Neuro Flashcards
What is the corpus callosum?
a bundle of nerve fibers responsible for communication between the hemispheres
What are the four lobes of the brain?
frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital
The lobes are composed of a substance known as?
gray matter
What does gray matter do?
Mediates higher level functions such as memory, perception, communication, and initiation of voluntary movements
Where is the Diencephalon and what organs are involved?
The diencephalon lies beneath the cerebral hemispheres and consists of the thalamus and hypothalamus.
Most sensory impulses travel through what type of matter? that matter belongs to what organ? what is the function of the matter once it received these impulses?
Most sensory impulses travel through the gray matter of the thalamus, which is responsible for screening and directing the impulses to specific areas in the cerebral cortex.
Which nervous system is the hypothalamus part of? The SNS or PNS
The hypothalamus is part of the autonomic nervous system, which is a part of the peripheral nervous system
Responsibilities of the hypothalamus
The hypothalamus regulates water balance, appetite, sleep cycles, pain perception, emotional status, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate.
Function of the frontal lobe
Directs voluntary, skeletal actions. Influences communication (talking and writing), emotions, intellect, reasoning ability, judgment, and behavior. Contains Broca area.
In the frontal lobe, what side of the lobe controls the right side of the body?
Left side of lobe controls right side of body
Broca area
Responsible for speech
In the frontal lobe, what side of the lobe controls the left side of the body?
Right side of lobe controls left side of body
Function of the parietal lobe
Interprets tactile sensations, including touch, pain, temperature, shapes, and two-point discrimination.
Function of the occipital lobe
Ability to read with understanding and is the primary visual receptor center.
Function of the temporal lobe
Receives and interprets impulses from the ear. Contains Wernicke area, which is responsible for interpreting auditory stimuli.
What is the primary visual receptor of the brain?
Occipital lobe
Where is the brainstem located?
in relation to the cerebral cortex and spinal cord
Located between the cerebral cortex and the spinal cord
What are the 3 parts of the brainstem?
The midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata
The brainstem is mostly made of…
Nerve fibers
What is the function of the midbrain
A relay center for ear and eye reflexes, and relays impulses between the higher cerebral centers and the lower pons, medulla, cerebellum, and spinal cord
What part of the brain is responsible for various reflex actions
The pons
What links the cerebellum to the cerebrum and the midbrain to the medulla?
The pons
What is the function of the medulla oblongata?
The medulla oblongata contains the nuclei for cranial nerves, and has centers that control and regulate respiratory function, heart rate and force, and blood pressure.
Where is the cerebellum located?
The cerebellum, located behind the brain stem and under the cerebrum
How many parts does the cerebellum have?
two hemispheres
What are the functions of the cerebellum?
Coordination and smoothing of voluntary movements, maintenance of equilibrium, and maintenance of muscle tone.
The inner part of the spine is made of what kind of matter?
Gray matter
The outer part of the spine is made of what kind of matter?
White matter
Spinal cord function
Conducts sensory impulses up, conducts motor impulses down to neurons that stimulate glands and muscles throughout the body, and is responsible for simple reflex activity
Motor impulses are conducted to the muscles by what two neural pathways?
Descending pathways; the pyramidal (corticospinal) tract and extrapyramidal tract
What are the two types of fibers of the PNS?
somatic and autonomic
These fibers carry CNS impulses to voluntary skeletal muscles
Somatic or Autonomic
Somatic fibers
These fibers carry CNS impulses to smooth, involuntary muscles
Somatic or Autonomic
Autonomic fibers
(in the heart and glands)
What nervous system mediates conscious, or voluntary, activities?
Somatic nervous system
What nervous system mediates unconscious, or involuntary, activities?
Autonomic nervous system
The sensory root of each spinal nerve innervates an area of the skin called a
Dermatome
This is activated during stress and elicits responses such as decreased gastric secretions, bronchiole dilatation, increased pulse rate, and pupil dilatation
Sympathetic nervous system
“Fight or Flight”
The sympathetic fibers arise from which part(s) of the spinal cord?
From the thoracolumbar level (T1 to L2) of the spinal cord
What nervous system restores and maintains normal body functions, for example, by decreasing heart rate.
Parasympathetic nervous system
The parasympathetic fibers arise from which part(s) of the spinal cord?
From the craniosacral regions (S1 to S4 and cranial nerves III, VI, IX, and X).
What cranial nerve carries smell impulses from nasal mucous membrane to brain?
Cranial nerve 1, Olfactory
What nerve carries visual impulses from eye to brain?
Cranial nerve 2, Optic
What cranial nerve contracts eye muscles to control eye movements, constricts pupils, and elevates eyelids
Cranial nerve 3, Oculomotor
What nerve carries sensory impulses of pain, touch, and temperature from the face to the brain
Cranial nerve 5, Trigeminal
What nerve influences clenching and lateral jaw movements (biting, chewing)
Cranial nerve 5, Trigeminal
What nerve controls lateral eye movements
Cranial nerve 5, Abducens
Which cranial nerve’s sensory fibers detect taste on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and stimulate secretion from the submaxillary, sublingual, and lacrimal glands?
Cranial nerve 6, Facial
What is the mnemonic for cranial nerve names?
Oh
Oh
Oh
To
Touch
And
Feel
Very
Good
Velvet
Ah
Ha
What is the mnemonic for cranial nerve impulses?
Some
Say
Money
Matters
But
My
Brother
Says
Big
Boobs
Matter
More
What cranial nerve supplies the facial muscles and affects facial expressions (smiling, frowning, closing eyes)
Cranial nerve 7, Facial
What cranial nerve contains sensory fibers for hearing and balance?
Cranial nerve 8, Vestibulocochlear
What cranial nerve detects taste on posterior third of tongue and result in the gag reflex when stimulated.
Cranial nerve 9, Glossopharyngeal
What cranial nerve provides secretory fibers to the parotid salivary glands; promotes swallowing movement
Cranial nerve 9, Glossopharyngeal
What cranial nerve carries sensations from the throat, larynx, heart, lungs, bronchi, gastrointestinal tract, and abdominal organs; aids in swallowing, speaking, and digestive juice production.
Cranial nerve 10, Vagus
What cranial nerve innervates the neck muscles (sternocleidomastoid and trapezius), promoting movement of the shoulders, head rotation, and larynx?
Cranial nerve 11, (Spinal) Accessory
What cranial nerve innervates tongue muscles that promote the movement of food and talking
Cranial nerve 12, Hypoglossal
You patient comes into the ER experiencing an aura, should you be alarmed?
An aura is an auditory, visual, or motor sensation that forewarns the client that a seizure is about to occur. As the nurse, you need to take safety measures to protect the patient.
In a neuro assessment, what does dizziness or lightheadedness indicate?
Dizziness or lightheadedness may be related to carotid artery disease, cerebellar abscess, Ménière disease, or inner ear infection.
In a neuro assessment, what do issues with balance and coordination indicate?
May indicate neurologic diseases involving the cerebellum, basal ganglia, extrapyramidal tracts, or the vestibular part of cranial nerve VIII (acoustic)
What factors may increase the risk of falls related to cerebral blood flow and vestibular function?
Diminished cerebral blood flow and vestibular response
In a neuro assessment, what can numbness and/or tingling indicate?
Loss of sensation, tingling, or burning (paresthesia) may occur with damage to the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves.
You are performing a neuro assessment on a new admission, they communicate that they sometimes experiences numbness and tingling. What is the next step of the nurse?
use COLDSPA to further assess
You patient is complaining that her 70-year-old aunt has a picky palate. She complains that this may be a loss of taste and scent sensation. What is the next step of the nurse?
Loss of taste and scent is common in older adults
In a neuro assessment, what does a decrease in the ability to smell mean?
Might be related to a dysfunction of olfactory nerve or a brain tumor
In a neuro assessment, what does a decrease in the ability to taste mean?
A decrease in the ability to taste may be related to dysfunction of cranial nerves VII (facial) or IX (glossopharyngeal).
What can ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or hearing loss indicate?
Ringing in the ears and decreased ability to hear may occur with dysfunction of cranial nerve VIII (acoustic)
Injury to this part of the brain can impair the ability to speak or understand verbal language.
Cerebral cortex
A patient is experiencing difficulty swallowing, what may this be an indicator of?
CVA; Parkinson disease; myasthenia gravis; Guillain-Barré syndrome; or dysfunction of cranial nerves IX (glossopharyngeal), X (vagus), or XII (hypoglossal).
Loss of bowel control or urinary retention and bladder distention are seen under what circumstance(s)?
With spinal cord injury or tumors
What are Fasciculations and what circumstances can they be observed?
They are continuous, rapid twitching of resting muscles. May be seen in lower motor neuron disease
What type of muscle contractions are common in Parkinson’s disease, cerebellar disease, and multiple sclerosis?
Tremors: involuntary muscle contractions, with Parkinson’s showing 3–6 per second “pin rolling” at rest, and cerebellar disease/MS showing variable rates with intentional movement.
In which conditions may tics (involuntary repetitive twitching )movements) be observed?
Tics may be seen in Tourette syndrome, habit psychogenic tics, or tardive dyskinesias.
What is myoclonus and in which conditions can it occur?
Myoclonus (sudden jerks of arms or legs) can occur normally when falling asleep or during grand mal seizures.
What is chorea and which conditions it is commonly seen?
Chorea (sudden rapid, jerky movements). Chorea is seen in Huntington disease and Sydenham chorea
What is Athetosis and which conditions it is commonly seen?
Athetosis (twisting, writhing, slow, continuous movements) is seen in cerebral palsy
Recent memory loss can be indicative of which conditions?
Recent memory (24-hour memory) is often impaired in amnesic disorders, Korsakoff syndrome, delirium, and dementia.
Remote memory loss can be indicative of which conditions?
Remote memory (past dates and historic accounts) may be impaired in cerebral cortex disorders.
How can meningitis, encephalitis, spinal cord injury, or stroke affect a client’s long-term physical and mental status?
These disorders can cause lasting physical and mental changes, requiring treatment for recovery or management.
How does nicotine from cigarettes affect blood flow?
Nicotine constricts blood vessels, decreasing brain blood flow
T/F Smoking increases the risk of CVA
True!
Peripheral neuropathy can result from a deficiency in what vitamins?
niacin, folic acid, or vitamin B12
Prolonged exposure to these substances can alter neurologic status
Lead, insecticides, pollutants, or other chemicals
What kind of physical injury can your patient get if they lift heavy objects improperly?
Intervertebral disc injuries
What kind of neural injury can your patient get if they perform repetitive motions?
Peripheral nerve injuries can occur from repetitive movements.
T/F Stress does not increase existing neurologic symptoms.
False, Stress can increase existing neurologic symptoms.
T/F The heart is where strokes occur.
False. Strokes occur when blood supply to an area of the brain is diminished or interrupted; brain cells deprived of nutrients and oxygen begin to die.
You are assessing a 45-year-old patient who has a history of migraines and recent difficulty with balance. When testing their patellar reflex, you observe very brisk, rhythmic oscillations. How should you grade the reflexes?
The reflexes should be graded as 4+, indicating hyperactive reflexes with clonus, which is abnormal and may suggest a neurological disorder.
Mydriasis
Dilated pupils
Miosis
Small pinpoint pupils
-esthesia
Feeling or sensation
Ptosis
Drooping of the eyelid
Anosmia
Partial or full loss of smell
What conditions can cause pinpoint pupils
Opioid overdose
Dysarthria
Difficulty speaking (muscular problems)
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing
Dysphasia
Difficulty understanding words or putting them together in a sentence
Apraxia
Loss of ability to execute or carry out skilled movements despite having ability and desire to perform them
Tremores
Rapid twitching of resting muscles
AMS
Altered Mental Status
Encephalitis
Inflammation of active brain tissues
Meningitis
Inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord
What are the causes of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA)?
Blockage of a blood vessel in the brain (ischemic stroke).
Rupture of a blood vessel in the brain (Hemorrhagic stroke).
Risk factors for stroke
High bp, High cholesterol, Cigarette smoking, diabetes, poor diet, physical injury, oral contraceptive use in women over 35 who smoke
Teaching topics for stroke
Control cholesterol, BP, and diabetes through diet, exercise, and medicines (if needed)
What does cocaine do to the blood vessels?
Vasoconstriction
Cerebellar ataxia
Wide-base, staggering, unsteady gait
Parkinsonian gait
Shuffling gait
Scissors gait
Stuff, short gait
How does spastic hemiparesis manifest in appearance
Flexed arm held close to body while client drags leg or circles it stiffly outward and forward such as occurs in stroke
What is decorticate posturing
Flexion and extension of the upper extremities and extension of the lower extremities
What is decerebrate posturing
Extension of all 4 extremities
Neurologic changes in the older adult
Changes in cognitive function
Sensory decline
Motor function
Older adults are an increased neurologic risk of
Dementia (alzheimers, vascular, lewy body), Parkinson’s, Stroke
Vascular dementia
Decreased vasculation leading to dementia
Modifiable risk factors for older adults (neuro)
Smoking, HTN, Diabetes
What organizes the left and right cerebral hemisphere that sends/receives impulses from opposite side of the body?
Cerebrum
The brain stem controls and regulates…
Respiratory function, heart rate, and blood pressure
What part of the brain is responsible for various reflex actions?
Pons
what type of sensory impulses travel to the brain by the Spinothalamic tract?
Sensations of pain, temperature, and crude/light touch
what type of sensory impulses travel to the brain by the Posterior column?
Sensations of position, vibration, and fine touch
what type of motor impulses travel to the brain by the pyramidal (corticospinal) tract
Impulses carried to muscles and produce voluntary movements that involve skill and purpose.
what type of motor impulses travel to the brain by the extrapyramidal tract
Conduct impulses to muscles related to maintenance of muscle tone and body control
The Snellen chart is used to assess what kind of nerve?
Optic nerve
Name of the test where you cover one eye and look straight ahead while the examiner holds up fingers in your peripheral vision, asking you to identify how many fingers you see.
Check retina and optic disk for round red reflex and pink retina.
Visual fields
What nerve is assessed when you touch the patient’s forehead, cheek, and chin with the sharp/dull side of a paperclip and see if they can feel it in.
Trigeminal
Ringing in the ears and decreased ability to hear may occur with dysfunction of which cranial nerve?
Cranial nerve VIII (Vestibulocochlear)
What is a seizure
Sudden, uncontrolled burst of electrical activity in the brain that causes temporary changes in behavior, movement, or consciousness
Dizziness can be related to what vascular and neural conditions
Related to carotid artery disease, cerebellar abscess, or Meniere disease, or inner ear infection.
Imbalance and difficulty coordinating/controlling movements can be seen in neurological conditions involving _______.
Seen in neurologic diseases involving the cerebellum, basal ganglia, extrapyramidal tracts, vestibular part of CN VIII
What is Paresthesia
Loss of sensation, tingling, prickling, or burning
Damage to what structures can cause paresthesia?
Damage to the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves
Ringing in the ears is known as…
Tinnitis
Difficulty forming words is known as…
Dysarthria
Difficulty comprehending and expressing thoughts is known as…
Dysphasia
Difficulty producing or understanding language
Aphasia
Injury to what structure causes aphasia
Motor lesions in the dominant cerebral hemisphere
Injury to what structure causes dysarthria
Injury to cerebral cortex
Injury to what structure causes Dysphasia
Injury to cerebral cortex
Injury to what structures cause Dysphagia
Cranial nerve IX (glossopharyngeal) or cranial X (vagus)
What are fasciculations
Continuous, rapid twitching of resting muscles
Injury to what structure causes fasciculations?
Lower motor neuron disease
Involuntary contraction of opposing groups of muscles is known as…
Tremors
What can cause tremors?
Degenerative neurologic disorders (Parkinson disease)
Involuntary repetitive twitching movements
Tics
Term for sudden jerks of arms or legs
Myoclonus
What causes myoclonus
Grand mal seizures
Loss of bowel control or urinary retention and bladder distention can be caused by…
Spinal cord injury or tumors
Acute state of mental confusion and disorientation, inability to think or remember clearly
Delirium
What conditions lead to unilateral weakness or paralysis
CVA, compression of spinal cord, or nerve injury
What is remote memory?
Recalling past events
(When is your birthday? When is your first job?)
A patient is unable to perform remote memory, what disorder can cause this?
Cerebral cortex disorder
Inability to recall recent memory may be a sign off?
Amnesic disorders, Korsakoff syndrome, delirium, and dementia
What is stroke?
Occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, causing brain cells to die
How does cigarette smoking relate to CVA (cerebrovascular accident or stroke)?
Cigarette smoking causes damage to the blood vessels, leading to damaged blood vessels. Leads to the development of plaque (aka atherosclerosis) → plaque build-up causes narrowing of bv → increases likelihood of blood clot → blocked bv leads to no blood flow to the brain → stroke.
Explain how nicotine affects the brain
Nicotine = constricts the blood vessels, which decrease blood flow to the brain
What do reflexes do?
Provides clues to the integrity of deep and superficial reflexes
5 assessment points of a “neuro check”
1) LOC
2) Pupillary checks
3) Movement and strength of extremities
4) Sensation in extremities
5) Vital Signs
Mental status
A broader term that encompasses a person’s overall cognitive, affective, and behavioral functioning
How do you evaluate someone’s LOC?
Assessed by evaluating a person’s responsiveness to stimuli (verbal, tactile, painful) and their ability to maintain wakefulness
How do you document no reflex response?
Grade 0
How do you document a reflex response that is decreased, less active than normal response?
Grade 1+
How do you document normal, usual reflex response?
Grade 2+
How do you document a reflex response that is more brisk or active than normal but not indicative of a disorder
Grade 3+
How do you document a reflex response that is hyperactive, very brisk, rhythmic oscillations (clonus); abnormal and indicative of disorder
Grade 4+
What is near visual acuity test?
Jaeger test
What is a normal Jaegar finding?
Client reads print at 14 inches w/o difficulty
Papilledema
(swelling of the optic nerve) present, resulting in blurred optic disc margins and dilated, pulsating veins → occurs w/ increased intracranial pressure from hemorrhage or a brain tumor → optic atrophy occurs w/ brain tumors
Nystagmus
rhythmic oscillation of the eyes; present, determine the direction of the fast and slow phases of movement → cerebellar disorders
Paralysis of the oculomotor, trochlear, or abducens nerves is known as
Paralytic Strabusmus
Argyll Robertson pupils can result from
CNS syphilis, meningitis, brain tumor, alcoholism
What can abnormally constricted, fixed pupils indicate?
Narcotics abuse or damage to the pons
Unilaterally dilated pupil unresponsive to light or accommodation
Damage to cranial nerve III (oculomotor)
How do you assess motor function of the trigeminal nerve?
Ask the client to clench teeth while you palpate the temporal and masseter muscles for contraction *may be hard to perform and evaluate in clients w/o teeth
How do you assess sensory function of the trigeminal nerve?
Tell client to close eyes and that you are going to touch their forehead, cheeks, and chin w/ a sharp or dull object and to tell you if there’s a sharp or dull sensation
How do you test for Corneal Reflex?
Eyelids blink bilaterally
The inability to close eyes, wrinkle forehead, or raise eyebrows along with paralysis of the lower part of the face can be seen with ____.
Bells palsy
What is the FAST mnemonic for stroke?
Face drooping
Arms weakness
Speech (slurred or strange)
Time (call 911 if any of these signs are present)
Tandem Walking test
A test of balance and coordination that involves walking heel-to-toe in a straight line
The sense of your body’s position and movement in space is known as
Proprioception
Spastic Hemiparesis
A condition characterized by weakness and stiffness (spasticity) on one side of the body
A condition where the foot is unable to lift or dorsiflex, resulting in a dragging or slapping gait
Foot drop
Absence of touch sensation
Anesthesia
Decreased sensitivity to touch
Hypesthesia
Increased sensitivity to touch
Hyperesthesia
Graphesthesia
Use a blunt instrument to write a number on the client’s palm
Two-point discrimination
Can be determined on the fingertips, forearm, dorsal hands, back, or thighs → ask the client to identify the number of points felt when touched with the EKG calibers; measure the distance between the 2 points when the client cannot distinguish the 2 points
Describe a positive Babinski Reflex/Sign
Toes will fan out for abnormal response (normal in infants)
Describe a negative Babinski Reflex/Sign
Flexion of the toes for a normal/negative response
What is Hemorrhagic
Lack of blood flow to the brain due to bleeding
Lack of blood flow to the brain due to a blood clot is known as
Ischemic
Aka mini-stroke; temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain that produces stroke-like symptoms
Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
The Glasgow Coma Scale measures the level of consciousness in clients who are at high risk for rapid deterioration of the nervous system. A score of 13 indicates _____ impairment.
(none, some, significant, total)
Some impairment.
A client who was injured by a fall at a construction site has been admitted to the hospital. They have suffered nerve damage such that their gag reflex is no longer intact, requiring them to receive intravenous total parenteral nutrition. Which nerve should the nurse suspect to be involved in this client’s injury?
Glosspharyngeal
A nurse observes a client’s gait and notes it to be wide based and staggering. The Romberg test results were positive. The nurse recognizes this as what type of abnormal gait?
Cerebellar ataxia
The spinothalamic tracts transmit which of the following sensory impulses from the contralateral side of the body?
Crude touch, pain, temperature
T/F Intentional tremors and decreased hearing, vision, smell, and taste are normal age-related changes
True
Osteomyelitis
An infection of the bone that causes inflammation and pain due to diabetes mellitus
Sensations of temperature, pain, and crude and light touch are carried by way of the
spinothalamic or corticospinal tracts
Spinothalamic tract
A nurse assesses a client for the pupillary response of the eyes and finds a unilateral dilated pupil that is unresponsive to light or accommodation. The nurse recognizes that which cranial nerve is responsible for the damage of pupillary response.
III
A client presents to the emergency department after being hit in the face with a baseball. The health care provider orders vision testing to be performed to assess the whether the cranial nerves are intact. The nurse should prepare to test which cranial nerves?
Oculomotor
Abducens
Trochlear
The client will close the eyes and identify what number the nurse writes in the palm of the client’s hand with a blunt-ended object. This test is known as…
Graphesthesia: the ability to identify what is being drawn on the client’s body when the client’s eyes are closed.
When examining the eye, the nurse notices difficulty with downward motion. The nurse understands that which cranial nerve is involved?
Cranial nerve IV: Trochlear
What nerve controls eye muscles, eye movements, and elevates eyelids?
Cranial nerve III: Oculomotor
What nerve contracts one eye muscle to control inferomedial eye movement?
Cranial nerve IV: Trochlear
What nerve controls lateral eye movements?
Cranial nerve VI: Abducens
Asking the patient to identify taste sensations (sweet, salt, sour) on the anterior 2/3 of the tongue assesses which nerve?
Cranial nerve VII: Facial
What cranial nerve results in gag reflex?
Cranial nerve IX: Glossopharyngeal
What cranial nerve promotes swallowing, talking, and production of digestive juices?
Cranial nerve X: Vagus
What cranial nerve innervates tongue muscles that promote movement of food and talking?
Cranial nerve XII: Hypoglossal
Olfactory tract lesion or tumor/lesion of frontal lobe damages cranial nerve I, what would ability does this inhibit?
Inability to smell or identity correct scent
Papilledema (swelling of the optic nerve) can result in…
Blurred optic disc margin and dilated, pulsating veins
This occurs with increased intracranial pressure from intracranial hemorrhage or brain tumor.
Papilledema (swelling of the optic nerve)
How does CN III paralysis manifest in the pupils?
Dilated pupil (6-7 mm)
Unilaterally dilated pupil unresponsive to light or accommodation can be caused by…
Damage to CN III
Explain Bell’s Palsy in relation to the cranial nerves.
Bell’s Palsy is the peripheral injury to CN VII: Facial
During the Weber’s test of a patient who endorses sensorineural hearing loss, how do they experience the vibratory sounds?
Nerve damage in the bad ear makes the sound seem louder in the unaffected ear. (Lateralization to the good ear)
During the Weber’s test of a patient who endorses conductive hearing loss, how do they experience the vibratory sounds?
The good ear is distracted by background noise and conducted air, which the poor ear has trouble hearing.
During the Rinne’s test of a patient who endorses conductive hearing loss, how do they experience the vibratory sounds?
Bone conduction sound is heard longer than or equally as long as air conduction sound
During the Rinne’s test of a patient who endorses sensorineural hearing loss, how do they experience the vibratory sounds?
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs with damage to the inner ear (cochlea), or to the nerve pathways between the inner ear and brain.
What would an absent gag reflex indicate?
Lesion of CN IX and X
A nurse is testing a client’s deep tendon reflex. The nurse taps the tendon above the olecranon process. The nurse is assessing which reflex?
Triceps
When preparing to test a client for meningeal irritation, what would the nurse to do first?
Ensure there is no injury to the cervical spine.
When assessing cranial nerves IX and X, what would the nurse consider as a normal finding?
Uvula and soft palate rising bilaterally
