Lab Skills Flashcards
How to test for olfactory nerve?
Nostril patency
Smell
Test for optic nerve II
confrontation (peripheral)
Snellen
Tests for Occulomotor (III), Trochlear (IV), Abducens (VI)
Pupil size with light
Follow light
Cardinal positions 6
Tests for Trigeminal V
Clench jaw, palpate clenched jaw, pull chin (pain = abnormal)
Touch 3 places on face with cotton ball - tell me when you feel it
Corneal reflex (we don’t do)
Test for Facial VII
Smile, frown, close eyes tight, raise eyebrows, show teeth
Puff cheeks & pop
Anterior 2/3 taste - we don’t do
Test for Acoustic VIII
Whisper test (2 syllables)
Test for Glossopharyngeal IX and Vagus X
Tongue depresser - uvula “ahhh”
Posterior 1/3 taste - we don’t do
Test for Spinal Accessory XI
Neck, turn head left
Hand to cheek
Raise shoulders against resistance
Test for Hypoglossal XII
Stick tongue out - inspect, midline, how far?
“Light, tight, dynamite”
We assess muscles in neuro for
Size
Strength
Tone
Involuntary movements
Muscle size test
ROM of neck, shrug shoulders resistance, tighten stomach (can you feel in back), check posture
ROM in wrist, fingers, shoulders, ankles
ROM of shoulders
Grab arm, lift arm above head
Lift arm towards back
Strength test for arms
Bicep, triceps, hands in fist, push against my hands , now I’ll push against yours
Strength test for legs
Hands around ankle, push against my hand, now I’ll push against you
Test arms for tone
Palpate arms, hands, cap refill, squeeze my hands
Balance test (cerebellum)
Gait (walking, tandem)
Romberg
Shallow knee bend (stand and bend both knees, then one)
Assessing coordination and skilled movements
Rapid alternative movements (hands on legs flipping)
Finger to finger (touch my finger, thumb to each finger)
Finger to nose
Heel to shin
Assess sensory system
Alert, oriented?
Tests for spinothalamic tract
Pain - touching w sharp object, any pain? Sharp or dull (several spots)
Temperature - we don’t test
Light touch - cotton ball, where you feel?
Test for posterior column tract
Vibration - tuning fork (ankles up, bony prom)
Position - kinaesthisa - toe up or down, finger up or down
Tests for tactile discrimination (fine touch)
Stereognosis - identify object in hand
Graphesthesia - draw a # in hand/forearm
Two point discrimination - paper clip, poke hand 2 spots?
Extinction - same spot both sides, can you feel?
Point location - two parts of body (diff)
Deep tendon reflexes
Biceps
Triceps
Patellar
Achilles
(Not testing):
Brachioradialis & clonus
Superficial (cutaneous) reflexes
Abdominal - umbilicus out, back of hammer, 4 quads
Plantar - upside down J (end at big toe)
Cremasteric (we don’t do)
Reflex scale
0 = no response
1 = diminished
2 + = normal
3 = higher than normal
4 = hyperactive
