Pathophysiology NU545--Unit 2--Study
Guide
Pineal Gland - ANS (epithalamus) has connections and functions closely associated with those
of the limbic system
-Keeps you awake.
-hormones secreted from pineal gland influence reproductive ability
-secretes Melatonin associated with circadian rhythms
Prefrontal Area - ANS -Controlling thought
-short-term memory -elaboration of thought
-inhibition of limbic (emotional) areas of CNS
Broca Area - ANS -Controlling motor aspects of speech
-inferior edge of premotor area on the inferior frontal gyrus
-usually on left hemisphere
Wernicke Area - ANS -Controlling receptive and interpretive aspects of speech
-located on the superior temporal gyrus
-Dysfunction may result in receptive aphasia or dysphasia
Hypothalamus - ANS -Controlling emotions and behavior
-maintains constant internal environment
-integrative centers control ANS function
-regulates body temp., endocrine functions, and emotional expression
Cerebellum - ANS -Maintaining balance and posture, controls conscious and unconscious
muscle synergy
-accomplished through extensive neural connections from the spinal cord and medulla
oblongata through the inferior cerebellar peduncle and with the midbrain and higher structures
through the superior cerebellar peduncle.
Arachnoid Villi - ANS -protrude from the arachnoid space, through dura mater, and lie within the
blood flow of the venous sinuses
-CSF is reabsorbed by means of a pressure gradient between the arachnoid villi and the
cerebral venous sinuses
-Function as one-way valves directing CSF outflow into the blood and preventing blood flow into
the subarachnoid space
CSF - ANS -derived from blood and returns to blood after circulating throughout the CNS
,Parkinson's Disease - ANS -Degenerative disorder of basal ganglia (corpus striatum, globus
Pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, and substantia nigra)
-loss of dopaminergic pigmented neurons in the substantia nigra with dopaminergic defeciency
of the putamen
-loss of dopamine also occurs in brainstem, thalamus, and cortex
Parkinson's Disease - ANS -Results in underactivity of the direct motor pathway (normally
facilitates movement) and overactivity of the indirect motor loop (normally inhibits movement)
Hunington's Disease - ANS -known as chorea
-Rare, hereditary-degenerative disorder diffusely involving the basal ganglia (caudate and
putamen nuclei) and the frontal cortex
-Degeneration leaves enlarged lateral ventricles
CSF - ANS -clear, colorless fluid similar to blood plasma and interstitial fluid
-protects intracranial structures and spinal cord structures from jolts and blows
-prevents tugging on meninges, nerve roots, and blood vessels
CSF - ANS -produced in choroid plexus in the lateral 3rd and 4th ventricles
-is reabsorbed into the venous circulation through arachnoid villi, located primarily located
superior to the falx cerebri in the superior sagittal sinus
Gate Control Theory - ANS -Pain is transmission is modulated by a balance of impulses
transmitted to the spinal cord by large A-Delta an C fibers
-small fiber input inhibits cells in the substantia gelatinosa "opens the pain gate" enhancing pain
perception
-Does not explain phantom limb pain
A-Delta fibers - ANS -Well localized, sharp pain sensations - are important in initiating rapid
reactions to stimuli (fast pain)
-Nerve action potentials generated by excitation of nociceptors travel down this fiber type to
reach the spinal cord
C-Fibers - ANS -(Unmyelinated C polymodal nociceptors) responsible for the transmission of
diffuse burning or aching sensations (slow pain)
-Nerve action potentials generated by excitation of nociceptors travel on this fiber type to reach
the spinal cord.
Nociceptors - ANS -Primary order neurons, free nerve endings in the afferent peripheral
nervous system that selectively respond to different chemical, mechanical, and thermal stimuli
-Categorized by the stimulus they respond to and properties of axons associated with them.
A-Beta Fibers - ANS -large myelinated fibers that transmit tough and vibration sensations
-Do not transmit pain but play a role in pain modulation.
, Pain perception - ANS -Conscious awareness of pain .
Sensory-Discriminative system - ANS -Mediated by the somatosensory cortex and is
responsible for identifying the presence, character, location, and intensity of pain.
Affective-motivational system - ANS -Determines an individual's conditioned avoidance
behaviors and emotional responses to pain.
-Is mediated through the reticular formation, limbic system,and brainstem with projections to the
prefrontal cortex.
Cognitive-Evaluative system - ANS -Overlies the individual's learned behavior concerning the
experiences of pain and can modulate perception of pain.
-Mediated through the cerebral cortex.
Acute pain - ANS -A protective mechanism that alerts an individual to a condition or experience
that is immediately harmful to the body and mobilizes the individual to take prompt action to
relieve it; transient, usually lasting seconds to days; begins suddenly and relieved after the
chemical mediators that stimulate pain receptors are removed.
-arises from cutaneous and deep somatic tissue, or from visceral organs and can be classified
as acute somatic, acute visceral, and referred
Somatic pain - ANS -Superficial, arising from connective tissue, muscle or bone, and skin.
-It is either sharp and well localized or dull, aching, throbbing, and poorly localized as seen in
polymodal C fiber transmission
Visceral pain - ANS -Refers to pain in internal organs and the lining of body cavities with an
aching, gnawing, throbbing, or intermittent cramping quality.
-Transmitted by sympathetic afferent and is poorly localized because of the lesser number of
nociceptors in the visceral structures
-Associated with nausea/ vomiting, Hypotension, restlessness, and in some cases shock
Referred pain - ANS -Pain that is felt in an area removed or distant from its point of origin.
-Impulses from many cutaneous and visceral neurons converge on the same ascending neuron,
and the brain cannot distinguish between the two.
-ie.-shoulder from myocardial infarction, pain in the back from pancreatic or renal disease, and
pain in the right shoulder form an inflamed gallbladder
Chronic Pain - ANS -Usually defined as lasting at least 3 months and well beyond the expected
healing time following the initial onset of tissue damage or injury.
-Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated brain changes in those with chronic pain that may
lead to cognitive deficits and decreased ability to cope with pain.
-Can produce significant behavioral and psychological changes (depression, difficulty sleeping,
and eating)