← Back to CoursesNeurology: Intermediate

Neuroanatomy Explorer

Drag to rotate · scroll to zoom · click regions to explore

View
Loading 3D model…

Click a region
to explore it

Memory Deck

Flip each card and rate whether you knew it. Your score is saved.

Term
Definition

Deck complete — score saved.

Match the Pairs

Match each term to its definition. Finish the board to earn your score.

All matched — score saved.

Concept Constellation

Every key idea in this course, mapped as an explorable 3D constellation. Drag to rotate, scroll to zoom, click a node.

Click a node to read its definition.

Headache, Migraine, and Facial Pain

Manual: General · Subject: Neurology

Differentiate primary and secondary headaches and apply a structured diagnostic approach to dangerous presentations.

Headache Classification

Big picture

Headache evaluation starts by separating primary headache disorders from secondary headaches caused by structural, vascular, infectious, inflammatory, or metabolic disease.

Primary headache disorders

Migraine

  • Often pulsatile, unilateral, moderate to severe
  • May include nausea, photophobia, phonophobia, aura

Tension-type

  • Pressing or tightening quality
  • Usually bilateral and not worsened markedly by activity
⚠️

Red flags

Thunderclap onset, neurologic deficits, fever, immunosuppression, cancer, papilledema, new headache after age 5050, and headache after trauma require urgent evaluation.

Which symptom is most characteristic of migraine rather than tension-type headache?

What does a thunderclap headache suggest until proven otherwise?

Migraine Mechanisms and Management

Mechanistic model

Migraine involves trigeminovascular activation, neurogenic inflammation, and altered sensory processing. Aura is thought to reflect cortical spreading depression.

Migraine treatment concepts

Acute treatment
NSAIDs, triptans, antiemetics, and selected newer agents
Prevention
Lifestyle measures and preventive medications when attacks are frequent or disabling
Avoidance
Identify and reduce triggers such as sleep disruption
Emergency concern
New focal deficits or atypical features need evaluation for secondary causes

Aura in migraine is most closely linked to:

Name one common migraine trigger.

Facial Pain and Secondary Causes

Approach to facial pain

  1. 1

    Step 1: Determine whether pain is neuralgic, inflammatory, dental, or headache-related.

  2. 2

    Step 2: Look for sensory loss, autonomic symptoms, or rash.

  3. 3

    Step 3: Consider trigeminal neuralgia, temporal arteritis, sinus disease, or zoster when appropriate.

Electric shock-like facial pain triggered by touch is classic for:

Why is giant cell arteritis important in new headache evaluation?