Odds and Ends
How many cranial nerves are there?
12
German Shepherds and Corgis
What are the spinal cord segments that we localize between on neurologic examination?
C1-C5
C6-T2
T3-L3
L4-S3/caudal
(the brain is separated into Forebrain/prosencephalon, Cerebellum, Brainstem, Vestibular (central vs. peripheral))
What is the term for when the pupils are two different sizes?
Anisocoria
What is a seizure?
Spontaneous firing of the neurons due to abnormal electrical activity.
A portosystemic shunt can cause neurologic signs because THIS organ is unable to adequately remove toxic substances from circulation.
Liver
What is the most common brain tumor in cats?
Meningioma
A French Bulldog comes in paraplegic, deep pain positive, absent tone in his pelvic limbs, absent reflexes in his pelvic limbs, and a normal cutaneous trunci.
L4-S3
Hyper- or hyponatremia is in reference to WHICH electrolyte?
Sodium
Name 4 possible causes for seizures.
Epilepsy
Hydrocephalus/congenital
Neoplasia/cancer/brain tumor
MUE/autoimmune inflammation
Electrolyte derrangements (ie hypoglycemia, hyperkalemia)
Portosystemic shunt
Trauma
What part of the brain is responsible for coordination of the rate and range of motion?
What is the name of the white covering of nerves that speed up nerve conduction?
Myelin
A Cocker Spaniel comes in falling over, with a right-sided head tilt, horizontal nystagmus (fast phase to the left), and right-sided placing deficits (thoracic and pelvic limbs).
Right central vestibular
Define proprioception.
Awareness and control of body position/posture in space.
Define status epilepticus, and explain why we worry.
A single seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes, or multiple seizures back-to-back without regaining consciousness.
Prolonged seizure activity can cause severe hyperthermia, organ damage, hypoxia, permanent brain damage, and death (rare)
Why is it normal for a very young animal NOT to have a menace response?
Because the menace is a LEARNED RESPONSE and NOT a reflex. It typically develops by 4-6 months of age.
Cervical spondylomyelopathy
A Yorkie comes in for seizures. On exam, she is circling to the left, blind in her right eye, and has right-sided placing deficits.
Left forebrain.
What does "dysphonia" mean?
Can happen with laryngeal paralysis in older dogs or brainstem lesions affecting multiple cranial nerves
What are 2 bloodwork values that are expected to be abnormal in a patient who has recently had seizures?
Lactate
Glucose
ALP/ALT
Neutrophils
CK
What is JC's favorite animal?
OTTER <3
What is the most common cause for acute-onset, non-painful, non-progressive, non-ambulatory tetraparesis in an older cat?
Cervical ischemic myelopathy - aka spinal cord stroke in the neck
A German Shepherd comes in mildly ataxic (listing to the left), has a left-sided head tilt, vertical nystagmus, left-sided strabismus, and placing deficits on the right (thoracic and pelvic limbs).
RIGHT PARADOXICAL central vestibular disease
What is the difference between PAIN and NOCICEPTION?
Nociception is the transmission of a painful stimulus up to the brain.
Pain is the CONSCIOUS RECOGNITION of that stimulus causing an EMOTIONAL response.
What is the full, correct neurological term for a seizure that presents as:
A patient has rhythmic twitching of one side of the face that lasts 45 seconds. They remain able to walk, but seem disoriented with a change in their consciousness.
Partial/focal complex seizure