 hours)
Attacks tend to occur in a vaguely periodic manner or in discrete clusters of recurring pain attacks
During the attack the patient is typically restless and/or agitated
During attack, may have conjunctival redness, nasal congestion or rhinorrhea, eyelid edema, forehead and facial sweating, miosis (constriction of pupil), or ptosis ipsilateral to pain
Attack may be precipiated by alcohol consumption, smoking or sleeping
Definition
cluster headache
Term
The trigeminal nerve exits the brainstem from the __________
Definition
pons.
Term
trigeminal nerve ganglion
Definition
Trigeminal semilunar (or gasserian) ganglion
Term
3 divisions of the trigeminal nerve
Definition
Opthalmic Nerve (CN V-1)
Maxillary Nerve (CN V-2)
Mandibular nerve (CN V-3)
Term
What component of the trigeminal nerve innervates the muscles of mastication (temporalis, masseter, lateral & medial pterygoids)?
Definition
Mandibular nerve (CN V-3)
Term
The cerebral aqueduct is aka the ____________________
Definition
aqueduct of sylvus
Term
One of the most common causes of hydrocephalus is blockage of:
Definition
the cerebral aqueduct (aka the aqueduct of Sylvius)
Term
a physical manifestation of disease which originates in the mind rather than the body.  Truly believe they are ill.  Typically have multiple physical complaints over years.  More common in women
Definition
somatoform disorders
Term
Primary somatic symptoms
Definition
physical symptoms that originate from physical problems
Term
Secondary somatic symptoms
Definition
physical symptoms that are secondary to psychological problems

Successful treatment of the psychological problem often causes the somatic symptoms to go away
Term
Condition in which a person acts as if he or she has an illness by deliberately producing, feigning, or exaggerating symptoms in order to gain the benefits of a sick role (attention, nurturance, sympathy, and leniency). May deliberately cause illness to themselves. They know that they're faking illness, but typically do not consciously understand why they need to do this
Definition
factitious disorders (older name: Munchausen’s disorder)
Term
fabricating or exaggerating the symptoms of mental or physical disorders for a variety of "secondary gain" motives, which may include financial compensation (often tied to fraud); avoiding school, work or military service; obtaining drugs; getting lighter criminal sentences. Health complaints cease when desired gain is achieved
Definition
malingering disorders
Term
physical illnesses which have a psychological component (ex., stress exacerbates congestive heart failure)
Definition
psychosomatic illness
Term
the patient's consciously appreciated sensation of a physical problem

“I am manly-man and my head does not hurt!”
"This paper cut hurts a lot!!!"
Definition
symptom perception
Term
What do you need for normal symptom perception?
Definition
normal symptom perception requires normal neural pathways for transmission & processing

conscious acknowledgement by the patient
Term
recognition of what a symptoms means; assessment and interpretation of sensations are influenced by experience, learning, gender, culture, and beliefs

“Oh, sure, I have crushing chest pains, sudden onset of malaise & fatigue, and profuse sweating, but it’s probably indigestion.”
Definition
symptom recognition
Term
What is the big difference between somatoform and factitious disorders?
Definition
people with somatoform disorders truly believe that they are sick
Term
conversion of psychological pain into body (“soma”) symptoms.
Definition
somatization
Term
the preoccupation with an imagined or exaggerated defect in physical appearance. The preoccupation is not accounted for by anorexia nervosa
Definition
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Term
One or more unexplained symptoms or deficits affecting voluntary motor or sensory function and suggesting a neurologic etiology. The symptom is produced or preceded by psychological stress or conflict. Often appear relatively unconcerned about their deficit.
Definition
Conversion Disorder
Term
o 28-year-old woman experiences a sudden loss of vision but appears unconcerned. Medical tests are essentially normal. The patient reports that just before the onset of her blindness, she saw her child dart out into the street.
Definition
conversion disorder
Term
the preoccupation with the fear of having, or the idea that one has, a serious disease based on the person's misinterpretation of bodily symptoms or bodily functions. Fear persists despite negative medical findings and physician's reassurance
Definition
Hypochondriasis
Term
a polysymptomatic disorder that begins before age 30 years, extends over a period of years, and is characterized by a combination of pain, gastrointestinal, sexual, and pseudo-neurological symptoms.
Definition
somatization disorder
Term
o A 39-year-old woman has a 20-year history of somatic complaints such as headache (pain symptom), nausea (GI symptom), menstrual irregularities (sexual symptom), and temporary loss of sensation in her hands (pseudo-neurological symptom). She tells the doctor that she is always sick but that her previous doctors never seem to identify the problem and were unable to help her.
Definition
Somatization Disorder
Term
o abdominal pain, fever (by heating the thermometer), blood in the urine (by adding blood from a needle stick), and seizures are some of the most common ___________ symptoms
Definition
faked
Term
Why do people with factitious disorder often know how to fake symptoms realistically?
Definition
Typically, patients with factitious disorder have worked in the medical field and have specific knowledge of how to imitate medical illness realistically
Term
What frequently happened in the childhoods of people with factitious disorder?
Definition
history of serious childhood illness that resulted in medical treatment or hospitalization in which the patient felt cared for and protected.

There also may be a history of childhood abuse or neglect.
Term
Muscle spindles are sensory structures located:
Definition
within the belly of a muscle
Term
What information do muscle spindles send to the spine?
Definition
the degree of force the muscle is generating during the contraction
passive stretch information

(both of these contribute to proprioception)
Term
What sensory receptor prevents you from using too much force for the load (ex., picking up a pencil as though it were a brick & smacking yourself in the face)?
Definition
muscle spindle
Term
nuclear chain fibers & nuclear bag fibers make up the _________________
Definition
muscle spindle
Term
Nuclear chain & nuclear bag fibers send a a tonic signal, but they also send a higher-frequency signal when the muscle they are in is passively stretched. Why do they also send more signal when the muscle is contracted?
Definition
they have a contractile portion on each end and non-contractile portion in the middle
when the muscle ends contract (along with rest of muscle), the middle stretches
this stretching causes the signal
Term
non-contractile sensory receptor found in tendon
Definition
golgi tendon organ receptors
Term
signals too much tension in the muscle (whether from passive or active stretch)
Definition
golgi tendon organ receptors
Term
reflex that causes muscles to relax & lengthen when there is too much skeletal muscle contraction (which could cause tendons to tear)
Definition
golgi tendon reflex
Term
What is the pathway of the golgi tendon reflex?
Definition
Golgi tendon organs perceive excessive force within muscle-->excite interneurons in spine-->inhibit alpha motor neuron-->stop exciting muscle-->muscle stops contracting
Term
What receptors are involved in the stretch reflex?
Definition
muscle spindles
Term
What is the pathway of the stretch relfex
Definition
Muscle spindles perceive stretch-->excite alpha motor neurons-->excite muscle to contract

(note: no spinal interneurons)
Term
Unlike the golgi tendon reflex, the stretch reflex doesn't have:
Definition
interneurons
Term
motor neurons that innervate muscle fibers throughout the muscle
Definition
Alpha motor neurons
Term
motor neurons that innervate specialized muscle fibers (nuclear chain fibers & nuclear bag fibers) within the muscle spindle
Definition
Gamma motor neurons
Term
What is the pathway of the flexor withdrawel reflex?
Definition
nociceptive stimulus at limb-->sensory neurons-->interneurons in spine-->ipsilateral alpha motor neuron-->excite flexor muscles to withdraw limb
Term
What is the pathway of the crossed-extensor reflex?
Definition
The crossed extensor reflex is seen at the same time as the flexor withdrawal reflex:
nociceptive stimulus at limb-->sensory neurons-->interneurons in spine-->ipsilateral alpha motor neuron-->excite flexor muscles to withdraw limb

The interneurons in the spine also have a branch that crosses the spine, leading to the crossed-extensor relfex:
spinal interneurons-->contralateral alpha motor neuron-->excite extensor muscles to extend opposite limb to stabilize uninjured side of body

also,
sensory neurons-->CNS-->shift center of gravity to maintain balance
Term
The CNS usually has a(n) _____________ effect on spinal reflexes
Definition
inhibitory

(that's why people with UMN lesions have hyperreflexia, + Babinski sign, jaw reflex, and clasp knife spasticity)
Term
During the part of the gait cycle when the heel touches the ground, what are the actions of the Tibialis anterior, Extensor hallucis longus, and Extensor digitorum longus?
Definition
Tibialis anterior dorsiflexes ankle
Extensor hallucis longus dorsiflexes big toe
Extensor digitorum longus dorsiflexes rest of toes
Term
During the part of the gait cycle when the foot rotates from only the heel touching the ground to being flat, what are the actions of the Tibialis anterior, Extensor hallucis longus, and Extensor digitorum longus?
Definition
All of them release slowly so that foot doesn't slap ground.

Tibialis anterior dorsiflexes ankle
Extensor hallucis longus dorsiflexes big toe
Extensor digitorum longus dorsiflexes rest of toes
Term
What are the actions of the triceps surae, flexor hallucis longus, & flexor hallucis brevis during toe-off?
Definition
triceps surae (part of the gastrocnemius) pushes off for the swing phase
flexor hallucis longus & brevis forcibly flex big toe to push off

(loss of these muscles radically impairs gait cycle, causing a limp)
Term
During the swing phase of the gait, the ___________________ muscle dorsiflexes the ankle
Definition
tibialis anterior
Term
A lesion in the common fibular nerve (aka common peroneal nerve) leads to deficits in what 3 muscles, causing foot drop?
Definition
Tibialis anterior--dorsiflexes ankle
Extensor hallucis longus--dorsiflexes big toe
Extensor digitorum longus--dorsiflexes rest of toes
Term
What changes do deficits in the fibularis longus and brevis cause in gait?
Definition
causes dragging the lateral margin of the foot while walking (Shows as uneven wear on soles of shoes)
Term
Claspknife phenomenon
Definition
continuous passive stretch causes initial resistance, then release of resistance
Associated with spasticity
A manifestation of uninhibited polysynaptic flexion reflexes
Term
inhibitory interneurons in the spinal cord; form a negative feedback loop with alpha motor neurons
Definition
Renshaw Cells

Alpha neuron sends an excitatory collateral to Renshaw cells (“Hey, I’m activating the muscle now!”)

Renshaw cell inhibits alpha neuron (“Okay, so stop activating.”)
Term
progressive, fluctuating tonic contraction (especially of the axial musculature) because alpha neuron continuously activates muscle fibers
Definition
Stiff Person Syndrome
Term
Disinhibition of Renshaw cells or disinhibition of gamma-motor system will cause __________________ syndrome
Definition
stiff-person syndrome
Term
What is the function of reticulospinal tracts?
Definition
postural adjustment and maintenance of balance
Term
What is the function of the tectospinal tract?
Definition
Reflex of turning the head toward visual stimuli
Term
What is the function of the lateral vestibulospinal tract?
Definition
upright posture, postural changes in response to body tilt/movement
Term
What is the function of the medial vestibulospinal tract?
Definition
Medial: head and trunk positions in response to vestibular stimulus, stabilizes head when we walk, coordinate head and eye movement
Term
The function of the __________________ tract is voluntary motor action – precise, speedy, skilled movements (e.g. individual digits)
Definition
corticospinal tract
Term
The _____________________ in the brain sends a signal down the __________________ tract that excites inhibitory interneurons in spine, which inhibits spinal reflexes
Definition
medullary reticular formation
reticulospinal
Term
Without input from the medullary recticular formation, the lateral vestibular tract & pontine reticulospinal tract send signals to the spine that:
Definition
increase motor neuron excitability
Term
Descending ____________ & _____________ reticulospinal tracts inhibit spinal reflexes.
Definition
medullary
cortical
Term
Posturing and abnormal movement patterns-extensor thrusts, blocks
Oropharyngeal problems-tongue thrusts, grimacing, swallowing difficulties
Strabismus
Tone-increased or decreased in muscles
Evolutional responses-persistent primitive reflexes or failure to develop equilibrium
and protective responses
Reflexes-increased deep tendon reflex and extension of the toes during plantar reflexes
Definition
cerebral palsy
Term
an abnormal gait commonly seen in spastic cerebral palsy due to excessive
contraction of the hip adductors and internal rotators
Definition
scissor gait
Term
Divergent strabismus, abducens nerve palsies, and impaired upwards gaze
Definition
hydrocephalus
Term
What happens to the gaze with severe hydrocephalus?
Definition
conjugate deviation of the eyes downward so that the inferior half of the iris is hidden by the lower
eyelid (“sunsetting sign”)
Term
What kind of drug is gentamicin?
Definition
an aminoglycoside
Term
What are aminoglycosides like gentamicin used to treat?
Definition
used for serious aerobic gram negative infections
Term
Aminoglycosides like gentamicin can cause


_____________toxicity

_____________toxicity

_____________toxicity
Definition
vestibular toxicity

ototoxicity

nephrotoxicity (renal toxicity)
Term
A person who is taking gentamicin (aminoglycoside) starts developing the following symptoms

precipitous onset of unrelenting dizziness, with nausea, vomiting, and ataxia
symptoms increase with head motion

They say "it’s like walking around with a shaky camera".

What are you worried about?
Definition
vestibular toxicity

(gets worse with head motion b/c they don’t have vestibule-ocular reflex to adjust eyes for head motion)
Term
An elderly person with renal insufficiency must take gentamicin (aminoglycoside) to treat a severe gram negative infection.

What are you most worried about?
Definition
nephrotoxicity (renal toxicity)
Term
How does gentamicin (aminoglycoside) cause vestibular toxicity
Definition
aminoglycosides chelate iron via a redox reaction. The redox reaction generates oxidative free radicals, which cause hair cell apoptosis

In the vestibular organ aminoglycosides destroy hair cells in the ampulae of semi-circular canals.

in the cochlea, aminoglycosides destroy the auditory sensory cells of the organ of Corti, starting at the outer hair cells (high-frequency hearing loss), then proceeds toward the inner turns (low frequency hearing loss).
Term
chelation
Definition
formation of 2 or more separate bonds between a molecule & a central atom
Term
Explain the difference between time-dependent & concentration-dependent bactericidal effects
Definition
time-dependent: Bacteria are killed at the same rate & extent as long as Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) is maintained
(most antibiotics, such as beta-lactams & vancomysin, are time-dependent)

concentration-dependent: Minimum Bactericidal Concentration is much less than maximum bactericidal concentration
so it's more important to get a shock of high concentration than to maintain a low concentration for longer periods of time.
(aminoglycosides)
Term
Do aminoglycosides like gentamicin have time-dependent or concentration-dependent bactericidal effects?
Definition
concentration-dependent
Term
How do you dose aminoglycoside (gentamicin) and why?
Definition
high, once-daily dose

Aminoglycosides' effects are concentration-dependent, not time-dependent, so it's better to get a big shock of aminoglycoside once a day, than several medium doses throughout the day

You can't have both because aminoglycoside causes vestibular toxicity (and also ototoxicity & nephrotoxicity)

Once-daily dosage, allows drug level to fall and body can repair damage before it becomes permanent
Term
Balance relies on 3 kinds of inputs. What are they? (Generally you can make do with any 2 of the 3).
Definition
proprioception
vision
vestibular

(Normally, when you close your eyes, vestibular input & proprioception take over. The Romberg test indicates problems with proprioception or vestibular input)
Term
What cranial nerve deals with pupil dilation & constriction, and what happens if there is a lesion to that nerve?
Definition

CN III Oculomotor

 

A lesion to the occulomotor nerve leads to pupil dilation

(as well a complete ptosis & the gaze being stuck down & out)

Term
What cranial nerve innervate the muscle that raises and lowers the eyelid, and what does lesion to this nerve cause?
Definition

CN III Oculomotor

 

complete ptosis

 

(also, pupil is dilated & eye is stuck down & out)

Term

During the crossed-extensor reflex, the limb ipsilateral to the painful stimulus is withdrawn and the controlateral limb is extended.

 

A signal is also sent to the CNS in order to:

Definition
shift the center of gravity to maintain balance
Term

Explain the following mnemonic:

 

Lateral Jack Horner

Runs through the town

Can’t feel cold or pain now

In his nightgown.

PEAKING through the windows….

Definition

Lateral Medullary Syndrome of Wallenberg causes

 

contralateral loss of pain & temp to body

ispilateral Horner syndrome

 

is caused by stroke of PICA (posterior inferior cerebellar artery)

Term
Why does ototoxicity from aminoglycosides causes high-frequency hearing loss first.
Definition

aminoglycosides chelate iron via a redox reaction. The redox reaction generates oxidative free radicals, which cause hair cell apoptosis

 

in the cochlea, the free radicals destroy the auditory sensory cells of the organ of Corti, starting at the outer hair cells (high-frequency hearing loss), then proceeds toward the inner turns (low frequency hearing loss)

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