Neurologic Exam Flashcards
Anatomy of CNS and PNS
- Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and spinal cord
- Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): 12 Cranial Nerves, Spinal Nerves, Peripheral Nerves, Most contain motor and sensory fibers
Frontal lobe
Voluntary skeletal movements, motor speech (Broca’s area), emotions, affect, awareness of self
parietal lobe
Data processing (math), interpretation of tactile data, comprehension of written words (reading, writing), recognition of body parts
temporal lobe
Sensory speech (Wernicke’s area), long-term memory, hearing
occipital lobe
vision
cerebral cortex
- frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe
- makes us thinking beings - higher order functions
Broca’s aphasia
“expressive aphasia” usually with right sided weakness
-difference between dimentia and with brocas is that with dimentia the writing should still be in tact whereas brocas will not
Wernicke’s aphasia
“sensory aphasia”
Diencephalon
- basal ganglia, thalamus, hypothalamus
- Processing center, some automatic functions, more basic/primitive behavior – but they all have to be developed and controlled, not born with sophisticated control of these areas
basal ganglia
Control of gross automatic movements (walking)
thalamus
Processes sensory information, relays signals to cerebral cortex
hypothalamus
- Maintains homeostasis, regulates temp, controls endocrine system
- Governs emotional behavior (sex drive, anger)
deeper brain structures
- brainstem (midbrain, pons, and medulla), cerebellum
- most primitive area of the brain
brainstem
- (midbrain, pons, and medulla)
- Coordinates sides of body
- Controls breathing and heartbeat
- Controls consciousness and sleep cycle (reticular activating system)
cerebellum
- Coordinates voluntary movements
- Utilizes sensory data to control muscle tone, equilibrium and posture
Appearance and behavior
- Level of Consciousness
- Posture and Motor Behavior
- Dress, Grooming and Personal Behavior
- Facial Expression
- Manner, Affect and Relationship to Person and Things
Speech and language
- Quantity, Rate, Loudness, Articulation
- Testing speech and language (Point to your nose; repeat “no ifs, ands or buts;” name objects; follow a multi-step command; read a sentence, write a sentence)
- Fluency: distinguishing aphasia (Wernicke’s (fluent) aphasia – “word salad”; Broca’s (nonfluent) aphasia – comprehension is good, speaking/writing is impaired)
depression/anxiety screening tools
- Beck Depression/Anxiety Inventory
- Hamilton Depression/Anxiety Scale
mood disorder screening tools
- SCOFF Questionnaire (eating disorders)
- Mazmanian Mania-Depression Mood Scale
- SPAN Scale (PTSD)
depression screening
SIG E CAPS can be helpful mnemonic: (Sleep problems
Interest (loss, including sex), Guilt, Energy (lack), Concentration (lack), Appetite changes, Psychomotor changes (restless or lethargic), Suicidal ideations)
evaluating thought disorders (thought processes, thought content, perceptions, insight and judgment)
- thought processes (organized, logical, coherent)
- thought content (obsessions, compulsions, delusions, phobias)
- perceptions (illusions, hallucinations)
- Insight and judgment (insight - “what brings you here today?”, judgment - “what do you think will happen if…”)
cognitive functions
- orientation (time, place, person)
- attention (digit span, serial 7’s, spelling backward)
- remote memory (when is you birthday?)
- recent memory (who is the US president)
- new learning ability (I’m going to tell you 3 objects. Repeat them after me and again in 2 mins when I ask you to.)
higher cognitive function
-Information and Vocabulary (Intelligence)
-Calculating Ability (Simple math)
-Abstract Thinking (Proverbs, Similarities)
-Constructional Ability
(Draw/copy a clock, Draw shapes (intersecting pentagons))
MMSE
- Mini Mental State Examination
- Used to screen for cognitive dysfunction or dementia, to follow patients with dementia
- 30 points possible, <23 points suggests cognitive impairment
MoCA
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment
- Designed as a rapid screening tool for mild cognitive impairment, takes about 10 min
- 30 points possible, <26 pts is abnormal
- Considered more sensitive and specific than MMSE
Mental Status Exam Checklist
- orientation: ask name date location
- general wellbeing: ask mood, thoughts/perceptions
- aphasia (speech and language): 1 stage command, repeat phrase, name common objects, read sentence, write sentence
- cognitive function: repeat 3 objects immediately and in 2 mins; recent and remote memory
- higher cognitive function: general info, calculation, abstract thinking
- attention