6. What is a myelocele?
Correct answer: Failure of fusion of the neural tube; an open spinal plate occupies the defect as a red, granular area weeping cerebrospinal fluid from its centre.
5. What is a myelomeningocele?
Correct answer: Neural tissue (the cord or spinal roots) protrudes into, and may be adherent to, the meningeal sac.
4. What is a meningocele?
Correct answer: A cystic protrusion of the meninges through a posterior vertebral defect without nervous tissue involvement.
3. What is spina bifida occulta?
Correct answer: Failure of the vertebral arch fusion only; meninges and nervous tissue are normal.
2.What do the surrounding meninges and vertebral column develop from?
Correct answer: Mesodermal tissue.
1.What does the neural tube develop from?
Correct answer: By an infolding of the neural ectoderm.
13. What are the characteristics of fractures through the temporal bone?
Correct answer: A fracture through the temporal bone may disrupt the middle meningeal artery and/or vein as they traverse the bone and result in an extradural haemorrhage, which may not manifest immediately.
12. What are the characteristics of fractures of the petrous temporal bone?
Correct answer: Fractures through the petrous temporal bone may result in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhoea, as CSF passes through into the external auditory meatus, either directly or via the mastoid air cells or middle ear in the presence of a…
11. What are the causes of coma?
Correct answer: (1) Central nervous system: trauma and disease (e.g. cerebrovascular accident (commonest), epilepsy, subarachnoid haemorrhage, cerebral tumour, abscess and meningitis) (2) Drugs: alcohol, carbon monoxide, barbiturates, aspirin and opiates. (3) Diabetes: hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia. (4) Uraemia. (5) Hepatic failure….
