Neuro Exam Flashcards
What are the 6 parts of the neurological exam
Mentation
Posture and gait
Cranial nerves
Postural reactions
Muscle tone, size, and spinal reflexes
Sensation
What two questions do you need to ask yourself during a neuro exam when considering Mentation and what does that information tell you?
-What is the level of consciousness?
*are they alert (normal response), dull (less responsive), stupor (unconscious but can be aroused from painful stimuli) or comatose (unconscious and cannot be aroused from any stimulus)
* most of the time it’s an issue with the brain stem (ascending reticular activation system - dimmer switch)
*rarely a diffuse cerebral disease (lightbulb)
-Are they mentally appropriate
*do they have inappropriate behaviors, head pressing, wandering, not self-aware
*lesion is in the cerebrum or thalamus
What are some abnormal postures of the head and neck
-Head tilt
*vestibular lesion (peripheral/nerve or central/brain), usually ipsilateral (tilt toward) (occasionally paradoxical tilt away)
-Head turn
*cerebral/thalamic lesion, ALWAYS ipsilateral (head turn towards)
-Pleurothotonus
*Cerebral/thalamic lesion, Always ipsilateral, heard turn AND body turn, can be hemi-inattention/ hemi-aversion syndrome where they avoid the opposite side of the body
Gait
Cranial nerves
Postural reactions
Muscle tone, size and spinal reflexes
Sensation
What are the three types of gait abnormalities and how do you distinguish them
What are the three types of ataxia and how do you distinguish them
Identify the afferent and efferent components to each cranial nerves
What is a reflex arc
What is the difference between voluntary motor, withdrawal reflex, and deep pain sensation
What is a good practice to do for a neuro exam
Go from least to most invasive
-observe patient while taking the history make sure the patient can move about so you can see their mental status, head and body posture, coordination
-then you can start manipulating the patient
What are the four different abnormal spine positions
-Kyposis - dorsal curvature (hunched over)
-Lordosis - ventral curvature
-Scoliosis - lateral curvature of spine
-Torticollis - twisting of the neck
