(2) Basic Neuro Exam Flashcards
What type of onset is typical for cerebral hemorrhages, vascular diseases, and infections, and head trauma?
Sudden/abrupt onset
What type of onset is typical for demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis?
Intermittent, relapsing episodes
Dysarthria is usually caused by what?
Defect in motor control of speech aparatus
Aphasia is usually caused by what?
Lesion in dominant hemisphere (usually left)
What is A/Ox4? Where is it documented?
Oriented to person, place, time, and event
Documented in objective
What is anhedonia?
When the things that used to give you pleasure no longer work
(occurs w/ depression)
Associated sx to ask about for a patient presenting with neuro findings (there’s a few…)
Headache
Dizziness/vertigo
Weakness (generalized, proximal)
Numbness/abnormal/absent sensation
Syncope
Seizures
Tremors
Loss of bowel or bladder control
What type of response would you expect from a pt who is alert?
Pt opens eyes, looks at you, fully responds appropriately to stimuli
What type of response would you expect from a lethargic pt?
Pt appear drowsy but opens eyes to look at you, responds to questions, then falls asleep
What type of response would you expect from an obtunded pt?
Obtunded pt opens eyes and looks at you but responds slowly and is somewhat confused
Alertness and interest in the environment are decreased
What type of response would you expect from a pt in a stupor?
Arouses from sleep only after painful stimuli
Verbal responses slow/absent
Pt lapses into an unresponsive state when the stimulus ceases
Minimal awareness of self or the environment
What mental status finding is common for older adults during hospitalization?
Delirium
What diagnoses must be eliminated before diagnosing dementia?
Depression
Delirium
What is the difference bw “Cranial nerves intact” and “Cranial nerves grossly intact”?
“Cranial nerves intact” means that all of the cranial nerves were actually tested instead of observed (‘grossly”)
Pt with history of smoking and use of cocaine presents with loss of smell. This can indicate what type of lesion?
Ipsilateral lesion
What is myopia? What cranial nerve is involved?
Impaired distance vision (near sighted)
CN II
What is presbyopia? What cranial nerve is involved?
Impaired near vision (farsighted)
CN II
Lesion to the optic nerve anterior to the chiasm cause what kind of blindness?
Ipsilateral
What cranial nerves are being tested in the pupillary light reflex?
CN II and III
What muscles are involved in pupillary convergence?
Medial rectus muscles
What muscles are involved in accomodation of the lens?
Ciliary muscle
Pt presenting with ptosis, asymmetrical pupils, and a “down and out” eye may have a lesion in what cranial nerve?
CN III (oculomotor)
Pupil dilation or asymmetry is due to what?
Disruption of parasympathetic fibers
Space-occupying or expanding masses compressing on the brainstem can affect what cranial nerve? What is the second effect?
CN III
No output via somatic efferents => external strabismus
A lesion in CN IV results in what symptoms?
Extorsion of the eye
Weakness of downward gaze (due to weak SO M.)
Vertical diplopia
Head tilting away from lesion
What is the most common isolated CN palsy?
CN VI palsy
Pt has history of subarachnoid hemorrhage and syphilis presnts with medial strabismus and horizontal diplopia. Where is the lesion?
CN VI
What planes can nystagmus occur?
All of them (vertical, horizontal, and rotatory)
How is nystagmus lateralized?
Based on the direction of the fast beat
What are some common causes of nystagmus?
Early vision impairment
Disorders of labyrinth and cerebellum
Drug toxicity
What are the 3 components of testing CN V?
Facial sensation - pinprick/light touch, hot/cold to forehead, cheek, and chin
Motor fxn - lateral jaw movement and jaw clenching
Corneal reflex - tests orbicularis oculi m.
Pt presents with decreased sensation to the face. Upon examination, his jaw deviates to one side and there is loss of the corneal reflex. Where is his lesion?
CN V
What are the afferent and efferent limbs of the corneal reflex?
Afferent - CN V
Efferent - CN VII
What is the parasympathetic function of CN VII?
Secrete saliva and tears
What is the sensory function of CN VII?
Taste for salty, sweet, bitter substances to anterior 2/3 of tongue
What is crocodile tears syndrome?
Abberent regeneration of CN VII nerve after trauma => pt sheds tears when chewing