Chapter 16 - Reflexes Flashcards
Agnosis
loss of ability to recognize objects through a particular sensory system; may be visual, auditory, or tactile.
Ataxia
inability to coordinate muscle movements, resulting in difficulty in walking, talking, and performing self-care activities
Clonus
abnormal movement marked by alternating contraction and relaxation of a muscle occurring in rapid succession.
Rigidity
increase in muscle tone at rest characterized by increased resistance to passive stretch.
Spasiticity
sustained increase in tension of a muscle when it is passively lengthened or stretched
Mental Status Exam
Intellect ( memory, calc, orient, recog)
New Learning - teach a task
Judgement - give scenario
Perception
Cranial Nerves
Olfactory - smell Optic - Snellen Chart Oculomotor - pupil size and relax Trochlear - follow finger Trigeminal - up & down, left & right Abducens - close eyes and touch face, close jaw Facial - raise eyebrows and monitor symm Vestibulocochlear - Weber test (tuning fork) Glossopharyngeal - tongue movements Vagus - tongue movements Accessory - raise shoulders Hypoglossal- stick out tongue straight
Inborn Reflex
Rapid, Involuntary motor response to stimulus
Learned Reflex
results from practice, repetition
Physical Assessment
Mental status exam Cranial nerve assessment Reflex testing Motor system assessment Sensory system assessment Coordination Gait
Stretched muscle
Stretch activates muscle spindle
Sensory neurons synapse directly with motor neurons in spinal cord
motor neurons cause stretched muscle to contract
Reciprocal inhibition also occurs—IIa fibers synapse with interneurons that inhibit motor neurons of antagonistic muscles
Flexor (Withdrawal) Reflex
Initiated by painful stimulus and causes automatic withdrawal. Brain can override.
Crossed Extensor Reflex
Flexor reflexes in weight-bearing limbs to maintain balance.
Stimulated side withdrawn (flexed)
Contralateral side extended.
Plantar Reflex
Tests integrity of (L4–S2)
Stimulus: stroke lateral aspect of sole
Normal Response: downward flexion of toes
Babinski’s sign: Hallux dorsiflexes; other digits fan laterally, normal in infants (1yr)
Achilles
S1, S2
Patellar
L3, L4
Biceps
C5, C6
Triceps
C6, C7
Brachioradialis
C5, C6
Motor System Exam Assesses what 4 things
Body positioning, involuntary movements, muscle tone, muscle strength
Sensory System Exam Assesses what 6 things
Pain Sensation
Light touch sensation
position
Stereognosia (close eyes and guess what’s in hands),
Graphesthesia (write letter with eyes close)
Extinction
Coordination Tests
Rapid alternating movements
Point-to-Point movements
Romberg (eyes closed, stand still for 5-10 secs)
