Neuro Exam Flashcards
Mental Status
Memory (especially short term) - recall 3 objects at 5 min
Orientation - person, place (specifics), time, situation (why are they here)
Attention - digit span forward and backwards, spelling forwards and backwards (world)
Calculations - simple calculations (serial 7s)
Similarities and differences, abstractions
Speech/Language function - listen for spontaneous speech (fluency, aphasic erros), naming of objects (watch, penlight, band of watch), Repetition (no ifs ands or buts), following 1, 2, and 3 part commands, Calculation (serial 7’s), L/R discrimination
Cranial Nerves
I - Olefactory (seldom tested)
II - Optic : visual acuity, papillary reflex, fundoscopic exam, visual fields (Afferent optic reflex)
III, IV, VI - Oculomotor, Trochlear, Abducens: Pupillary reflex (III), EOM, lid elevation (ptosis) (III- efferent optic reflex)
V - Trigeminal: sensation on face (D1,2,3), masseter, temporalis, pterygoid muscles, corneal reflex (afferent)
VII - Facial: muscles of facial expression, taste to anterior 2/3 of tongue (efferent corneal reflex) ba-ba-ba
VIII- Vestibulocochlear
IX- Glossopharyngeal: phayrngeal sensation
X - Vagus: palate elevation, vocal cord function (listen to speech, check gag, observe palatal elevation) ka-ka-ka
XI - Acessory: trapezius and sternocleidomastoids
XII - Hypoglossal: tongue movement ta-ta-ta
Motor exam
strength arm drift functional tests in lower extremities muscle tone UE and LE atrophy or fasciculations
Reflexes
don’t forget babinski cutaneous reflex
Sensory
Position/vibration - measure doral columns
sharp/temperature - spinothalamic tract
crude touch - distributed among both tracts
stereognosis, grapethesia - cortical sensations (need crude sensatiosn to be intact)
double simultaneous stimulation - cortical sensation
Coordination
finger to nose and heel shin
station and gait
arm swing, circumduction and toe catch
