Neurolocalisation Flashcards
what are the segments of the spins
C1-5, C6-T2, T3-L3, L4-S3
UMN weakness
weakness: paresis or plegia, normal to increased spinal reflexes
LMN weakness
paresis or plegia and decreased to absent spinal reflexes. + decreased muscle tone, atrophy.
Lesion C1-T2
neck pain, abnormal gait/postural reaction deficits all limbs, ipsilateral horners syndrome.
Lesion T3-S3
back pain, abnormal hindlimb gait/postural reaction deficits.
C6-T2 lesion
LMN forelimb - damage = reduced spinal reflexes, tone, muscle atrophy
L4-S3 lesion
LMN hindlimb - damage = reduced spinal reflexes, tone, muscle atrophy
±urinary & faecal incontinence
Shiff-Sherrington posture
altered ascending inhibitory pathways - thoracic limb extension - forelimbs normal, just increased extensor tone.
What are tetraplegic animals at risk of?
Resp. failure sue to resp. muscle paresis.
Atelectasis due to recumbency
aspiration pneumonia
What do withdrawal reflexes test
Thoracic & lumbar intumescences & their nerves
What does the patellar reflex test?
femoral nerve & L4-L6
What does the perineal reflex test?
pudenal nerve & S1-3
How do you test pain perception?
Superficial - pinch toe with fingers
Deep - artery forceps on the bone of digits
Different from withdrawal - should actually look round and express discomfort
Circling with forebrain lesions
May circle to the side of the lesion - wide pacing
Postural reaction deficits with a forebrain lesion
Contralateral side
Postural reaction deficits with a brainstem lesion
mild-severe ipsilateral;
Where will you see deficits with a unilateral forebrain lesion?
On the contralateral side of the body
forebrain disorders can cause
abnormal mental status, behaviour changes (aimless wandering, circling, head pressing), abnormal contralateral postural reactions, contralateral blindness
Diencephalon lesions can lead to
endocrine dysfunction
Cerebellar disorders can cause
ataxia - hypermetria, dysmetria, board-base stance
intention tremors of the head
paradoxical vestibular syndrome
ipsilateral menace deficits w/ normal vision
peduncular nystagmus
Brainstem disorders can cause
abnormal consciousness, gait abnormalities & ipsilateral abnormal postural reactions, CN deficits (III-XII)
resp + cardiac abnormalities
Nerve & pre-synaptic disorders cause
Abnormal gait: paresis/plegia
Abnormal postural reactions
Depressed spinal + CN deficits
Muscle + post-synaptic disorders cause
Abnormal gait - stiff, stilted
exercise intolerance
Get normal postural reactions & deficits
