Equine Neurologic Examination Flashcards
What are some signs of decreased consciousness? What are 4 causes?
depression, obtundation, stupor, coma
- cerebrum lesion
- brainstem lesion
- metabolic disturbance
- systemic illness
What are some signs of increased consciousness? What are 2 causes?
anxiety, mania, aggression, delirium, confusion
- cerebral cortical lesion
- encephalopathy
What are 3 common causes of seizures?
- forebrain lesion
- encephalopathy
- intoxication
What are some signs of lethargy in horses?
- blank facial expression
- drooping ears and eyelids
- sluggish responsiveness to stimuli
- reduced voluntary activity
What are some signs of stupor in horses?
- stands in one place
- head held low
- only responds to strong stimuli
What is the difference between semi-comatose and comatose states?
SEMI-COMATOSE = recumbent, but responds
COMATOSE = recumbent and unresponsive
What are some behaviors that indicate neurologic disease in horses?
- self-mutilation
- head pressing
- compulsive walking
- yawning
- head pressing
- aggression
- timidity
- loss of affection
- excessive flehmen
What are some postures that indicate neurologic disease in horses?
- wide/narrow-based stance
- tilt (peripheral vestibular)
- turn/circling (central)
- leaning
- recumbency
- opisthotonos
What are the 12 cranial nerves?
- olfactory
- optic
- oculomotor
- trochlear
- trigeminal
- abducens
- facial
- vestibulocochlear
- glossopharyngeal
- vagus
- accessory
- hypoglossal
What is the major function of the optic nerve? What 2 tests are used for assessment?
afferent pathway for vision and light
- menace
- PLR
What are the major functions of the oculomotor nerve? What 2 tests are used for assessment?
pupillary constriction and extraocular muscle movement
- PLR
- medial movement of the globe
What is the major function of the trochlear nerve? What test is used for assessment?
extraocular muscle movement (dorsal oblique)
ventrolateral rotation of globe
What are the sensory and motor functions of the trigeminal nerve? What tests are used for assessment?
SENSORY - head and face
- ear, eyelid, lip reflexes
- pain perception
MOTOR - mastication muscles
- chewing, jaw tone
- mascle mass (temporal, masseter, pterygoid)
What is the major function of the abducens nerve? What 2 tests are used for assessment?
extraocular muscle movement
- eyeball retraction (corneal reflex)
- lateral movement of globe
What is the major function of the facial nerve? What test is used for assessment?
innervates muscles of facial expression
ear, eyelid, and lip tone, reflexes, movements, and symmetry
What are the major functions of the vestibulocochlear nerve? What 6 tests are used for assessment?
afferent branch of the vestibular system and hearing
- head posture
- induced eyeball movement
- normal vestibular nystagmus
- gait
- blindfold test
- response to noise
What is the major function of the glossopharyngeal nerve? What 2 tests are used for assessment?
sensory/motor pharynx
- swallowing (observation, palpation)
- endoscopy
What is the major function of the vagus nerve? How is the accessory nerve assessed?
sensory/motor pharynx and larynx
slap test
What is the major function of the hypoglossal nerve? How is it assessed?
motor to tongue
tongue size and symmetry
Cranial nerve tests:
How are the upper eyelashes used to asses neurologic disease?
normally, eyelashes with be at an upward angle, but when horses are in pain or have some neurological disease, the eyelashes will begin to turn downward
How is the trigeminal nerve assessed? What are 2 effects when it is not working properly?
observe facial symmetry and test facial sensation
- atrophy of temporalis, masseter, and pterygoid nerves responsible for mastication
- loss of sensation