Diagnosis of Neurologic Disorders: Neurocytology and the Pathologic Reactions of the Nervous System

Introduction The principles o f anatomical localization are introduced in Chapter 3. Anatomical localization, however, is but one part o f the diagnosis of neurologic disorders; it is also necessary to determine the pathologic features o f the lesion involved. Identification of the pathologic condi­ tion requires knowledge o f the cellular elements o f the nervous system (neurocytology), the molecular and bio­ chemical bases o f their function, and the ways in which these cells react to noxious stimuli (pathologic reactions).