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Flashcards in CNS Trauma Deck (13)
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1
Q

What are the cells of the CNS?

A
  1. Neurons - transmit impulses
  2. Astrocytes - react to injury
  3. Oligodendrocytes - Myelinate
  4. Microglia - act as macrophages
  5. Ependymal Cells - line ventricals (BBB and CSF)
2
Q

What are the three main glial cels?

A

Astrocytes

Microglia

Oligodendrocytes

3
Q

What happens to neurons when they are acutely injured?

How are these neurons usually injured?

A

They turn red (“Red is dead”) in the stain because they become more eosinophilic

These are called Red Neurons

-You see them the most due to lack of blood flow (ischemia, hypotension, stroke, etc.)

4
Q

What happens to neurons during subacute/Chronic injury

A

Degeneration: The neurons just start to dissapear

5
Q

What happens to neurons during Axonal Reactions or Axonal Spheroids?

A

Axonal Reaction: The axon has been damaged, making the body swell up as axonal proteins build up in the cell

Axonal Spheroids are the same but just more spheroid in shape.

6
Q

What are Cowdry Inclusions?

A

Cowdry Inclusions are viral particles sitting inside the nucleous

They look like red body with dark halo

7
Q

When would you see neurofibrillary tangles?

A

You see neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer disease, These represent the cell dying off.

8
Q

When is the Lewy body seen?

A

Parkinson’s Disease

9
Q

What is gliosis in astrocytes?

A

Astrocytes proliferate during injury and this is called gliosis

  • This is analagous to a scar in the CNS
10
Q

What are Gemistocytic Astrocytes?

A

Big plump astrocytes that are swollen up

11
Q

What are Rosenthal fibers?

A

Big thick red structures that occur in astrocyte processes.

-They happen in any area with longstanding gliosis

12
Q

What are Corpora amylacea?

A

These look like pale blue pearls but are a change in the astrocytes that comes with age.

-Degenerative change in astrocytes

13
Q

How proliferative are…

  • Oligodendrocytes?
  • Ependymal cells
  • Microglia
A
  • Oligodendrocytes: not very much
  • Ependymal cells: not very much

(Might see inclusions in the CMV)

  • Microglia: Lots of proliferation and can form nodules around dead cells