neuro exam

Question 1

characteristics of pain and temperature sensory nerves

Answer 1

• small and slow
• many unmyelinated
• synapse with spinothalamic tract

Question 2

characteristics of nerves for well localized touch and pressure, and conscious proprioception

Answer 2

• large
• heavily myelinated
• dorsal column, medial lemniscus

Question 3

nerves for unconscious proprioception

Answer 3

• muscle stretch (spindles)
• tension (tendon organ)
• heavily myelinated
• contribute to reflexes and go to cerebellum

Question 4

how does polyneuropathy present in a sensory exam?

Answer 4

stocking and glove

Question 5

hemianesthesia indicates damage to…

Answer 5

spinal tracts, thalamus, cortex

Question 6

what is brown-sequard syndrome?

Answer 6

hemisection of spinal cord affecting dorsal column/medial lemniscus sensory tracts and the corticospinal motor tracts

Question 7

suspended or “vest like” loss of sensory function indicates

Answer 7

intramedullary lesion

Question 8

dorsal great toe nerve root

Answer 8

L5

Question 9

lateral heel nerve root

Answer 9

S1

Question 10

below medial knee nerve root

Answer 10

L4

Question 11

near thumb nerve root

Answer 11

C6

Question 12

middle finger never root

Answer 12

C7

Question 13

small digit nerve root

Answer 13

C8

Question 14

in general, damage to single nerve roots….

Answer 14

does not cause sensory loss, due to overlap

Question 15

where is the affected area in the brain when experiencing tactile agnosia

Answer 15

• sensory association area

- parietal lobe

Question 16

motor function scale

Answer 16

1-5
1 - no contraction
2 - contraction but no movement
3 - movement but only barely against gravity
4 - movement against gravity and some resistance
5 - normal

Question 17

two types of reflexes

Answer 17

• myotatic (deep tendon) - increased with upper motor neuron damage
• superficial - require upper motor neurons to be intact (normal plantar, cremaster, abdominal)

Question 18

what does it mean when babinski is present?

Answer 18

• upgoing toes

- upper motor neuron damage

Question 19

what is muscle spasticity? what does it indicate?

Answer 19

• does not give way

- upper motor neuron damage

Question 20

what is muscle rigidity? what does it indicate?

Answer 20

• inflexibility or stiffness that gives way

- extrapyramidal dysfunction

Question 21

what does muscle flaccidity indicate?

Answer 21

• lower motor neuron damage

Question 22

muscle atrophy indicates

Answer 22

• lower motor neuron damage