General Pathology

Alzheimer’s disease

progressive neurodegenerative disorder that results in deterioration and irreversible damage within the cerebral cortex and subcortical areas of the brain. neurons that are normally involved with acetylcholine transmission deteriorate within the cerebral cortex. Development of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles result in further damage to the nervous system

Signs and symptoms of alzheimers

initially noted by a change in higher cortical functions such as difficulty with new learning and subtle changes in memory and concentration.

progression includes a loss of orientation, word finding difficulties, depression, poor judgment, rigidit, bradykinesia, shuffling gait.

ALS

chronic degenerative disease that produces both upper and lower motor neuron impairments. significant loss of anterior horn cells in the spinal cord and the motor cranial nerve nuclei in lower brainstem produces weakness and muscle atrophy.

signs and symptoms of ALS

early presentation may include upper and lower motor neuron symptoms.

lower motor neuron include: asymmetric muscle weakness, fasciculations, cramping, and atrophy within the hands. Weakness spreads in a distal to proximal path.

Upper motor neuron include: incoordination of movement, spasticity, clonus, and a positive babinski reflex.

will exhibits fatigue, oral motor impairment, motor paralysis, and eventual respiratory paralysis

bells palsy

temporary unilateral facial paralysis secondary to trauma with demyelination and/or axonal degeneration of the facial nerve. Usually due to a viral infection likes the herpes simplex/zoster virus.

signs and symptoms of bell’s palsy

will present with an asymmetrical facial appearance with drooping of the eyelid and mouth, potential for drooling, dryness of the eyes and inability to close the eyelid due to waekness

carpal tunnel syndrome

occurs as result of compression of the median nerve where it passes through the carpal tunnel. Normal tissue pressure within the tunnel is 2-10 mmHg. CTS can produce greater than 30 mmHg so it produces ischemia of the nerve

epilepsy

temporary dysfunction of the brain that results in hypersynchronous electrical discharge of cortical neurons and seizure activity that is typically unprovoked and unpredictable

guillain-barre syndrome

acute polyneuropathy.

a temporary inflammation and demyelination of the peripheral nerves’ myelin sheaths, potentially resulting axonal degernation. The autoantibodies of GBS attack segments of the myelin sheat of the peripheral nerves.

signs and symptoms of GBS

motor weakness in a distal to proximal progression, sensory impairment and possible respiratory paralysis. The level of disability usually peaks within 2-4 weeks after onset. may have absence of deep tendon reflexes, inability ot speak or swallow. distal symmetrical motor weakness, mild distal sensory impairments, and transient paresthesias that will progress towards the upper extremities to the head.

huntington’s disease

a neurological disorder of the CNS and is characterized by degeneration and atoprhy of the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex within th ebrain. The neurotransmitters become deficient and are unable to modulate movement

signs and symptoms of huntingtons

includes affective dysfunction and cognitive impairment. The patient may present with involuntary choreic movements, mild alteration in personality, grimacing, protrusion of the tongue, and ataxia with choreoathetoid movements.

Late stage includes mental deterioration, decrease in IQ, depression, dysphagia, incontinence immobility and rigidty.

multiple sclerosis

patches of demyelination of the myelin sheaths that surround nerves within the brain and spinal-cord. This decreases the efficiency of nerve impulse transmission. This decreases the efficiency of nerve impulse transmission and symptoms will vary based on the location and the extent of demyelination. There is a subsequent plaque development and eventual failure of impulse transmission.

signs and symptoms of MS

visual problems, paresthesias and sensory changes, clumsiness, weakness, ataxia, balance dysfunction and fatigue.

myasthenia gravis

an autoimmune disease resulting in neuromuscular junction pathology. there is a defect specifically in the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscles at the NMJ. Antibodies block or destroy the receptors that are needed for ACH uptake and this prevents muscle contraction.

signs and symptoms of myasthenia gravis

extreme fatiguability and skeletal muscle weakness that can fluctuate within minutes or over an extended period. The ocular muscles are typically affected first.

parkinson’s disease

primary degenerative disorder and characterized by a decrease in production of dopamine within the substantia nigra of the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia store the majority of dopamine and are responsible for modulation and control of voluntary movement

signs and symptoms of parkinsons disease

resting tremor in the hands or feet that increases with stress and disappears with movement or sleep.

Early symptoms: balance disturbances, difficulty rolling over and ridigin from bed, and disturbance with fine manipulative movements

later symptoms: hypokinesia, sluggish movement, difficulty with initiating and stopping movement, festinating and shuffling gait, brady kinesia, poor posture, dysphagia and cogweel or lead pipe rigidity of skeletal muscles

post-polio syndrome

a viral infection resulting in neuropathy that includes focal and asymmetrical motor impairments. a lower motor neuron pathology that affects the anterior horn cells of those previously affect with polio. There is compensated reinnervation that fails and results in ongoing muscle denervation.

signs and symptoms of post-polio syndrome

slow and progressive weakness, fatigue, muscle atrophy, pain and swallowing issues