Neurological Responses

Question 1

What are the forms of damage the neurological system can come with?

Answer 1

• Lesions
• Neoplasia
• Traumatic rupture
• Disease
• Compression
• Inflammation

Question 2

What symptoms may occur?

Answer 2

• Change in behaviour
• Loss of proprioception
• Loss of sensation
• Change to stance
• Change of gait pattern
• Loss of coordination – Ataxia
• Partial or complete loss of use of limb/limbs
• Atrophy of muscle
• Flaccidity or spasticity of muscle tone

Question 3

What is paralysis?

Answer 3

complete loss of motor function

Question 4

What is paresis?

Answer 4

incomplete paralysis and muscle weakness

Question 5

What stimuli are in the ascending part of the ascending spinal cord?

Answer 5

• Noxious (harmful) stimuli
• Nociception (perception of pain)
• Nociceptors (pain receptors/ PNS)
• Detect mechanical, thermal or chemical changes
• Skin, periosteum, joint surfaces

Question 6

What can damage to sensory neurone result in?

Answer 6

lack of sensation or loss of proprioception or increased sensation and pain

Question 7

In the descending motor tract and motor neurone, what are upper and lower motor neurone?

Answer 7

• Upper motor neurons (CNS)
• Originate in higher levels of CNS
• Regulate and influence activity of motor cells that innervate muscles in periphery
• Lower motor neurons (PNS)
• Leave CNS
• Innervate target structures in periphery

Question 8

What indicates a lower motor neurone injury?

Answer 8

• Flaccidity
• Decreased tone
• Diminished reflex response
• Profound, acute muscle atrophy
• Fasciculations

Question 9

What indicates an upper motor neurone injury?

Answer 9

• Spasticity
• Increased tone
• Exaggerated reflex response
• Minimal muscle atrophy (disuse)
• No fasciculations

Question 10

What is a reflex?

Answer 10

involuntary motor response of the nervous system to a stimulus

Question 11

What are reflexes fundamental for?

Answer 11

maintaining posture and locomotion as well as clinical evaluation of the nervous system

Question 12

What can damage to the spinal cord cause?

Answer 12

• Damage to the spinal cord can cause neurological problems from the lesion locations in a caudal direction.
• Loss of sensation, motor function and deep pain sensation are associated symptoms.
• Deep pain sensation is usually the first to return post surgery. Tested with toe pinch test in dogs. Can be confused with a reflex response if not careful.

Question 13

What are behavioural responses when neurological testing?

Answer 13

• Seizures
• Aggression
• Depression
• Vacant/ non responsive
• Vocalisation
• Sensitive to touch if pain sensation is heightened