Neuro Flashcards

1
Q

What is tone?

A

A state of partial contraction present in a muscle in its passive state.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is spasticity?

A

A state of increased tone of a muscle.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is fasciculation?

A

Involuntary contractions or twitchings of groups of muscle fibers.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Upper Motor Neuron is characterized by?

A

UMN:

(1) + tone/spasticity.
(2) ↑ reflexes.
(3) − atrophy.
(4) − fasciculations.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Lower Motor Neuron is characterized by?

A

LMN:

(5) ↓ tone.
(6) + flaccidity.
(7) − reflexes.
(8) + atrophy.
(9) + fasciculations.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

UMN disease is often the result of what 2 things?

A

stroke

brain injury

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

LMN disease can involve what 3 things?

A

Spinal Cord
Peripheral Nerve
Muscle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

UE motor testing: First inspect the muscle for what 3 things?

A

(1) abnormal movements.
(2) bulk versus atrophy.
(3) tone versus spasticity versus flaccidity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

UE motor testing: Pronator Drift.

(1-4) Explain procedure.

(5) What is this test very sensitive for?
(6) Where might a patient with a + pronator drift have a lesion?

A

(1) Arms out straight.
(2) Palms up.
(3) Eyes closed.
(4) Watch for DRIFT of arm downward OR more subtle PRONATION.
(5) UE weakness.
(6) contralateral corticospinal tract lesion.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

UE motor testing: Deltoids.
(1) Innervation?
(2-3) Explain procedure.

A

(1) C5.
(2) Arms straight or out to side.
(3) Don’t let me push them down.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

UE motor testing: Biceps.
(1) Innervation?
(2-3) Explain procedure.

A

(1) C5,6.
(2) Make a muscle.
(3) Don’t let me straighten your arm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

UE motor testing: Triceps.
(1) Innervation?
(2-3) Explain procedure.

A

(1) C6,7.
(2) Straighten your elbow.
(3) Don’t let me bend it.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

UE motor testing: Wrist extensors.
(1) Innervation?
(2-3) Explain procedure.

A

(1) C6,7.
(2) Put hand up like you’re trying to stop traffic.
(3) Don’t let me pull your hand down.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

UE motor testing: Wrist flexors.
(1) Innervation?
(2-3) Explain procedure.

A

(1) C6, 7.
(2) Flex wrist.
(3) Don’t let me lift up your hand.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

UE motor testing: Test for grip (finger flexion).
(1) Innervation?
(2-3) Explain procedure.

A

(1) C8.
(2) Give pt your index finger.
(3) Ask them to squeeze as hard as they can.
Won’t hurt you squeezing just one or two fingers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

UE motor testing: Intrinsic muscles of the hand.
(1) Innervation?
(2-3) Explain procedure.

A

(1) T1.
(2) Fan fingers out.
(3) Don’t let me squeeze them back together.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

UE motor testing: Test thumb opposition.
(1) Innervation?
(2-3) Explain procedure.

A

(1) C8, T1.
(2) Touch tip of thumb to pinky.
(3) Don’t let me separate them.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

LE motor testing: Hip flexion.
(1) Innervation?
(2-4) Explain procedure.

A

(1) L2,3.
(2) Supine
(3) Lift leg off exam table.
(4) Don’t let me push your leg down.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

LE motor testing: Adduction of hips.
(1) Innervation?
(2-3) Explain procedure.

A

(1) (L2,3,4).
(2) Spread legs.
(3) Try to bring them together while you hold apart.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

LE motor testing: Abduction of hips .
(1) Innervation?
(2-3) Explain procedure.

A

1) (L4,5).
(2) Hold legs together.
(3) Ask pt to spread legs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

LE motor testing: Knee extension.
(1) Innervation?
(2-4) Explain procedure.

A

(1) (L3,4).
(2) Have pt lift leg.
(3) Examiner supports upper thigh.
(4) Examiner tries to bend knee against resistance.

22
Q

LE motor testing: Knee flexion.
(1) Innervation?
(2-3) Explain procedure.

A

(1) (L5, S1).
(2) Have pt flex knee.
(3) You try to straighten it against resistance.

23
Q

LE motor testing: Dorsiflexion of the foot.
(1) Innervation?
(2-3) Explain procedure.

A

(1) (L4,5).
(2) Have pt dorsiflex foot.
(3) Examiner tries to pull down.

24
Q

LE motor testing: Plantar flexion of the foot .
(1) Innervation?
(2-3) Explain procedure.

A

(1) (S1).
(2) Have pt push foot against your resistance
(3) “Push down like you are pushing on the gas pedal.”

25
Q

LE motor testing: Extension of the great toe.
(1) Innervation?
(2-3) Explain procedure.

A

(1) (L5).
(2) Pull great toe back towards head.
(3) Examiner tries to straighten

26
Q

LE motor testing: Extension of remaining toes (non-great toes).
(1) Innervation?
(2-3) Explain procedure.

A

(1) (L5, S1).
(2) Pull toes back towards head.
(3) Examiner tries to straighten them.

27
Q

Motor Exam Grading System:

(1) System grades strength on a scale of what range?

A
0= no movement 
1= trace or flicker of movement 
2= patient able to move when gravity is eliminated 
3= patient able to move against gravity 
4= some weakness against resistance
5= patient able to move against resistance (normal strength)
28
Q

Sensory Exam: Spinothalamic tract definition?

A

Sensory pathway of the spinal cord that transmits information about PAIN and TEMPERATURE.

29
Q

Sensory Exam: Dorsal (posterior) column definition?

A

Sensory pathway of the spinal cord that transmits information about POSITION and VIBRATION.

30
Q

Sensory Exam

A

Test UE, LE, trunk and specific dermatomes if there is a specific problem

31
Q

Sensory Exam–Position test (proprioception)

A

Runs in the same tract (posterior column) as vibration.
Test distal most portion of an extremity and if normal you can assume that proximal proprioception is intact
Exquisitely sensitive sense so you can make small movements to test

32
Q

Graphesthesia

A

draw number in patients palm and have them identify R & L

33
Q

Stereognosis

A

ability to identify an item by touch alone – paper clip, coin, key – R & L

34
Q

2 point discrimination

A

ability to identify two separate stimuli that are close together (use EKG calipers or clip)

35
Q

extinction

A

lesions in the sensory cortex may cause a patient to “extinguish” one of two simultaneous contralateral stimuli

36
Q

Tests for discriminatory senses

A

extinction
2 pt discrimination
stereognosis
graphesthesia

37
Q

What does Romberg test test for?

A

Common misconception that the Romberg is a cerebellar test
It is test of position sense not cerebellar function.
Loss of coordination is called ataxia
Patients who have ataxia as a result of a loss of proprioception will compensate for this loss with visual cues

38
Q

Romberg test

A

Remove such a patients visual cues and they will fall (or at least lose their balance)
Test is performed by having a patient stand with feet together and eyes open looking straight ahead. Then eyes closed
The patient with true cerebellar ataxia will not be able to do this without falling

39
Q

What is a positive Romberg test?

A

Positive Romberg is when patient falls with eyes closed – guard patient, prevent fall or injury!

40
Q

Deep Tendon Reflex

A

Testing simple spinal reflex – even patients who are deeply comatose may have preserved DTR’s
Tap tendon gently to elicit reflex
Reflexes should be symmetrical – asymmetrical reflexes could be abnormal

41
Q

How are deep Tendon Reflex recorded

A
0 = no reflex
1= hyporeflexia – diminished reflex
2 = normoreflexia – normal reflex
3 = hyperreflexia – increased reflex
4 = marked hyperreflexia / clonus
Use + or – to connote subtle variations
42
Q

2 Superficial Reflexes

A

Superficial Abdominal Reflexes:
Stroke 4 abdominal quadrants lightly and umbilicus will move toward the stimulus

Cremasteric Reflex (men only):
Stroke inner upper thigh and ipsilateral testicle will move rostrally (superiorly)
43
Q

Cerebellar Testing

A

Tests coordination
Rapid Alternating Movements (RAM’s)
Finger – nose – finger (FNF)
HKS (heel knee shin)

44
Q

How to assess a patients gait

A

Have patient heel/toe walking
Walk on toes
Walk on heels

45
Q

Glabellar Sign

A

tap between eyebrows – abnormal response: pts eyes will blink rhythmically

46
Q

Grasp Reflex

A

just like babies reflex but in adults this is pathological

47
Q

Palmomental Reflex

A

scratch palm and patient will purse lips (may be very subtle movement)

48
Q

Snout Reflex

A

tap mouth and pt will purse lips

49
Q

Asterixis

A

flapping tremor of the hands seen in liver disease

50
Q

2 Signs of Meningeal Irritation

A

Kernigs sign – flex hip and knee – straighten knee pt will resist and note pain behind knee (pain is the telling sign)

Brudzinski sign – flex neck and patient will draw up hips and knees

51
Q

Babinski Reflex

A

With patients foot relaxed briskly stroke lateral surface of sole and come across metatarsal heads.
Normal response is for great toe to flex or be “down going.”
This is called an ABSENT (not negative) Babinski