Open AccessAnatomical Features of the Developing Brain Implicated in Pathogenesis of Hypoxic‐Ischemic Injury
Author(s) -
Rorke Lucy B.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
brain pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.986
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1750-3639
pISSN - 1015-6305
DOI - 10.1111/j.1750-3639.1992.tb00694.x
Subject(s) - fetus , nervous system , central nervous system , encephalopathy , hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy , medicine , hypoxia (environmental) , pathology , ischemia , in utero , neuroscience , physiology , biology , pregnancy , genetics , organic chemistry , oxygen , chemistry
The developing nervous system is subject to damage from lack of vital substances necessary for normal maturation and function as well as from trauma or a variety of toxins and infectious agents. By far, the most important of these is inadequate oxygen delivery to the fetus in utero , and/or during the intrapartum and/or early neonatal period. Many types of lesions have been described under the rubric of hypoxic‐ischemic encephalopathy, a major proportion of which are found only in the immature nervous system and essentially are never seen later in life. Moreover, a large number are primarily hemorrhagic rather than ischemic in character. The unique character and distribution of these lesions results from a collision of the changing anatomy of the developing nervous system and pathophysiological factors afflicting the immature organism. Whereas the majority of hypoxic‐ischemic lesions in the fetus/neonate fall into this group, abnormalities characteristically found in the mature nervous system are also seen. Recognition of the anatomic and physiological features peculiar to the developing nervous system will assist in diagnosis of hypoxic‐ischemic damage peculiar to the fetus and neonate.