Face in pain
Chronic Pain
Introduction Chronic pain has an unclear definition but some examples include: Pain that persists despite adequate time for healing Pain for >12 weeks It is a common presentation to general…
Cluster headache MRI - specifically a type of scan called Voxel-based morphometry - which is highlighting abnormal hypothalamic activity. This file is taken from wikimedia commons and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Cluster Headache
Introduction Cluster Headache – aka - migranous neuralgia accounts for <1% of all headaches. Cluster headache causes a unilateral pain that typically wakes the patient during the night, so called, because…
Example of Subdural Haematoma
Comparison of Intracranial Haemorrhage
Comparison of Intracranial Haemorrhage Feature Subarachnoid Subdural Extradural Location The inner most layer around the brain tissue Between the dura mater and arachnoid mater The outermost layer, between the skull…
Confusion
Confusion: AMTS and MMSE (Mini Mental State Exam)
AMTS – Abbreviated Mental Test Score AMTS is a (very) quick way to assess confusion. It is used as a quick screening tool, usually on the hospital ward. Patient is…
Unlabelled diagram of cranial nerves. Image by by jlcampbell104 is marked under CC0 1.0
Cranial Nerve Functions
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Unlabelled diagram of cranial nerves. Image by by jlcampbell104 is marked under CC0 1.0
Cranial Nerve Testing
Overview Olfactory I Quick method – ask the patient if: They notice smells in the morning (e.g. coffee, toast) They notice smells that others do They think their sense of…
CT scan of the brain showing large MCA infarct stroke
CVA – Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke)
Introduction Stroke is a sudden onset of brain dysfunction, caused by an alteration in cerebrovascular blood supply. It is characterised by: Rapid, acute onset – within a few minutes Focal…
Confusion
Dementia
Introduction Dementia is a progressive global decline cognitive function, without impairment of consciousness. It is typically defined as a syndrome secondary to one or more of multiple causes, rather than a…
Spinal cord tracts - ascending and descending pathways
Descending (Motor) Pathways
Tract Location of Upper Motor Neurons Destination Site of Crossover Action CORTICOSPINAL Corticobulbar Primary Motor Cortex (pyramidal cells) Cranial Nerves III – XII Brainstem Conscious Motor control of…
A large necrotic brain lesion from amoebic encephalitis. This is not typical of the appearance of other types of encephalitis. This file is taken from wikimedia commons and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Encephalitis
Introduction Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma that is usually caused by an infection. The infection can be viral or bacterial in origin, but is most commonly viral. HSV…