Difference between revisions of "Neurohistology"

From Libre Pathology
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(→‎Glial cells: microglia)
 
(22 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 18: Line 18:
**Small round nuclei (lymphocyte-like nucleus) - '''key feature'''.
**Small round nuclei (lymphocyte-like nucleus) - '''key feature'''.
**May resemble a ''fried egg'' on H&E (clear cytoplasm, central nucleus).
**May resemble a ''fried egg'' on H&E (clear cytoplasm, central nucleus).
**Image: [http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/libraries/courses/neuroslides/lab1a/images/1-11.png oligodendrocyte urmc.rochester.edu]
*Astrocyte.
*Astrocyte.
**Irregular non-ovoid nucleus - '''key feature'''.
**Irregular non-ovoid nucleus - '''key feature'''.
Line 29: Line 30:
***Often have vesicles.
***Often have vesicles.
**Rarely seen in normal tissue.
**Rarely seen in normal tissue.
**Three morphologic types:
***Ramified microglia.
***Hypertrophic microglia.
***Dystrophic microglia - often seen in neurodegnerative disease.
*Ependyma.
*Ependyma.
**Simple ciliated cuboidal epithelium.
**Simple ciliated cuboidal epithelium.
**Image: [http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/sbumcfiles/images/221-001.jpg Ependyma (stonybrookmedicalcenter.org)].
**Image: [http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/sbumcfiles/images/221-001.jpg Ependyma (stonybrookmedicalcenter.org)].
*Choroid plexus.
**Specialized ependymal cells
**Cuboidal epithelial cells surrounding a core of capillaries and loose connective tissue.
**Ventricular location.
=====Images=====
[[File:Blausen 0870 TypesofNeuroglia.png |500px| Types of neuroglia (WC/Blausen)]]
<gallery>
File:Astrocytes.jpg | Astrocytes highlighted by GFAP (WC/Jeffery J. Iliff)
Image:Oligodendrocyte_HE_stain_high_mag.jpg | Oligodendrocytes with fried-egg appearance (WC/jensflorian)
Image:Ependyma.png|Ependymal cells. (WC/marvin101)
File:Psammoma bodies in the choroid plexus, HE.JPG | Choroid plexus (WC/Patho)
File:Mikroglej 1.jpg | Microglial cells, Lectin stain (WC/Grzegorz Wicher)
</gallery>


===Peripheral nervous system===
===Peripheral nervous system===
Line 39: Line 57:
*Large round nucleus with prominent nucleolus - '''key feature'''.
*Large round nucleus with prominent nucleolus - '''key feature'''.
*Abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm.
*Abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm.
 
====Schwann cell====
*Principal glia of the PNS.
*Myelinated or unmyelinated.
*Ovoid, wavy nuclei.
*Cells have a basal membrane.
*Found in peripheral nerves.
*Aka ''neurolemmocytes''.
=====Images=====
=====Images=====
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Ganglion_very_high_mag.jpg | Ganglion - very high mag. (WC/Nephron)
Image:Ganglion_very_high_mag.jpg | Ganglion - very high mag. (WC/Nephron)
Image:Peripheral nerve, cross section.jpg | Peripheral nerve - cross section. (WC/Reytan)
File:Nerve root - very high mag.jpg | Nerve root HPS stain (WC/Nephron)
</gallery>
</gallery>


Line 90: Line 116:
*Send dendrites in all directions.
*Send dendrites in all directions.


Images:  
===Images===
www:
*[http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/sbumcfiles/images/238-002.jpg Motor neuron (stonybrookmedicalcenter.org)].
*[http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/sbumcfiles/images/238-002.jpg Motor neuron (stonybrookmedicalcenter.org)].
*[http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Medulla_oblongata_-_posterior_-_cn_xii_-_very_high_mag.jpg Motor neurons - nucleus of CN XII - very high mag. (WC)].
<gallery>
Image:Medulla_oblongata_-_posterior_-_cn_xii_-_very_high_mag.jpg | Motor neurons - nucleus of CN XII - very high mag. (WC)
</gallery>


=Structures=
=Structures=
This section deals with structures seen at several places in the CNS.
This section deals with structures seen at several places in the CNS.


==Grey vs. white matter==
==Grey matter and white matter==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|  
|  
Line 117: Line 146:


Additional images (white matter vs. grey matter):
Additional images (white matter vs. grey matter):
*[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grey_matter_and_white_matter_-_high_mag.jpg Grey-white matter interface - high mag. (WC)].
<gallery>
*[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grey_matter_and_white_matter_-_intermed_mag.jpg Grey and white matter - intermed. mag. (WC)].
Image:Grey_matter_and_white_matter_-_high_mag.jpg | Grey-white matter interface - high mag. (WC)
Image:Grey_matter_and_white_matter_-_intermed_mag.jpg | Grey and white matter - intermed. mag. (WC)
File:LFB_CNS_cortex_supratentorial.jpg | Normal cortex - LFB. (WC/jensflorian)
File:LFB_CNS_cortex_grey-white_matter_junction.jpg | White-grey matter junction - LFB. (WC/jensflorian)
</gallery>


==Vessels==
==Vessels==
Line 144: Line 177:
*#Small - GABA.
*#Small - GABA.
*#Large (very rare: ~1 in 100-200) - cholingeric.
*#Large (very rare: ~1 in 100-200) - cholingeric.
Images:
*[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Globus_pallidus_and_putamen_-_very_low_mag.jpg Globus pallidus & putamen - showing Wilson's pencils - very low mag. (WC)].
*[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Putamen_-_intermed_mag.jpg Putamen - intermed. mag. (WC)].
*[http://frontalcortex.com/?page=oll&topic=24&qid=760 Pencils of Wilson (frontalcortex.com)].


Notes:
Notes:
Line 154: Line 182:
**The caudate is adjacent to an ependymal lined space, putamen is not.<ref>URL: [http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/pathology/neuropathology/chapter1 http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/pathology/neuropathology/chapter1]. Accessed on: 22 December 2010.</ref>
**The caudate is adjacent to an ependymal lined space, putamen is not.<ref>URL: [http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/pathology/neuropathology/chapter1 http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/pathology/neuropathology/chapter1]. Accessed on: 22 December 2010.</ref>
*[[Necrotic]] putamen in methanol poisoning.<ref name=pmid19015300>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Bhatia | first1 = R. | last2 = Kumar | first2 = M. | last3 = Garg | first3 = A. | last4 = Nanda | first4 = A. | title = Putaminal necrosis due to methanol toxicity. | journal = Pract Neurol | volume = 8 | issue = 6 | pages = 386-7 | month = Dec | year = 2008 | doi = 10.1136/jnnp.2008.161976 | PMID = 19015300 }}</ref>
*[[Necrotic]] putamen in methanol poisoning.<ref name=pmid19015300>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Bhatia | first1 = R. | last2 = Kumar | first2 = M. | last3 = Garg | first3 = A. | last4 = Nanda | first4 = A. | title = Putaminal necrosis due to methanol toxicity. | journal = Pract Neurol | volume = 8 | issue = 6 | pages = 386-7 | month = Dec | year = 2008 | doi = 10.1136/jnnp.2008.161976 | PMID = 19015300 }}</ref>
===Images===
<gallery>
Image:Globus_pallidus_and_putamen_-_very_low_mag.jpg | Globus pallidus & putamen - showing Wilson's pencils - very low mag. (WC)
Image:Putamen_-_intermed_mag.jpg | Putamen - intermed. mag. (WC)
</gallery>
www:
*[http://frontalcortex.com/?page=oll&topic=24&qid=760 Pencils of Wilson (frontalcortex.com)].


==Globus pallidus==
==Globus pallidus==
Line 166: Line 202:
===Image===  
===Image===  
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Nucleus_basalis_of_Meynert_-
Image:Nucleus_basalis_of_Meynert_-l-_very_low_mag.jpg | Globus pallidus, putamen and the nucleus basalis in the substantia innominata - very low mag. (WC)
l-_very_low_mag.jpg | Globus pallidus, putamen and the nucleus basalis in the substantia innominata - very low mag. (WC)
</gallery>
</gallery>


Line 188: Line 223:
#*Transitions to the six layers in the ''entorhinal cortex''.
#*Transitions to the six layers in the ''entorhinal cortex''.
#**No vacuolated looking stuff next to it.
#**No vacuolated looking stuff next to it.
Images:
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brainmaps-macaque-hippocampus.jpg Hippocampus - frontal section (WP)].
*[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hippocampus_%28brain%29.jpg Hippocampus - good schematic (WC)].
*[http://www.ajnr.org/cgi/content-nw/full/28/5/958/F1 Hippocampus (ajnr.org)].
*[http://edoc.hu-berlin.de/dissertationen/schubert-stephan-nicolas-2003-09-26/HTML/schubert_html_21d219b1.png Hippocampus and subiculum (hu-berlin.de)].
*[http://spinwarp.ucsd.edu/NeuroWeb/Text/br-800epi/br-800epi1.gif Hippocampus - crappy schematic (ucsd.edu)].


Important notes:
Important notes:
Line 200: Line 228:
*CA2 - resistant to ischemia.
*CA2 - resistant to ischemia.
*CA4 - involved in [[epilepsy]],<ref name=pmid3518570>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Ingvar | first1 = M. | title = Cerebral blood flow and metabolic rate during seizures. Relationship to epileptic brain damage. | journal = Ann N Y Acad Sci | volume = 462 | issue =  | pages = 194-206 | month =  | year = 1986 | doi =  | PMID = 3518570 }}</ref> usu. normal in degenerative diseases.<ref>D. Munoz. 27 July 2011.</ref>
*CA4 - involved in [[epilepsy]],<ref name=pmid3518570>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Ingvar | first1 = M. | title = Cerebral blood flow and metabolic rate during seizures. Relationship to epileptic brain damage. | journal = Ann N Y Acad Sci | volume = 462 | issue =  | pages = 194-206 | month =  | year = 1986 | doi =  | PMID = 3518570 }}</ref> usu. normal in degenerative diseases.<ref>D. Munoz. 27 July 2011.</ref>
====Images====
<gallery>
Image:Brainmaps-macaque-hippocampus.jpg | Hippocampus - frontal section. (WC)
Image:Hippocampus_%28brain%29.jpg | Hippocampus - schematic. (WC)
</gallery>
www:
*[http://www.ajnr.org/cgi/content-nw/full/28/5/958/F1 Hippocampus (ajnr.org)].
*[http://edoc.hu-berlin.de/dissertationen/schubert-stephan-nicolas-2003-09-26/HTML/schubert_html_21d219b1.png Hippocampus and subiculum (hu-berlin.de)].
*[http://spinwarp.ucsd.edu/NeuroWeb/Text/br-800epi/br-800epi1.gif Hippocampus - crappy schematic (ucsd.edu)].


===Layers of CA<ref name=Ref_PSNP25>{{Ref PSNP|25}}</ref>===
===Layers of CA<ref name=Ref_PSNP25>{{Ref PSNP|25}}</ref>===
Line 219: Line 256:
**Small neurons.
**Small neurons.


Images:
====Images====
*[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dentate_nucleus_-_cerebellum_-_intermed_mag.jpg Dentate nucleus of the cerebellum - intermed. mag. (WC)].
<gallery>
*[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dentate_nucleus_-_cerebellum_-_high_mag.jpg Dentate nucleus of the cerebellum - high mag. (WC)].
Image:Dentate_nucleus_-_cerebellum_-_intermed_mag.jpg | Dentate nucleus of the cerebellum - intermed. mag. (WC)
Image:Dentate_nucleus_-_cerebellum_-_high_mag.jpg | Dentate nucleus of the cerebellum - high mag. (WC)
</gallery>


===Cerebellar cortex===  
===Cerebellar cortex===  
Line 235: Line 274:
*#**May look like small cell carcinoma to the uninitiated.  
*#**May look like small cell carcinoma to the uninitiated.  
*#*Golgi cells (interneurons) - few in number, elongated/columnar, 3-5x size of granule cell.
*#*Golgi cells (interneurons) - few in number, elongated/columnar, 3-5x size of granule cell.
*Images:
**[http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/sbumcfiles/images/227_001.jpg Cerebellar cortex - micrograph with labels (stonybrookmedicalcenter.org)].
**[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Gray706.png Cerebellar cortex - schematic (Gray's Anatomy - WC)].
**[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cerebellar_cortex_-_intermed_mag.jpg Cerebellar cortex - intermed. mag. (WC)].
**[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cerebellum_-_biel_-_high_mag.jpg Cerebellar cortex - high mag. - Bielschowsky stain (WC)].


Notes:
Notes:
*''Bergmann glia'' are found between the molecular layer & granular layer.  They are normally not seen.  They are increased & prominent in pathologic states (e.g. ischemia); "[[Bergmann gliosis]]".<ref name=Ref_PSNP18>{{Ref PSNP|18}}</ref>
*''Bergmann glia'' are found between the molecular layer & granular layer.  They are normally not seen.  They are increased & prominent in pathologic states (e.g. ischemia); "[[Bergmann gliosis]]".<ref name=Ref_PSNP18>{{Ref PSNP|18}}</ref>
====Images====
www:
*[http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/sbumcfiles/images/227_001.jpg Cerebellar cortex - micrograph with labels (stonybrookmedicalcenter.org)].
<gallery>
Image:Gray706.png | Cerebellar cortex - schematic. (Gray's Anatomy/WC)
Image:Cerebellar_cortex_-_intermed_mag.jpg | Cerebellar cortex - intermed. mag. (WC)
Image:Cerebellum_-_biel_-_high_mag.jpg | Cerebellar cortex - high mag. [[Bielschowsky stain]]. (WC)
</gallery>


==Cerebral cortex==
==Cerebral cortex==
Line 287: Line 330:
*Astrocytes:
*Astrocytes:
**Cylindrical hyperchromatic nucleus ~ 1/2 the size of pinealocyte.
**Cylindrical hyperchromatic nucleus ~ 1/2 the size of pinealocyte.
Images:
*[http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au/mb140/corepages/endocrines/Images/pin42he.jpg Pineal gland (anhb.uwa.edu.au)].<ref name=Blue_Histology_-_Endocrines>URL: [http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au/mb140/corepages/endocrines/endocrin.htm http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au/mb140/corepages/endocrines/endocrin.htm]. Accessed on: 31 October 2010.</ref>
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pineal_gland_-_very_high_mag.jpg Pineal gland - very high mag. (WC)].
*[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pineal_gland_-_intermed_mag.jpg Pineal gland - intermed. mag. (WC)].
*[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pineal.jpg Pineal gland - crappy (WC)].


Notes:
Notes:
*Highly cellular structure - may be confused with (metastatic) small cell carcinoma.
*Highly cellular structure - may be confused with (metastatic) [[small cell carcinoma]].
*Often calcified.
*Often calcified.
 
===Images===
<gallery>
Image:Pineal_gland_-_very_high_mag.jpg | Pineal gland - very high mag. (WC/Nephron)
Image:Pineal_gland_-_intermed_mag.jpg | Pineal gland - intermed. mag. (WC/Nephron)
Image:Pineal.jpg | Pineal gland. (WC)
</gallery>
www:
*[http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au/mb140/corepages/endocrines/Images/pin42he.jpg Pineal gland (anhb.uwa.edu.au)].<ref name=Blue_Histology_-_Endocrines>URL: [http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au/mb140/corepages/endocrines/endocrin.htm http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au/mb140/corepages/endocrines/endocrin.htm]. Accessed on: 31 October 2010.</ref>
===IHC===
===IHC===
*Synaptophysin +ve.<ref name=Ref_PSNP25-26>{{Ref_PSNP|25-26}}</ref>
*Synaptophysin +ve.<ref name=Ref_PSNP25-26>{{Ref_PSNP|25-26}}</ref>
Line 309: Line 353:
*Red nuclei.
*Red nuclei.


Schematics:
===Schematics===
*[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cn3nucleus.png Midbrain (WC)].
<gallery>
*[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gray696.png Nuclei of the CNs (WC)].
Image:Cn3nucleus.png | Midbrain (WC)
*[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brain_stem_sagittal_section.svg Nuclei of the CNs - sagittal section of brain stem (WC)].
Image:Gray696.png | Nuclei of the CNs (WC)
Image:Brain_stem_sagittal_section.svg | Nuclei of the CNs - sagittal section of brain stem (WC)
</gallery>


==Pons==
==Pons==
Line 324: Line 370:
*Literally means ''blue spot''.
*Literally means ''blue spot''.
*Location: adjacent to midline + anterior to 4th ventricle.
*Location: adjacent to midline + anterior to 4th ventricle.
**Images:
***[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Locus_ceruleus_-_very_low_mag.jpg Locus ceruleus (LC) - very low mag. (WC)].
***[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Locus_ceruleus_-_high_mag.jpg LC - high mag. (WC)].
***[http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/File:Bouret_LC_anat2.jpg LC - labeled on MRI - (scholarpedia.org)].
***[http://www.med.univ-rennes1.fr/etud/pharmaco/media/locussag.jpg LC - labeled on MRI (univ-rennes1.fr)].<ref>URL: [http://www.med.univ-rennes1.fr/etud/pharmaco/media/alzheimerGB.htm#Locus%20coeruleus http://www.med.univ-rennes1.fr/etud/pharmaco/media/alzheimerGB.htm#Locus%20coeruleus]. Accessed on: 4 December 2010.</ref>


Microscopic features:
Microscopic features:
Line 336: Line 377:
Notes:
Notes:
*Pale in [[Parkinson disease]] due to neuronal loss.<ref name=Ref_PCPBoD8_677>{{Ref PCPBoD8|677}}</ref>
*Pale in [[Parkinson disease]] due to neuronal loss.<ref name=Ref_PCPBoD8_677>{{Ref PCPBoD8|677}}</ref>
====Images====
<gallery>
Image:Locus_ceruleus_-_very_low_mag.jpg | Locus ceruleus (LC) - very low mag. (WC)
Image:Locus_ceruleus_-_low_mag.jpg | Locus ceruleus (LC) - low mag. (WC)
Image:Locus_ceruleus_-_intermed_mag.jpg | Locus ceruleus (LC) - intermed. mag. (WC)
Image:Locus_ceruleus_-_high_mag.jpg | Locus ceruleus (LC) - high mag. (WC)
</gallery>
www:
*[http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/File:Bouret_LC_anat2.jpg LC - labeled on MRI - (scholarpedia.org)].


==Medulla oblongata==
==Medulla oblongata==
Line 351: Line 402:
**This is were [[Lewy body]] formation starts.<ref name=pmid19501577>{{cite journal |author=Miller VM, Kenny RA, Oakley AE, Hall R, Kalaria RN, Allan LM |title=Dorsal motor nucleus of vagus protein aggregates in Lewy body disease with autonomic dysfunction |journal=Brain Res. |volume=1286 |issue= |pages=165–73 |year=2009 |month=August |pmid=19501577 |doi=10.1016/j.brainres.2009.05.083 |url=}}</ref>
**This is were [[Lewy body]] formation starts.<ref name=pmid19501577>{{cite journal |author=Miller VM, Kenny RA, Oakley AE, Hall R, Kalaria RN, Allan LM |title=Dorsal motor nucleus of vagus protein aggregates in Lewy body disease with autonomic dysfunction |journal=Brain Res. |volume=1286 |issue= |pages=165–73 |year=2009 |month=August |pmid=19501577 |doi=10.1016/j.brainres.2009.05.083 |url=}}</ref>


Image: [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Medulla_oblongata_-_posterior_-_very_low_mag.jpg Medulla oblongata - very low mag. (WC)].
=====Image=====
<gallery>
Image:Medulla_oblongata_-_posterior_-_very_low_mag.jpg | Medulla oblongata - very low mag. (WC)
</gallery>
 
==Pituitary gland==
===Anatomy===
*Located in sella turcica below optic chiasm.
*Anterior lobe is epithelial.
*Posterior lobe is neuroepithelial.
*The infundibulum connects the pituitary to the brain
Schematic: [[File:Gray1181.png Pituitary gland - Gray's anatomy (WC)]].
 
 
====Images====
<gallery>
File:Anterior and posterior pituitary.jpg | Anterior & posterior pituitary. (WC)
File:Adenohypofýza HE.jpg | Adenohypophysis. (WC/Držiak)
</gallery>


=See also=
=See also=

Latest revision as of 12:34, 17 October 2022

This article covers basic (normal) neurohistology. It is essential to have a good grasp on neurohistology and neuroanatomy... before doing neuropathology.

This article has some overlap with the neuroanatomy article, as there isn't a clear divider between microscopic and macroscopic.

Normal cells

This section deals with normal cellular constituents of the CNS.

Overview

Central nervous system

Neuron

  • Abundant cytoplasm - key feature.
  • Often very large cells, with angled edges.
  • Prominent nucleolus.
  • Nissl substance (granular perinuclear material = rough endoplasmic reticulum).

Glial cells

  • Oligodendrocyte.
  • Astrocyte.
  • Microglia - macrophage of the brain (derived from monocyte).
    • Typically large cells with abundant cytoplasm.
      • Often have vesicles.
    • Rarely seen in normal tissue.
    • Three morphologic types:
      • Ramified microglia.
      • Hypertrophic microglia.
      • Dystrophic microglia - often seen in neurodegnerative disease.
  • Ependyma.
  • Choroid plexus.
    • Specialized ependymal cells
    • Cuboidal epithelial cells surrounding a core of capillaries and loose connective tissue.
    • Ventricular location.
Images

Types of neuroglia (WC/Blausen)

Peripheral nervous system

Ganglion cell

  • Nerve cell body.
  • Found in ganglions - encapsulated body ~ 100-300 μm.
  • Large round nucleus with prominent nucleolus - key feature.
  • Abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm.

Schwann cell

  • Principal glia of the PNS.
  • Myelinated or unmyelinated.
  • Ovoid, wavy nuclei.
  • Cells have a basal membrane.
  • Found in peripheral nerves.
  • Aka neurolemmocytes.
Images

WC:

Normal cellular constituents in a table

Cell Key feature Other features Image
Neuron cytoplasm Nissl substance (prominent
RER), "sharp" corners
in cell membrane, nucleolus
- usu. prominent[1]
red neurons (WC)
Astrocyte non-ovoid nucleus no cytoplasm (unsw.edu)
Oligodendrocyte round small nucleus peri-nuclear clearing (vetmed.vt.edu)
Microglia rod-like shape,
may have "bent" nucleus
typically have a sharply
demarcated bubbly cytoplasm;
rarely seen in normal tissue
(neuropathologyweb.org),
(ucsf.edu),(vcu.edu)

Neurons

There are many types of 'em. Broadly, they can be classified as:

  1. Pyramidal - have a pyramidal shape.
    1. Dentrites go to molecular layer.
    2. Axons go to outside of cortex.
  2. Non-pyramidal.

Motor neurons:

  • Coarse Nissl substance - key feature.
    • Nissl described as having a tigroid appearance.[2]
  • Polygonal shape.
  • Send dendrites in all directions.

Images

www:

Structures

This section deals with structures seen at several places in the CNS.

Grey matter and white matter

Grey matter White matter
Definition neurons present neurons absent
Extracellular
space (neuropil)
dense - darker pink (on H&E/HPS) fine mesh - lighter pink (on H&E/HPS)
Image
Right 2/3 of image. (WC/Nephron)
Left 1/3 of image. (WC/Nephron)

Additional images (white matter vs. grey matter):

Vessels

The small blood vessels in the CNS are separated from the surrounding tissue in histologic sections. This is normal. The spaces are called Virchow-Robin spaces.[3]

Histology by anatomical structure

This section deals with specific anatomical structures.

Subependyma

Features:[4]

  • Ependyma (simple ciliated cuboidal epithelium).
  • Subependymal plate - connective tissue with blood vessels.

Caudate

Features:

  • Neurons with adjacent ependymal lining.[5]
    • The caudate forms lateral wall of lateral ventricle.

Notes:

  • Caudate, putamen and nucleus accumbens are collectively called neostriatum.[6]

Putamen

Features:

  • Striatopallidal fibers AKA pencils of Wilson (also pencil fibers of Wilson[6] and Wilson's pencils[7]) - bundles of blue fibres (on H&E LFB).
  • Neurons:
    1. Small - GABA.
    2. Large (very rare: ~1 in 100-200) - cholingeric.

Notes:

  • Histologically identical to the caudate - but not adjacent to a ventricle.
    • The caudate is adjacent to an ependymal lined space, putamen is not.[8]
  • Necrotic putamen in methanol poisoning.[9]

Images

www:

Globus pallidus

  • AKA paleostriatum.[10]
  • Location:
    • Superior of the substantia innominata.
    • Medial to the putamen.

Features:

  • Histologically distinct from caudate and putamen.

Image

Hippocampus

Structures

Hippocampal formation:[11]

  1. Dentate gyrus.
  2. Hippocampus proper (AKA Ammon's horn) - this is subdivided:
    • Cornu ammonis 3 (CA3) - location: superior.
      • Large pyramidal neurons.
    • CA1 (AKA Sommer's sector) - location: inferior (next to subiculum).
      • Small dispersed pyramidal neurons.
    • CA2 - location: in between CA3 and CA1, lateral.
      • Narrow band of neurons between CA3 and CA1.
    • CA4 - location: medial (closest to dentate gyrus; CA4 sits in "open" part of "U").
  3. Subiculum (AKA subicular complex).
    • Transitions to the six layers in the entorhinal cortex.
      • No vacuolated looking stuff next to it.

Important notes:

  • CA1 - weak link, dies in ischemia, affected by hypoglycemia, degenerative diseases and toxins.
  • CA2 - resistant to ischemia.
  • CA4 - involved in epilepsy,[12] usu. normal in degenerative diseases.[13]

Images

www:

Layers of CA[14]

  1. Molecular layer - opposed to the dentate gyrus (of Hippocampal formation).
  2. Neurons (described above).
  3. Alveus - opposed to the lateral ventricle.
    • Connects to the mammillary bodies via the fornix (circuit of Papez).

Cerebellum

Main components:

Dentate nucleus

Features:[15]

  • Ribbon of grey matter.
    • Large neurons.
    • Small neurons.

Images

Cerebellar cortex

  • Layers (superficial to deep) - mnemonic MPG:[16]
    1. Molecular layer -- "very pink" on H&E.
      • Inhibitory interneurons: stellate cells, basket cells.
    2. Purkinje cell layer.
      • One cell layer thick - hueuege cells (~50-80 micrometers[1]).
        • Very large nucleus (~4x RBC diameter =~ 4x the size of granule cell).
          • Large nucleolus (~1x RBC diameter =~ size of granule cell).
    3. Granule cell layer -- "very blue" on H&E.
      • Granule cells (neurons) - majority of cells, small (~10 micrometres), round.
        • May look like small cell carcinoma to the uninitiated.
      • Golgi cells (interneurons) - few in number, elongated/columnar, 3-5x size of granule cell.

Notes:

  • Bergmann glia are found between the molecular layer & granular layer. They are normally not seen. They are increased & prominent in pathologic states (e.g. ischemia); "Bergmann gliosis".[17]

Images

www:

Cerebral cortex

Layers (superficial to deep):

  1. Molecular layer.
    • Empty appearing.
  2. Outer granular layer.
    • Higher cell density & smaller cells than pyramidal layer.
  3. Outer pyramidal layer.
  4. Inner granular layer.
    • Not prominent in frontal cortex.
    • Where the thalamic axons end.
    • Divided in three (a, b, c) in the calcarine cortex due to two white matter bands (external band of Baillarger, internal band of Baillarger) that are grossly identified as the line of Gennari.[18][19]
  5. Inner pyramidal layer.
    • Location of Betz neurons - large motor neurons of cerebral cortex.
  6. Multiforme layer (Polymorphic layer).

Images:

Cingulate cortex

  • Spindle neurons, AKA von Economo neurons.
    • Thought to be important in cognition and problem solving.[22]

Images

Pineal gland

Features:[23][24]

  • Cells in lobulated clusters or linear arrays (low power).
  • Pinealocyte:
    • Light staining and round nuclei with neuroendocrine look (i.e. salt-and-pepper chromatin).
    • Broad rim of light cytoplasm.
  • Astrocytes:
    • Cylindrical hyperchromatic nucleus ~ 1/2 the size of pinealocyte.

Notes:

  • Highly cellular structure - may be confused with (metastatic) small cell carcinoma.
  • Often calcified.

Images

www:

IHC

  • Synaptophysin +ve.[23]

Midbrain

Structures:

  • Substantia nigra (Parkinson's disease).
  • Nuclei of CN IV (posterior).
  • Nuclei of CN III (anterior).
  • Cerebral penduncles (anterior).
  • Red nuclei.

Schematics

Pons

Features:

Locus ceruleus

  • Literally means blue spot.
  • Location: adjacent to midline + anterior to 4th ventricle.

Microscopic features:

  • Pigmented neurons.
    • Produce norepinephrine.

Notes:

Images

www:

Medulla oblongata

Anatomy

Schematic: Medulla oblongata - Gray's anatomy (WC).

Anterior

  • Pyramids: adjacent to midline, anterior.
  • Olives: lateral and posterior to pyramids.

Posterior - important nuclei (location)

  • CN XII: 4th ventricle + adjacent to midline; medial to nucleus of CN X.[27]
  • CN X: 4th ventricle + lateral to nucleus of CN XII.
Image

Pituitary gland

Anatomy

  • Located in sella turcica below optic chiasm.
  • Anterior lobe is epithelial.
  • Posterior lobe is neuroepithelial.
  • The infundibulum connects the pituitary to the brain

Schematic: File:Gray1181.png Pituitary gland - Gray's anatomy (WC).


Images

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Perry, Arie; Brat, Daniel J. (2010). Practical Surgical Neuropathology: A Diagnostic Approach: A Volume in the Pattern Recognition series (1st ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 16. ISBN 978-0443069826.
  2. URL: http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/pathology/neuropathology/chapter1. Accessed on: 5 July 2010.
  3. URL: http://www.whonamedit.com/synd.cfm/43.html. Accessed on: 2 August 2011.
  4. Croul SE. 28 June 2010.
  5. URL: http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/pathology/neuropathology/chapter1. Accessed on: 2 July 2010.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Perry, Arie; Brat, Daniel J. (2010). Practical Surgical Neuropathology: A Diagnostic Approach: A Volume in the Pattern Recognition series (1st ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 23-34. ISBN 978-0443069826.
  7. Kimura M, Kato M, Shimazaki H, Watanabe K, Matsumoto N (December 1996). "Neural information transferred from the putamen to the globus pallidus during learned movement in the monkey". J. Neurophysiol. 76 (6): 3771–86. PMID 8985875. http://jn.physiology.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=8985875.
  8. URL: http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/pathology/neuropathology/chapter1. Accessed on: 22 December 2010.
  9. Bhatia, R.; Kumar, M.; Garg, A.; Nanda, A. (Dec 2008). "Putaminal necrosis due to methanol toxicity.". Pract Neurol 8 (6): 386-7. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2008.161976. PMID 19015300.
  10. Perry, Arie; Brat, Daniel J. (2010). Practical Surgical Neuropathology: A Diagnostic Approach: A Volume in the Pattern Recognition series (1st ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 23. ISBN 978-0443069826.
  11. URL: http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/pathology/neuropathology/chapter1. Accessed on: 2 July 2010.
  12. Ingvar, M. (1986). "Cerebral blood flow and metabolic rate during seizures. Relationship to epileptic brain damage.". Ann N Y Acad Sci 462: 194-206. PMID 3518570.
  13. D. Munoz. 27 July 2011.
  14. Perry, Arie; Brat, Daniel J. (2010). Practical Surgical Neuropathology: A Diagnostic Approach: A Volume in the Pattern Recognition series (1st ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 25. ISBN 978-0443069826.
  15. Perry, Arie; Brat, Daniel J. (2010). Practical Surgical Neuropathology: A Diagnostic Approach: A Volume in the Pattern Recognition series (1st ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 27. ISBN 978-0443069826.
  16. URL: http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/pathology/neuropathology/chapter1. Accessed on: 2 July 2010.
  17. Perry, Arie; Brat, Daniel J. (2010). Practical Surgical Neuropathology: A Diagnostic Approach: A Volume in the Pattern Recognition series (1st ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 18. ISBN 978-0443069826.
  18. Perry, Arie; Brat, Daniel J. (2010). Practical Surgical Neuropathology: A Diagnostic Approach: A Volume in the Pattern Recognition series (1st ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 24. ISBN 978-0443069826.
  19. URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11524/. Accessed on: 7 January 2011.
  20. URL: http://moon.ouhsc.edu/kfung/iacp-olp/apaq-text/N1-MS-01-01-Ans.htm and http://moon.ouhsc.edu/kfung/iacp-olp/apaq-text/n1-ms-01.htm. Accessed on: 31 October 2010.
  21. URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11524/. Accessed on: 7 January 2011.
  22. Allman, JM.; Hakeem, A.; Erwin, JM.; Nimchinsky, E.; Hof, P. (May 2001). "The anterior cingulate cortex. The evolution of an interface between emotion and cognition.". Ann N Y Acad Sci 935: 107-17. PMID 11411161.
  23. 23.0 23.1 Perry, Arie; Brat, Daniel J. (2010). Practical Surgical Neuropathology: A Diagnostic Approach: A Volume in the Pattern Recognition series (1st ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 25-26. ISBN 978-0443069826.
  24. 24.0 24.1 URL: http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au/mb140/corepages/endocrines/endocrin.htm. Accessed on: 31 October 2010.
  25. Croul SE. 28 June 2010.
  26. Mitchell, Richard; Kumar, Vinay; Fausto, Nelson; Abbas, Abul K.; Aster, Jon (2011). Pocket Companion to Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (8th ed.). Elsevier Saunders. pp. 677. ISBN 978-1416054542.
  27. Crossman, Alan R.; Neary, David. (2010). Neuroanatomy: An Illustrated Colour Text (4th ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 13. ISBN 978-0702030864.
  28. Miller VM, Kenny RA, Oakley AE, Hall R, Kalaria RN, Allan LM (August 2009). "Dorsal motor nucleus of vagus protein aggregates in Lewy body disease with autonomic dysfunction". Brain Res. 1286: 165–73. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2009.05.083. PMID 19501577.

External links