Neuro Patho Study Guide | Essential Concepts, Disorders & Exam Review

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PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: EXAM BLUEPRINT ​ ​ ​ FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON
MODULE 2 - NEURAL FUNCTION DISORDERS​ ​ by: GRACIE MACAPAGAL

NEURO ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
●​ Temporal Lobe, Frontal Lobe, Parietal Lobe, and Occipital Lobe
●​ Ascending/Descending fibers (identify the tracts)
●​ Table 14.2 (Substances/effects)
●​ Spinal Reflex Arcs vs. Flexor Reflex
●​ Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic
●​ Oculovestibular/Oculocephalic Reflex
●​ Decorticate/Decerebrate

TOPICS:
Know pathophysiology, causes, signs/symptoms, complications if any, and specific laboratory
findings and diagnostic tests.
●​ Concussion/Contusion
●​ Traumatic Brain Injury
●​ IICP
●​ Cerebral Edema
●​ Brain Herniation
●​ Ischemic Stroke
●​ Subarachnoid & Intracerebral hemorrhage
●​ Subdural & Epidural Hematomas
●​ Spinal Cord Injury
●​ TIA
●​ CVA
●​ Seizures
●​ Myathenia Gravis
●​ Parkinson Disease
●​ Guillain-Barre Syndrome
●​ Migraine, Tension, & Cluster Headaches

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NEURO ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
A.) Temporal Lobe, Frontal Lobe, Parietal Lobe, and Occipital Lobe
●​ Frontal Lobe (central) - facilitates voluntary motor activity and plays a role in
personality traits
-​ Motor: stimulates muscle activity
●​ Parietal Lobe - receives and interprets sensory input with the exception of smell,
hearing, and vision
-​ Sensory: receives sensory information
●​ Occipital Lobe - processes visual information
●​ Temporal Lobe (sits behind your ear) - is essential for hearing and memory

B.) Ascending and Descending Fibers
●​ Ascending Fibers - or “afferent” tracts carry motor impulses in the form of action
potential from the periphery back to the brain - carry sensory information from your
body up to your brain
1.) Anterior Spinothalamic tracts - permit sensations of light touch,
pressure, tickling, and itching
2.) Spinocerebellar tracts - establish the body’s position in relation to the
cerebellum (is responsible for balance)
3.) Dorsal Column-Medial Lemniscal (DCML) Pathway - carries
consciousness for fine touch (discrimination exact shapes or textures),
vibration and conscious proprioceptions (knowing where your joints and
limbs are in space without looking)
●​ Descending fibers - or “efferent” tracts that carry motor impulses in the form of
action potentials from the brain to the fibers of the PNS (peripheral nervous system) -
nerves outside your brain and spinal cord = body
1.) Lateral Spinothalamic tracts - allow the sensations of pain and
temperature
2.) Vestibulospinal tracts - responsible for involuntary movements
3.) Reticulospinal tracts - also responsible for involuntary movements

C.) Table 14.2: Substances That Are Neurotransmitters or Neuromodulators
Substance Effects Clinical Example

Acetylcholine Excitatory or Alzheimer disease (a type of dementia) with
inhibitory decrease in acetylcholine-secreting neurons.
Myasthenia gravis (weakness of skeletal muscles)
results from a reduction in acetylcholine
receptors.

Norepinephrine Excitatory or Cocaine and amphetamines, resulting in
inhibitory overstimulation of postsynaptic neurons

Serotonin Generally inhibitory Involved with mood, anxiety, and sleep induction.
Levels of serotonin are elevated in schizophrenia
(delusions, hallucinations, and withdrawal)

Dopamine Generally inhibitory Parkinson's disease (depression of voluntary
motor control) results from destructions of

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dopamine secreting neurons. Drugs used to
increase dopamine productions induce vomiting
and schizophrenia.

Histamine Excitatory (H1 and No clear indication of histamine associated
H2 receptors) and pathologic conditions. Histamine is involved with
inhibitory (H3 arousal and attention and links to other brain
receptors) transmitter systems.

Gamma-aminobutyri Majority Drugs that increase GABA function have been
c acid (GABA) postsynaptic used to treat epilepsy by inhibiting excessive
inhibition in brain discharge of neurons

Glycine Most postsynaptic in Glycine receptors are inhibited by strychine
spinal cord

Glutamate and Excitatory Drugs that block glutamate or aspartate, such as
Aspartate riluzole, used to treat amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis. These drugs might prevent
overexcitation from seizures and neural
degeneration.

Endorphins and Generally Inhibitory Morphine and heroin bind to endorphin and
Enkephalins enkephalin receptors on presynaptic neurons and
reduce pain by blocking release of
neurotransmitter

Substance P Generally Inhibitory Substance P is a neurotransmitter in pain
transmission pathways. Blocking release of
substance P by morphine reduces pain



Vasoactive Intestinal Generally Inhibitory Stimulates secretions, vasodilation, and smooth
Peptide muscle relaxation (vasodilation, sphincter
relaxation)


D.) Spinal Reflex Arcs v. Flexor Reflex
●​ Spinal Reflex Arcs - processes that creates an unconscious response to stimuli
●​ Flexor Reflex - withdrawal in response to touching an unpleasant stimulus; causes
the muscles of a limb to withdraw the limb from the source of the stimulus without
any conscious action
scenario: hot stove
1.) Receptor - skin feel the heat
2.) Sensory Neuron - skin→ to spinal cord
3.) Integration Center - spinal cord = process the signal and passes it to a
motor neuron
4.) Motor Neuron - spinal cord sends a signal to your arm
5.) Effector - pulls your hand away from the heat