Neurological High-Yield Clinical Sciences Flashcards

Clinical Sciences

What is the most common primary brain tumor in adults?

Glioblastoma multiforme.

Which cranial nerves may be affected by increased ICP from gliomas?

CN V, VII, and X.

What is the first-line treatment for HSV encephalitis?

IV Acyclovir.

What is a classic CSF finding in Guillain-Barr Syndrome?

Elevated protein with normal cell count (albuminocytologic dissociation).

What are the hallmark symptoms of Parkinson's disease?

Resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability.

What characterizes a cluster headache?

Severe unilateral periorbital pain with autonomic symptoms.

What condition presents with ascending symmetrical paralysis?

Guillain-Barr Syndrome.

What is the hallmark feature of multiple sclerosis on MRI?

Periventricular white matter lesions (Dawson's fingers).

What organism is commonly associated with bacterial meningitis in infants?

Group B Streptococcus.

What triad characterizes the classic presentation of meningitis?

Fever, nuchal rigidity, and altered mental status.

Which neurotransmitter is deficient in Alzheimer's disease?

Acetylcholine.

Which neurotransmitter is deficient in Parkinson's disease?

Dopamine.

Which neurotransmitter is elevated in Huntington's disease?

Dopamine.

What is Broca's aphasia characterized by?

Non-fluent speech with preserved comprehension.

What is Wernicke's aphasia characterized by?

Fluent speech with impaired comprehension.

Which artery is commonly involved in Broca's and Wernicke's aphasia?

Middle cerebral artery.

What is the hallmark of upper motor neuron lesions?

Spasticity, hyperreflexia, and Babinski sign.

What are signs of lower motor neuron lesions?

Flaccid paralysis, fasciculations, atrophy.

What is the classic finding in subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Thunderclap headache, 'worst headache of my life'.

What is the most common cause of intracerebral hemorrhage?

Hypertension.

What is the most common site for berry aneurysms?

Circle of Willis, especially anterior communicating artery.

What is Horner's syndrome?

Ptosis, miosis, anhidrosis.

What cranial nerve exits dorsally from the brainstem?

Trochlear nerve (CN IV).

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Coordination of voluntary movements and balance.

Which part of the brain controls heart rate and respiration?

Medulla oblongata.

What is the function of the frontal lobe?

Executive function, personality, voluntary motor control.

What lobe processes visual information?

Occipital lobe.

What condition is associated with degeneration of the substantia nigra?

Parkinson's disease.

What is the function of the limbic system?

Emotion, memory, and behavior.

What is the classic triad of normal pressure hydrocephalus?

Urinary incontinence, gait disturbance, dementia.

What is the function of the thalamus?

Relay station for sensory information.

What is the Glasgow Coma Scale used for?

Assessing consciousness level in head injury.

What structure connects the two cerebral hemispheres?

Corpus callosum.

What is the most common primary brain tumor in children?

Medulloblastoma.

What is the most common cause of seizures in children?

Febrile seizures.

What test confirms epilepsy diagnosis?

Electroencephalogram (EEG).

What brain wave is seen during deep sleep?

Delta waves.

What is status epilepticus?

Seizure lasting >5 minutes or multiple seizures without return to baseline.

What is the treatment for absence seizures?

Ethosuximide.

What is the treatment of choice for tonic-clonic seizures?

Valproic acid.

What condition is characterized by demyelination in the CNS?

Multiple sclerosis.

What cells produce myelin in the CNS?

Oligodendrocytes.

What cells produce myelin in the PNS?

Schwann cells.

What condition shows 'owl eye' inclusions in neurons?

Cytomegalovirus infection.

Which condition affects anterior horn cells?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

What reflex is absent in cauda equina syndrome?

Anal wink reflex.

What causes locked-in syndrome?

Basilar artery stroke affecting the pons.

What does Romberg test assess?

Proprioception and posterior column function.

What are symptoms of tabes dorsalis?

Ataxia, lightning pains, and Argyll Robertson pupils.

What condition is associated with café-au-lait spots and neurofibromas?

Neurofibromatosis type 1.

What brain tumor is highly malignant and crosses the corpus callosum?

Glioblastoma multiforme.

What is the most common pituitary adenoma?

Prolactinoma.

What are signs of pituitary apoplexy?

Sudden headache, visual loss, and hormonal deficiencies.

What condition causes a 'cape-like' loss of pain and temperature?

Syringomyelia.

What is Brown-Squard syndrome?

Hemisection of spinal cord: ipsilateral motor loss, contralateral pain/temp loss.

What tract transmits fine touch and proprioception?

Dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway.

What tract carries pain and temperature?

Spinothalamic tract.

What neurotransmitter is deficient in myasthenia gravis?

Acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction.

What test diagnoses myasthenia gravis?

Anti-AChR antibodies or edrophonium test.

What is the treatment for myasthenia gravis?

Pyridostigmine and immunosuppressants.