Neurological Flashcards
Important points to cover in cerebellar examination?
DANISH
- Dysdiadochokinesia
- Ataxia (gait and posture)
- Nystagmus
- Intention tremor
- Slurred, staccato speech
- Hypotonia/heel-shin test
Clinical signs in cerebellar exam?
- Abnormal posture
- Speech abnormalities
- Scars
- Gait
Objects or equipment in cerebellar exam?
- Walking aids
- Hearing aids
- Prescriptions
Truncal ataxia?
Affects proximal musculature that is involved in gait stability - caused by damage to cerebellar vermis and associated pathways
Appendicular ataxia?
- Affects musculature of the arms and legs involved in the control of limb movement - caused by damage to cerebellar hemispheres
What are you assessing the patients gait for in a cerebellar exam?
- Stance
- Stability
- Turning
Tandem gait - sensitive to identify?
Dysfunction of the cerebellar vermis (eg. alcohol induced cerebellar degeneration)
Causes of cerebellar degeneration?
- Chronic alcohol misuse
- Nutritional deficiency (typically B12)
- Paraneoplastic disorders
- neurological diseases (eg. MS, spinocerebellar ataxia)
Clinical features of cerebellar degeneration
- Broad- based ataxic gait
- Truant ataxia
- Dysmetria
- Nystagmus
Rombergs test - deficit in?
proprioception or vestibular function (opposed to cerebellar dysfunction)
How can ataxic dysarthria present?
- Scattato speech (broken into syllables)
- Slurred speech
Gaze disturbances in cerebellar exam?
- Nyastagmus
- Dysmetric saccades
- Impaired smooth pursuit
Further investiagiotn and assessment after cerebellar exam?
- Full neurological exam (cranial nerves, upper and lower limb)
- Neuroimaging
- Formal hearing assessment
UMN tone?
Increased (spasticity or rigidity)
UMN inspection?
No fasciculation or significant wasting
UMN power?
Classically pyramidal pattern of weakness - extensors weaker than flexors in arms and vice versa
UMN reflexes?
Exaggerated or brisk
UMN plantar reflex?
Upgoing/extensor
LMN inspection?
wasting and fasciculation of muscles
LMN tone?
Decreased (hypotonia) or normal
LMN power?
Different depending on cause (eg. proximal weakness in muscle disease, distal in peripheral neuropathy)
LMN reflexes?
Reduced or absent
Spasticity - associated with?
Pyramidal tract lesions eg. stroke
Rigidity - associated with?
Extrapyramidal tract lesions (eg. Parkinson’s disease)
Spasiticy vs rigidity - velocity?
Spasticity is “velocity-dependent”, meaning the faster you move the limb, the worse it is
Rigidity is “velocity independent” meaning it feels the same if you move the limb rapidly or slowly.
Two types of rigidity?
- Cogwheel (Parkinson’s)
- Lead pipe (neurepileptic malignant syndrome)
Hip flexion - myotome?
L1/2
Hip flexion - muscle?
iliopsoas
Hip extension - muscle?
Gluteus maximus
Hip extension - nerve?
Inferior gluteal nerve
Knee flexion - myotome + nerve?
S1 + sciatic nerve
Knee flexion - muscle?
Hamstrings
Knee extension - myotome + nerve?
L3/4 + femoral nerve
Knee extension - muscle?
Quadriceps
Ankle dorsiflexion - myotome + nerve?
L4/5 - deep peroneal nerve
Ankle dorsiflexion - muscle?
Tibialis anterior
Ankle plantar flexion - myotome + nerve?
S1/2 - tibial nerve
Ankle plantar flexion - muscles?
- Gastrocnemius
- Soleus
Big toe - myotome + nerve?
L5 - deep peroneal nerve
Big toe - muscles?
Extensor hallucis longus
Knee jerk reflex?
L3/4
Ankle jerk reflex?
S1
Plantar reflex?
L5, S1
right touch assesses?
Dorsal columns and spinothalamic tracts
Pin prick assesses?
Spinothalamic tracts
Vibration assesses?
Dorsal columns
Proprioception assesses?
Dorsal columns
Further assessments and investigations after lower limb neurological exam?
- Full neurological examination (cranial, upper and lower)
- Neuroimaging
Shoulder aBduction - myotome + nerve?
C5 - axillary nerve
Shoulder Adduction - myotome + nerve?
C6/7 - thoracodorsal nerve
Shoulder aBduction - muscles?
Primarily deltoid
Shoulder adduction - muscles?
Trees major, lat dorsi, pec major
Elbow flexion - myotomes + nerve?
C5/6 (musculocutaneous and radial nerve)
Elbow flexion - muscles?
biceps brachii, coracobrachialis and brachialis
Elbow extension - myotomes + nerve?
C7 (radial nerve)
Elbow extension - muscles?
triceps brachii