Neurological exam

Question 1

Parts of the neurological exam

Answer 1

Mentation

Gait

Posture

Cranial nerves

Postural reactions

Spinal reflexes

Palpation

Question 2

Assessing mentation

Answer 2

Mentation is the level of alertness and behaviour

E.g. circling, quiet etc.

Hands off

Check what is normal for patient

Question 3

Assessment of gait

Answer 3

Ataxia

Paresis

Circling

Question 4

What localisation does exaggerated movement and head tremor suggest?

Answer 4

Cerebellar, e.g. cerebellar hypoplasia in kittens

Question 5

What localisation does shaking and falling over, poor balance, and falling to one side suggest?

Answer 5

Vestibular

Question 6

Types of paresis

Answer 6

Upper motor neurone
Lower motor neurone
Ambulatory (can walk under their own steam)
Non-ambulatory
Plegia (end stage paresis, no movement at all)
Hemi (one side of body)
Para (back legs)
Tetra (all four legs)

Question 7

Postures that can be seen

Answer 7

Head tilt (vestibular)
Head turn (forebrain)
Collapse
Head turn
Low head carriage (neck pain)
Kyphosis, scoliosis

Question 8

Cranial nerve I

Answer 8

Olfactory nerve

Question 9

Cranial nerve II

Answer 9

Optic nerve

Question 10

Cranial nerve III

Answer 10

Oculomotor

Question 11

Cranial nerve IV

Answer 11

Trochlear

Question 12

Cranial nerve VI

Answer 12

Abducent

Question 13

Cranial nerve V

Answer 13

Trigeminal

Question 14

Cranial nerve VII

Answer 14

Facial

Question 15

Cranial nerve VIII

Answer 15

Vestibulocochlear

Question 16

Cranial nerve IX

Answer 16

Glossopharyngeal

Question 17

Cranial nerve X

Answer 17

Vagus

Question 18

Cranial nerve XI

Answer 18

Spinal accessory branch

Question 19

Cranial nerve XII

Answer 19

Hypoglossal

Question 20

Menace response

Answer 20

Sensory: Optic II
Motor: Facial VII
Forebrain: visual cortex (contralateral)
Cerebellum (ipsilateral)

Question 21

Palpebral reflex

Answer 21

Sensory: trigeminal V - ophthalmic
Motor: facial VII

Question 22

Testing facial sensation and nasal planum nociception

Answer 22

Touch nasal planum with blunt end of artery forceps