NU 545 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Unit 4
Study Guide QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS
A
Review the anatomy of the brain. Which portion is responsible for keeping you awake,
controlling thought, speech, emotions and behavior, maintaining balance and posture? -
VI
ANSWER Awake: Reticular Formation (Brainstem)
Thought: Prefrontal Area
Speech: Broca's Speech/Wernicke's Area
TU
Emotion/Behavior: Hypothalamus
Balance/Posture: Cerebellum
What part of the brain must be functioning for cognitive operations? - ANSWER Reticular
activating system
IS
Discuss the types of midbrain dysfunction and its physical symptoms. - ANSWER movement
disorders
M
difficulty w/ vision and hearing
memory trouble
O
--Parkinsonism & schizophrenia--
Know the function of the arachnoid villi. - ANSWER one-way valve directing CSF outflow
A
into the blood, but preventing blood into the subarachnoid space
N
What is the function of the CSF? Where is it produced? Where is it absorbed? - ANSWER
protect intracranial and spinal cord structures from jolts
prevent brain from tugging on meninges, nerve roots, and blood vessels
JP
choroid plexus produces CSF
absorbed into circulation through arachnoid villi
Review blood flow to the brain. - ANSWER CO2>> primary regulator of blood flow
internal carotid arteries
vertebral arteries
Circle of Willis
, What is the gate control theory of pain? - ANSWER substantia gelatinosa>> regulates pain
transmission from nociceptors (pain) and non-nociceptors (touch)>>touch inhibits pain
Know the type of nerve fibers that transmit pain impulses. - ANSWER nociceptors
A-delta: sharp, localized, fast pain
C-fibers: dull, ache, burn, slow m
A-beta: touch and vibration>>no pain, but modulate
What are the two types of fibers that transmit the nerve action potentials generated by excitation
A
of any of the nociceptors. - ANSWER A-delta: mechanonociceptors // mechanothermal
nociceptors
VI
C fibers: stimulated by nociceptors
Where in the CNS does pain perception occur? - ANSWER Reticular system
TU
Limbic system
Cerebral cortex
Know different clinical descriptions of pain (acute, chronic, neuropathic); pain
IS
threshold/tolerance - ANSWER
Acute pain - ANSWER normal nociceptive response prompting person to relieve
immediately
M
lasts seconds>>days>>3 months
somatic, visceral, referred
O
Chronic pain - ANSWER pain lasting longer than 3-6 months
ongoing: low back pain
A
intermittent: migraines
N
Neuropathic pain - ANSWER chronic pain d/t lesion or dysfunction in nervous
system>>abnormal processing of sensory info
JP
Pain threshold - ANSWER Point at which a stimulus is perceived as pain
Decreased w/ repeated exposure
Pain tolerance - ANSWER Duration of pain intensity/time that person will endure before
exhibiting s/s pain
Know endogenous opioids. - ANSWER Morphine-like neuropeptides>>inhibit transmission
of pain impulses
Study Guide QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS
A
Review the anatomy of the brain. Which portion is responsible for keeping you awake,
controlling thought, speech, emotions and behavior, maintaining balance and posture? -
VI
ANSWER Awake: Reticular Formation (Brainstem)
Thought: Prefrontal Area
Speech: Broca's Speech/Wernicke's Area
TU
Emotion/Behavior: Hypothalamus
Balance/Posture: Cerebellum
What part of the brain must be functioning for cognitive operations? - ANSWER Reticular
activating system
IS
Discuss the types of midbrain dysfunction and its physical symptoms. - ANSWER movement
disorders
M
difficulty w/ vision and hearing
memory trouble
O
--Parkinsonism & schizophrenia--
Know the function of the arachnoid villi. - ANSWER one-way valve directing CSF outflow
A
into the blood, but preventing blood into the subarachnoid space
N
What is the function of the CSF? Where is it produced? Where is it absorbed? - ANSWER
protect intracranial and spinal cord structures from jolts
prevent brain from tugging on meninges, nerve roots, and blood vessels
JP
choroid plexus produces CSF
absorbed into circulation through arachnoid villi
Review blood flow to the brain. - ANSWER CO2>> primary regulator of blood flow
internal carotid arteries
vertebral arteries
Circle of Willis
, What is the gate control theory of pain? - ANSWER substantia gelatinosa>> regulates pain
transmission from nociceptors (pain) and non-nociceptors (touch)>>touch inhibits pain
Know the type of nerve fibers that transmit pain impulses. - ANSWER nociceptors
A-delta: sharp, localized, fast pain
C-fibers: dull, ache, burn, slow m
A-beta: touch and vibration>>no pain, but modulate
What are the two types of fibers that transmit the nerve action potentials generated by excitation
A
of any of the nociceptors. - ANSWER A-delta: mechanonociceptors // mechanothermal
nociceptors
VI
C fibers: stimulated by nociceptors
Where in the CNS does pain perception occur? - ANSWER Reticular system
TU
Limbic system
Cerebral cortex
Know different clinical descriptions of pain (acute, chronic, neuropathic); pain
IS
threshold/tolerance - ANSWER
Acute pain - ANSWER normal nociceptive response prompting person to relieve
immediately
M
lasts seconds>>days>>3 months
somatic, visceral, referred
O
Chronic pain - ANSWER pain lasting longer than 3-6 months
ongoing: low back pain
A
intermittent: migraines
N
Neuropathic pain - ANSWER chronic pain d/t lesion or dysfunction in nervous
system>>abnormal processing of sensory info
JP
Pain threshold - ANSWER Point at which a stimulus is perceived as pain
Decreased w/ repeated exposure
Pain tolerance - ANSWER Duration of pain intensity/time that person will endure before
exhibiting s/s pain
Know endogenous opioids. - ANSWER Morphine-like neuropeptides>>inhibit transmission
of pain impulses
