Neuropathology Introduction

Music to Oh Holy Night by Adolphe Adam, Lyrics by Arie Perry, M.D.

The brain is unique, from other organ systems
It has a functional neuroanatomy
Lesions at various sites, result in different symptoms
With patterns of selective vulnerability
The limited space, in the craniospinal axis
Means tribulations, when there are mass effects
The brain herniates, against the dural reflections
Cingulate gyrus under the falx, and the uncus transtentorially
The tonsils through foramen magnum, Duret hemorrhage secondarily

Astrocyte foot processes and tight endothelial junctions
Ensure the blood brain barrier remains intact
Keeping bad things out, is one of its major functions
Although this can backfire for a negative impact
Once in the brain, enjoying a safe haven
From the immune system, and therapeutic drugs
Increasing risk, from CNS infections
As well as malignancies, such as systemic metastases
With few possibilities, around for treating just such a disease


Response to injuries, appears in several fashions,
With astrocyte gliosis seen most commonly
For neurons, red is dead, it’s an association,
With hypoxic or ischemic injury
Rod cells are activated microglia,
Nodules are formed in encephalitides
Chromatolysis, results from disrupted axons,
In massive injury, gitter cells clean up debris
In massive injury, gitter cells clean up the debris