Neurological Weakness Flashcards
Name 6 diseases/conditions that cause neurological weakness
- stroke
- tumour
- Bell’s palsy
- multiple sclerosis
- motor neurone disease
- myasthenia gravis
Which part of brain is responsible for motor function?
prefrontal cortex
Describe three parts of motor neuron
- upper motor neuron
- lower motor neuron
- NMJ
Where is upper motor neuron (start / end)?
- in the CNS
- start = cell bodies in motor prefrontal cortex
- via = internal capsule
- end = nucleus in brain stem
Where is lower motor neuron (start / end)?
- outside CNS
- start = brain stem
- end = NMJ
Is the lower motor neuron of hypoglossal nerve inside / outside CNS?
Outside.
Only upper motor neuron is inside CNS
What are 4 sets of facial muscles?
- face, mouth
- jaw, chewing
- tongue
- swallowing, speech
What motor nerves innervate 4 sets of muscles?
face, mouth - VII (facial n) jaw, chewing - V (trigeminal n) tongue - XII (hypoglossal n) swallowing, speech - X (vagus n) - (IX glossophyngeal n = sensory)
What are the clinical tests for each of 4 sets of muscles?
face, mouth - SMILE jaw, chewing - OPEN MOUTH tongue - STICK OUT TONGUE - LISTEN TO SPEECH swallowing, speech - COUGH - SAY 'AHHH' - SWALLOW - LISTEN TO SPEECH - CAN YOU FEEL THIS? (glossopharyngeal n)
If issue with jaw muscles, does jaw point towards / away from weak side?
Jaw points TOWARDS weak side
(think - same as tongue)
side that opens more causes deviation
If issue with tongue muscles, does tongue point towards / away from weak side?
Tongue points TOWARDS weak side
If issue with swallowing muscles, does uvula point towards / away from weak side?
Uvula points AWAY from weak side
What is most common nerve to cause issues in the face?
Facial n. (VII)
What are 2 main types of weakness?
- Weakness of one side of face
- Weakness of tongue / swallowing / speech m.m.
- usually bilateral
What are the diseases that affect upper motor neurones?
- stroke
- tumour (also lower)
- motor neuron disease (also lower)
- multiple sclerosis (also lower)
Which diseases affect lower motor neurones?
- Bell’s palsy
- motor neuron disease (also upper)
- multiple sclerosis (also upper)
Which disease affects the motor neuron junction?
myasthenia gravis