Motor Examination prep

Question 1

Why perform a motor examination?

Answer 1

Weakness
Trauma
Changes in gait

Question 2

Whats involved in a motor examination?

Answer 2

Movement of Limbs - Tone
Against resistance - Power
Reflexes

Question 3

How may weakness and wasting present?

Answer 3

Wasting of thenar eminence

Wasting of left leg

Question 4

Explain the path of the upper motor neurones?

Answer 4

1. Motor cortex arises in the brain to the anterior horn (a relay station at the spinal cord) then from the spinal cord to muscles.

Question 5

Where do upper motor neurons cross?

Answer 5

At Medulla.
Hence if there was damage between brain and anterior horn then the contralateral (opposite) side of the body would be affected.

Question 6

Where do LMN cross?

Answer 6

At spinal levels.

Question 7

What would damage to LMN result in?

Answer 7

Ipsilateral (same) side of body would be affected

Damage between anterior horn to the muscle.

Question 8

Clonus

Answer 8

Series of involuntary, rhytmic muscular contractions and relaxations.