Lecture 1: Approach to the Neurologic Patient Flashcards
What is the most important thing when it comes to neuro assessments?
Change from baseline.
What makes up the CNS?
- Brain
- Spinal Cord
What makes up the PNS?
- Autonomic (Symp and Parasymp)
- Somatic
Where is Broca’s area?
Frontal lobe (dominant side)
Speaking and writing
Describe what each lobe does.
- Frontal: Decision-making, speech, intelligence
- Parietal: Interpretation and processing of information
- Temporal Lobe: understand language, memory, hearing, organization
- Occipital: Interpreting vision
Where is Wernicke’s area?
Temporal lobe
Ability to understand speech
What is the main purpose of the thalamus?
Relaying signals back and forth.
What part of the brain controls breathing?
Medulla oblongata
What are the 3 meninges?
- Dura mater
- Arachnoid
- Pia mater
Our blood vessels sit within the subarachnoid space.
Where do I find Upper Motor Neurons and what do they do?
- Brain and spinal cord
- Tell the lower motor neurons to relax
What happens with an UMN lesion?
- Antagonist muscle will remain contracted
- Spasticity
What happens with a LMN lesion?
It will stay relaxed (aka muscle weakness)
Lower lesion lax
Lesion Table for Motor Neurons
What makes up a neuro exam? (5)
- Mental Status
- Cranial Nerves
- Motor
- Reflexes
- Sensory
What are the 5 levels of consciousness?
- Alert
- Lethargy (verbal, slow to respond)
- Obtundation (constant stimulation to stay awake)
- Stupor (vigorous, painful, constant stimulation)
- Coma (no response)
Sleeping is not altered because if you wake them up, they will become al
ALOSC
What is praxis?
Muscle memory (like brushing teeth)
sounds like practiced
What does it mean to write neuro grossly intact?
It is purely off observation.
Must write CN 2-12 are grossly intact
Do not write no focal neuro deficits unless you tested it specifically.
What size are pupils normally?
2-6mm
What do pinpoint pupils suggest?
- Opiate OD
- Pontine hemorrhage
What do dilated pupils suggest?
- Severe anoxia-ischemia
- Anticholinergic drugs
Dilated pupils are ALWAYS abnormal
What do irregular pupil shapes suggest?
Traumatic orbital injury
What is the hippus phenomenon?
- Alternating dilation and contraction of pupil
- Associated with early signs of brain herniation or seizure activity