Anatomy
What major lobe do you have two of?
Temporal Lobe
Which lobe of the brain is most commonly associated with epileptic seizures?
Temporal Lobe
What are the two main forms of treatment for psychiatric illness?
Talk therapy and medications
How many years of training after high school does it take to become a neurosurgeon (no fellowship)?
15 years
What is one common target of many medications for Epilepsy, and why is this problematic?
Ion channel blockers
They often have non-specific effects leading to lots of side effects
Where are neurotransmitters released?
Synapses
What happens during an ischemic stroke? How is it different from a hemorrhagic stroke?
A clot obstructs a blood vessel leading to oxygen deprivation
Why is it critical to remove a blood clot in the brain ASAP?
More time without oxygen leads to more brain death (1 million neurons per minute)
Name 3 sub-specialties within Neurology?
Hint: Neurosurgery is not one of them
Various answers
You see a patient who has difficulty speaking and moving her right leg, form a differential diagnosis and include 3 possible causes along with justification for why they are on your differential?
Answers will vary
Ex: Stroke, Seizure, Tumor
What’s the central nerve connection between the two hemispheres of the brain called?
Corpus callosum
What cell type do most primary brain tumors originate from?
Astrocytes
Name a condition that a brain-machine interface can help treat (other than paralysis). Explain your answer
Many answers
At UCSF, how long does it take on average for a stroke patient to receive treatment once they enter the hospital
20 minutes
What is an AVM? Why is it so dangerous?
Arteries and veins connecting directly to one another without intermediary capillaries.
The high pressure of the arteries can damage the floppy veins leading to bleeding and brain damage
How many ventricles are in the brain? What are their names
Lateral ventricles (x2)
3rd ventricle
4th ventricle
Name five signs of stroke?
Balance loss, eyesight changes, face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties
Why is it important to determine if a stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic? How does this information change how we treat a stroke?
Only Ischemic strokes can be treated with clot-busting medication. (other answers possible)
What are the UC Eligibility criteria?
1. Completion of A-G courses
2. At least a 3.0 GPA (for Cali residents)
What are the anatomical AND clinical differences between Broca's and Wernicke's aphasia?
Anatomical --> BA affects broca's area in the frontal lobe, while WA affects an area in the superior temporal gyrus of the temporal lobe
Clinical --> BA causes expressive aphasia, while WA causes recpetive aphasia
What 4 sections is the spinal column split into?
Cervical, Thoracic, Sacral, Coccyx
Name five parts of the neuro exam (besides reflexes) and two reflexes that can be tested during the neuro exam?
1. Mental Status, Cranial Nerves, Motor Exam, Sensory Exam, Coordination, Gait
2. Patellar, Biceps, Triceps, Achilles reflexes
What are the three main forms of treatment for epilepsy? What are the shortcomings of each approach?
1. Medication; Many side effects
2. Surgery; permanent loss of neurologic function
3. Devices; can only target one focus
Most right-handed people have a left dominant hemisphere?
What hemisphere is dominant in most left-handed people?
Also the left hemisphere
MC is a 75yo male with a history of high blood pressure and diabetes and no history of trauma who comes into clinic complaining about a sudden difficulty moving their lower left leg that started 30 minutes ago. Physical exam reveals moderate motor weakness in the lower left limb and mild motor weakness in the upper left limb. Motor function is normal in the right limbs. Sensory function is normal in all limbs. ROS reveals previously unreported difficulty urinating.
What condition is MC likely experiencing? Where is this likely occurring? What should be done next?
Right ACA ischemic stroke. Treat with surgery or tPA