Virtual Microscopy	Choose another topic Cardiovascular Respiratory Renal and Urinary Tract Musculoskeletal Neuro(CNS and PNS) Gastrointestinal Reproductive Endocrine Hematopoiesis and Lymphoid Skin

Case 1:

A 21-year-old female is brought to the ER following a motor vehicle accident. While in the ER she passes a large bloody vaginal discharge. She tells you she is 10 weeks pregnant. You sent the specimen to Surgical Pathology for analysis.

Slides: [ten week gestation forebrain] [ten week gestation forebrain cortex] [ten week gestation forebrain ventricular zone]

1. What are the main features of the cerebral hemispheres and ventricles at this stage?
2. Describe the nuclear cytoplasmic ratio (N/C) ratio of the cells in the ventricular zone? What does this imply about the functional differentiation state of these cells?
3. How do the cells in the cortex arise?
4. What cell type are thee cortical cells at this stage (neurons?, astrocytes?, oligodendrocytes?)

Case 2:

A 42 year old female enters premature labor at 24 weeks gestation. Despite aggressive efforts the infant dies of respiratory complications.

Slides: [20 week gestation forebrain] [20 week gestation forebrain cortex]

1. What are the main features of the cerebral hemispheres and ventricles at this stage?
2. How does the 24 week fetal brain differ from the 10 week embryonic brain?
3. What composes the eosinophilic (pale pink) “neuropil” between the cerebral cortex and the ventricle?
4. What types of nucleated cells are within the pink neuropil at this point in development?

Case 3:

A full term fetus shows cyanosis shortly after birth. A congenital heart defect is identified and corrected surgically at day 10 postnatal. Multiple postoperative complications ensue and the baby dies at 15 days of age.

Slides: [40 week forebrain #1] [40 week forebrain #2] [adult forebrain #1] [adult forebrain #2] [normal adult cerebral cortex]

1. What are the main features of the cerebral hemisphere and ventricles at birth? How does it differ from the previous stages?
2. How do the gross appearances of the neonatal and adult brains differ?

Summary of external appearance of brain at 10, 20, and 40 weeks gestation