Neurological Examination of the Lower Limb Flashcards
What neurological lesion results in “foot drop”?
mononeuropathies of the deep peroneal nerve, the common peroneal nerve, or the sciatic nerve
hemiplegia
is a condition, caused by a brain injury, that results in a varying degree of weakness, stiffness (spasticity) and lack of control in one side of the body
paraplegia
is an impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities
quadriplegia
the partial or total loss of use of all four limbs and torso
MRC Scale for grading muscle strength
0-5
0 = no contraction
1 = flicker or trace of contraction
2 = active movement with gravity eliminated
3 = active movement against gravity
4 = active movement against gravity and resistance
5 = normal power
proximal myopathy
symmetrical weakness of proximal upper and/or lower limbs
associated with thyroid disease, osteomalacia, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies
upper motor neurone
found in the cerebral cortex and brainstem and carry information down to activate interneurons and lower motor neurons, which in turn directly signal muscles to contract or relax
lower motor neurone
onnects the upper motor neurone (UMN) to the skeletal muscle it innervates
Upper motor neurone lesion signs
- Muscle weakness
- overreactive reflexes
- increased tone
- positive bainski response
Lower motor neurone lesion signs
- reduced tone
- decreased reflexes
- atrophy
- fascinations present
inverted champagne bottles legs cause
MS
conditions which would give a mixture of upper motor neurone and lower motor neurone signs.
motor neurone disease
clonus
nerve cells that control the muscles are damaged and this causes involuntary contractions and spasms
conditions that elicit clonus
cerebral palsy
brain injury
grading system for reflex response
0 = no response; always abnormal
1+ = a slight but definitely present response; may or may not be normal
2+ = a brisk response; normal
3+ = a very brisk response; may or may not be normal
4+ = a tap elicits a repeating reflex (clonus); always abnormal