Topical Diagnosis in Neurology (Duus)

88 topics with concise breakdowns: definitions, key facts, and classroom questions.

Topical diagnosis is the neurologist's alphabet. Without a precise answer to the question "where is the lesion located?", it is impossible to make a clinical diagnosis. In this section, we examine the classical approach to localizing pathological processes in the nervous system.

We will journey from the basic structure of the neuron, neuroglia, and reflex arc to the complex localization of functions in the cerebral cortex. You will study types and disorders of sensation, the pyramidal system, as well as the clinical presentation of upper and lower motor neuron paralysis. A separate body of materials is dedicated to the brainstem, cranial nerves, cerebellum, and extrapyramidal system — including the basal ganglia, Parkinson's disease, chorea, tremor, and tics.

In practical classes and exams, the topical diagnosis of spinal cord lesions, clinical features of cerebral artery lesions, transient ischemic attacks, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis are questioned most rigorously. Also, do not forget the limbic and autonomic nervous systems — understanding their function is critically important for solving complex clinical problems.

Section Topics

Structure of the nervous systemSystema nervosum NeuronNeuronum NeurogliaNeuroglia Nerve fibersNeurofibra SynapsesSynapsis Reflex arcArcus reflexus Syndromes in NeurologyNeurological syndromes represent stable complexes of sympt Neurological SymptomsNeurological symptoms represent manifestations of various lesio Types of SensationThe somatosensory system ensures the perception of information from the external Sensory DisordersThe peripheral part of the somatosensory system begins with receptors. Sensory ExaminationHuman skin can rightfully be considered a single, continuou PainDolor Sensory System Lesion SyndromesSensory system lesion syndromes occur when afferent Pyramidal systemTractus pyramidalis Extrapyramidal systemSystema extrapyramidale Motor Function ExaminationEvaluation of the motor sphere is the basis of topical diagnosis in neurology ReflexesReflexus Upper and lower motor neuron paralysisParalysis Topical Diagnosis of Spinal Cord and Brain LesionsTopical diagnosis makes it possible to precisely determine the level of the lesion i Extrapyramidal SyndromesExtrapyramidal syndromes represent severe neurological d Cerebellum and ataxiaCerebellum Carpal Tunnel SyndromeCarpal tunnel syndrome is an entrapment neuropathy caused by compression Motor SyndromesMotor syndromes occur upon damage to the central or periph Cervical OsteochondrosisCervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative spine disease in which Scalenus SyndromeAnterior scalene muscle syndrome (scalenus syndrome) is an entrapment General characteristics of the brainstem and cranial nervesTruncus encephali, nervi craniales Olfactory nerveNervus olfactorius Optic nerveNervus opticus Oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nervesNervi oculomotorius, trochlearis, abducens Trigeminal nerveNervus trigeminus Facial nerveNervus facialis Auditory pathwayNervus vestibulocochlearis (pars cochlearis)Vestibular pathwayNervus vestibulocochlearis (pars vestibularis)Cerebellopontine angleAngulus pontocerebellaris Accessory and hypoglossal nervesNervi accessorius et hypoglossus Alternating brainstem syndromesSyndroma alternans Meniere's DiseaseMeniere's disease is an inner ear pathology accompanied b HypoesthesiaHypoesthesia is a neurological symptom manifested by a decrease in pain CerebellumCerebellum Symptoms of cerebellar lesionAtaxia Cerebellar and Extrapyramidal System ExaminationThe cerebellum is a complex structure, the anatomical division of wh ParkinsonismAlthough the topic is stated as parkinsonism, the provided factual mater DiencephalonDiencephalon ThalamusThalamus HypothalamusHypothalamus Limbic systemSystema limbicum Reticular formationFormatio reticularis Autonomic nervous systemSystema nervosum autonomicum Sympathetic nervous systemPars sympathica Parasympathetic nervous systemPars parasympathica Autonomic Innervation of Internal OrgansThe autonomic nervous system continuously regulates the function of internal o Autonomic Nervous System Lesion SyndromesPathology of the autonomic nervous system often manifests with severe dysfun RhinencephalonRhinencephalon HippocampusHippocampus FornixFornix AmygdalaCorpus amygdaloideum Cingulate gyrusGyrus cinguli Limbic System Lesion SyndromesDamage to limbic system structures is accompanied by gross disruptio Basal gangliaNuclei basales Parkinson's diseaseMorbus Parkinsoni ChoreaChorea DystoniaDystonia TremorTremor TicsTic MyoclonusMyoclonus Wilson's diseaseDegeneratio hepatolenticularis Cerebral hemispheresHemispheria cerebri Cerebral cortexCortex cerebri Localization of Functions in the Cerebral CortexThe cerebral cortex is not homogeneous. It is divided into specific Basal nucleiNuclei basales White matter of the cerebral hemispheresSubstantia alba hemispheriorum Corpus callosumCorpus callosum Internal capsuleCapsula interna Lateral ventriclesVentriculi laterales Cerebral Hemisphere Lesion SyndromesDamage to the association areas of the cerebral cortex leads to complex Frontal Lobe SyndromeFrontal lobe syndrome represents a constellation of neurological and behavio Spinal meningesMeninges medullae spinalis Cranial meningesMeninges encephali Ventricular system of the brainSystema ventriculare Cerebrospinal fluidLiquor cerebrospinalis Lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid analysisPunctio lumbalis Nuchal RigidityNuchal rigidity is a pathological reflex tension Blood supply to the spinal cordMedulla spinalis Classification of Vascular Diseases of the Nervous SystemUnderstanding vascular pathologies of the nervous system relies on exact knowle Chronic cerebral ischemiaEncephalopathia dyscirculatoria Transient disorders of cerebral circulationIschemia cerebri transitoria Cerebral Artery Lesion SyndromesIschemic brain damage leads to the development of focal necros Vascular diseases of the spinal cordInfarctus medullae spinalis

Frequently asked questions for this section

What is a synapse and why are neurotransmitters needed in it?

A synapse is a specialized junction for neuronal contact. Neurotransmitters act as chemical messengers, ensuring the transmission of information across the synaptic cleft.

What is the difference between dendrites and an axon?

Dendrites are multiple branching processes that receive information. There is always a single axon, which can reach up to a meter in length and serves to transmit impulses from the neuron cell body to other cells.

How does myelination differ in the CNS and PNS?

In the central nervous system, myelin is formed by oligodendrocyte processes, with a single cell capable of enveloping several axons at once. In the peripheral system, Schwann cells perform this task.

What is the omega (Ω) figure in a synapse?

This is a characteristic shape assumed by the presynaptic membrane in the exocytosis zone at the moment of fusion with a synaptic vesicle for neurotransmitter release.

How do chemical synapses differ from electrical ones?

In chemical synapses, the signal is transmitted via neurotransmitter molecules that bind to receptors. In electrical synapses, excitation passes directly through narrow gap junctions — connexons.

What are the main types of glial cells distinguished in the CNS?

In the central nervous system, astrocytes (support homeostasis and form gliosis), oligodendrocytes (form myelin), and microglial cells (perform phagocytic functions) are distinguished.

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