Neurologic Function

1
Neurologic Function

• A Brief Overview

2
Nervous System Cells

• What is the functional unit of the brain?
• What structures comprise the functional unit?
• What is the function of each component?
• Nerve cell bodies occurring in clusters are
  called?
• A cluster of cell bodies with the same function
  are called?

3
Neurotransmitters

• Name 6 major neurotransmitters
• What are the functions of neurotransmitters?
• Where are neurotransmitters manufactured and
  stored?
• Each neurotransmitter has an afinity for specific
  receptors in the post-synaptic bulb.
• What does this mean?
• What is the action of neurotransmitters?

4
Neurotransmitter Receptor Sites

• Probably all brain functions are modulated
  through neurotransmitter receptor site activity.
• What is the difference between direct and
  indirect receptor site activity?

5
Central Nervous System

• The CNS is comprised of the brain and spinal cord
• What are the major divisions of the brain?
• They are
• Cerebrum
• Brain stem
• Cerebellum
• What are the major functions of those divisions?

6
Protective Structures

• What are the protective structures of the brain?
• How do these structures provide protection?

7
What do you know?

• CSF
• What is the purpose?
• What is included in CSF analysis?
• Cerebral Circulation
• Which vessels comprise cerebral circulation?
• Blood-brain barrier
• What is the purpose?

8
Spinal Cord

• Along with medulla forms a continuous structure
  extending from cerebral hemispheres
• What is the purpose of the spinal cord?
• What is contained within the spinal column?
• How is the spinal cord protected?

9
Peripheral Nervous System

• The PNS is comprised of
• Cranial nerves
• How many?
• Can you name them?
• Spinal nerves
• How many?
• How do the dorsal root and the ventral root
  differ?
• Autonomic nervous system
• What does it do?
• What are the divisions?

10
Sympathetic Nervous System

• What is this system best known for?
• Identify the clinical manifestations of this
  response.
• Where are most sympathetic neurons located?

11
Parasympathetic Nervous System

• Dominant controller for most visceral effectors
• During rest, impulses from parasympathetic
  (cholinergic) fibers dominate
• Where are PNS fibers located?
• Where do the nerve fibers arise?

12
Motor System Function

• What does the motor cortex do?
• How is muscle movement initiated?
• What is the difference between the corticospinal
  and pyramidal tracts?
• What two motor neuron types comprise the
  voluntary motor system?
• What manifestations occur from lesions of these
  neurons?

13
Sensory System Function

• Integrating sensory impulses
• Receiving sensory impulses
• Sensory losses

14
Assessment

• What does the health history include?
• What clinical manifestations would you expect
  with neurologic disease?
• What should be included in the physical
  assessment?

15
Diagnostic Assessment

• Blood cultures
• Skull and spine xrays
• Cerebral angiography
• CT
• PET
• SPECT

• MRI
• LP
• EEG
• EMG
• Cerebral Blood Flow Evaluation
• Brain Scan
• Transcranial doppler