Clinical: Sensation

Question 1

Peripheral nerve mononeuropathy

Answer 1

Carpal tunnel, sensory loss with that nerves distribution and weakened muscles

Question 2

Peripheral polyneuropathy

Answer 2

Disease of peripheral nerves, involving sensory alone (glove and stocking), motor or both

Can affect small unmyelinated nerves, large myelinated or myelin e.g axonal damage by alcohol or diabetes mellitus (small unmyelinated)

Question 3

Lesion in single nerve root

Answer 3

Loss of sensation (dermatome?) weakened muscles.

Loss of reflexes

Question 4

Spinal cord lesions pin test

Answer 4

Anterior: spares posterior sensory clumns

Central: spares post columns and maybe power

hemicord: pin prick abnormal on other side, position vibration on same side

Question 5

Multiple Sclerosis

Answer 5

Autoimmune disorder of CNS, lesions in brain and spinal cord, sensory symptoms often appear first

Question 6

Examinations of sensation

Answer 6

Light touch/ Pin prick: do eyes closed, irregulr stimuli, map loss from area of decreased to normal
Vibration: tuning fork, test how long vibration felt
Joint position: Ask patient if joint is going up or down