Health Hsitory (Nervous System) Flashcards
What should you ask yourself when a neurological disease is suspected?
- What is the localization of the responsible lesion
- What is the underlying patho physiology that explains the patients symptoms and neurological findings
What are the components of a neurological examination?
- Mental status
- Cranial nerves
- Motor system
- Sensory system
- Reflexes
How should you test the extremities ?
Test for
1. Pain
2. Temperature
3. Touch
4. Compare distal with proximal areas
*patients eyes are closed
While testing for pain and temperature what are you checking for?
- Spinothalamic tracts is working correctly
While testing for position and vibration what are you checking for?
Posterior columns are working correctly
While testing for light touch what are you checking for?
- Spinothalamic tract
- Posterior columns
*make sure they are intact
How should you test for pain?
- Use a disposable object like a broken tongue depressor
- Ask if the prick is sharp or dull
*does this feel the same on both sides
How to test for vibration?
- Tap a 128Hz tuning fork on your hand, place on DIP joint of the patients finger
- Ask if the patient feels a buzz
- Start distal
How to test for proprioception?
- Hold big toe by its side between your thumb and index finger
- Pull away from other toes, and move it up and down
- Ask the patient to identify the direction of movement
- Start distal then repeat with finger
What does assess for discriminative sensation test for?
- Testing the ability of the sensory cortex to analyze and interpret sensations
How to test for stereognosis?
- Place a key or familiar object in the patients hand and ask the patient to identify it
How to test for graphesthesia (number identification)
- Outline a large number in the patients palm and ask the patient to identify the number
*continuous number
How to test for two-point discrimination
- Use two ends of an open paper clip and touch the finger pad/extremity in two places simultaneously
- Ask the patient to identify 1 touch or 2
How to test for point localization
- Lightly touch a point on the patients skin and ask the patient to point to that spot
How to test for extinction
Touch an area on both sides of the body a the same time and ask if the patient feel 1 spot or two
What is a 0/0 muscle strength
No muscular contraction detected
What is a 1 for muscle strength
A barely detectable flicker or trace of contraction
What is a 2 for muscle strength
Active movement of the body part with gravity eliminated
What is a 3 for muscle strength
Active movement against gravity
What is 4 for muscle strength
Active movement against gravity and some resistance