Neurology Flashcards
Which nerve roots supply the musculocutaneous nerve
C5, C6, C7
Which nerve supplies sensation to the lateral forearm
Musculocutaneous nerve
Which nerve supplies flexion of the elbow (biceps, brachialis)
Musculocutaneous nerve
What are the clinical features of musculocutaneous nerve palsy
Sensory: numbness over lateral forearm
Motor: very weak elbow flexion and forearm supination, absent biceps reflex
Deformity: wasting of anterior compartment of arm, elbow held in extension
Note: musculocutaneous nerve palsy is rare - may be damaged by trauma
Which nerve roots does the axillary nerve arise from
C5, C6
What is the sensory function of the axillary nerve
“Sergeant’s patch” - lower part of deltoid
What is the motor supply of the axillary nerve
Shoulder muscles - deltoid, teres minor
Which nerve roots does the radial nerve arise from
C5, C6, C7, C8, T1
Which nerve supplies sensation to the posterior arm and forearm
Radial nerve
Which nerve supplies sensation to the lateral 2/3 of dorsum of hand
Radial nerve
Which nerve innervates the triceps muscle
The radial nerve
Which nerve innervates extension of wrist and fingers
Radial nerve
Which nerve innervates abduction of thumb
Median nerve
Which nerve palsy causes a wrist drop
Radial nerve - wrist flexion, forearm pronation, thumb adduction
Which nerve roots supply the median nerve
C5, C6, C7, C8, T1
What is the sensory innervation of the median nerve
Skin over thenar eminence
Lateral 2/3 palm of hand
Palmar aspect of lateral 3.5 fingers
Dorsal fingertips of lateral 3.5 fingers
(thumb, index, middle and half of ring finger)
What is the motor innervation of the median nerve
Anterior compartment of the forearm - wrist flexion and abduction, finger flexion, thumb flexion
Intrinsic muscles of hand - LOAF
Lateral two lumbricals
Opposes thumb
Abducts thumb
Flexes thumb
Which nerve palsy is caused by carpal tunnel syndrome
Median nerve
Which nerve palsy causes hand of benediction (unable to flex index or middle fingers)
Median nerve
Which nerve roots supply the ulnar nerve
C8, T1
Which nerve supplies sensation to the hypothenar eminence, medial 1/3 of palm of hand and medial 1.5 fingers
Ulnar nerve
What is the motor supply of the ulnar nerve
Flex ring and little fingers
Abduct little finger
Finger abduction and adduction
Medial two lumbricals
Thumb adduction
Which nerve palsy causes “claw hand” (fixed flexion of ring and little fingers)
Ulnar nerve
What is the dermatome testing point of C5
Seargent’s patch (lateral antecubital fossa just proximal to elbow joint)
What is the dermatome testing point for C6
Palmar side of thumb
What is the dermatome testing point for C7
Palmar side of middle finger
What is the dermatome testing point for C8
Palmar side of little finger
What is the dermatome testing point for T1
Medial antecubital fossa just proximal to elbow joint
What does pronator drift indicate
Contralateral corticospinal tract lesion
Which myotome is assessed with shoulder abduction
C5 (axillary nerve)
Which myotome is assessed with shoulder adduction
C6/7 (thoracodorsal nerve)
Which myotome is assessed with elbow flexion
C5/C6 (musculocutaneous and radial nerve)
Which myotome is assessed with elbow extension (triceps)
C7 (radial nerve)
Which myotome is assessed with wrist extension
C6 (radial nerve)
Which myotomes are assessed with wrist flexion
C6/C7 (median and ulnar nerves)
Which myotome is assessed with finger extension
C7 (radial nerve)
Which myotome is assessed by finger abduction
T1 (ulnar nerve)
Which myotome is assessed by thumb abduction
T1 (median nerve)
Which myotomes are assessed by biceps reflex
C5/C6
Which myotomes are assessed by brachioradialis reflex
C5/C6
Which myotome is assessed by triceps reflex
C7
Which spinal column does pin-prick sensation involve
Spinothalamic tracts
Which tests involve the dorsal columns
Vibration, proprioception, light touch
What is myotonic dystrophy
Autosomal dominant multisystem disorder
Progressive muscle weakness, myotonia and early onset cataracts (+ many more)
What are the 2 types of myotonic dystrophy
Type 1: CTG trinucleotide repeat that demonstrates anticipation
Type 2: tetranucleotide repeat, doesn’t show as much anticipation
Both AD
What is myotonia
Inability of a contracted muscle to relax
E.g. difficulty letting go of something after grasping, difficulty opening eyes after closing
What are the clinical features of myotonic dystrophy
Frontal balding, bilateral ptosis, temporalis and masseter weakness (myopathic face)
May have CPAP machine by bed (resp muscle weakness)
Eyelid myotonia - close eyes very tight for 5s then ask to open, pt will have difficulty opening
What is the clinical difference between type 1 and 2 myotonic dystrophy
Type 1: distal weakness
Type 2: proximal weakness
How can you assess myotonia
Ask pt to grip your fingers for 5 seconds then relax - difficulty relaxing
What causes a RAPD
Any cause of unilateral optic nerve damage:
- Optic neuritis (MS, NMO)
- ischaemic optic neuropathies (GCA)
- glaucoma
- sarcoid, SLE, Sjögren’s
- infection (cat scratch disease, syphilis, Lyme, CMV etc)
- hereditary (eg Leber’s)
Unilateral retinal causes:
- ischaemic retinal disease (CRVO, CRAO)
- retinal detachment
- severe macular degeneration
- retinal infection (CMV, HSV)
What is the driving advice after a first seizure
6 months
What is the driving advice after an epileptic seizure
1 year
What is the difference between optic neuropathy and optic atrophy
Optic neuropathy = optic nerve not working
Optic atrophy = optic nerve permanently and irrecoverably damaged (looks pale on fundoscopy)
What can transiently make MS symptoms worse
Increased body temperature (hot showers, going for a run) - Uhthoff phenomenon
Where is the lesion typically found in INO
Brainstem
- affected side will fail to adduct on lateral gaze, other side will develop nystagmus
Where is the lesion usually found in a RAPD
Optic nerve
What is the NIHSS used for
Quantify severity of stroke
What is the modified rankin scale used for
Measure the degree of disability after a stroke
What are the features of an occulomotor nerve palsy
Ptosis
Strabismus - down and out gaze
Ophthalmoplegia - failure to adduct
Dilated pupil - if surgical nerve palsy
What are the first line medical options for Parkinson’s disease
- Co-beneldopa/co-careldopa
- MAO-B inhibitors e.g. selegiline
- dopamine agonists e.g. ropinirole, pramipexole, rotigotine
Which Parkinson’s meds increase risk of impulse control disorders
Dopamine agonists
What are the complex management options for Parkinson’s disease
Deep brain stimulation, apomorphine infusion, duodopa (gel version of dopamine into jejunum via PEJ)
What will happen during Weber’s test in conductive hearing loss
Heard in the bad ear
What will happen during Weber’s test in sensorineural hearing loss
Heard in the good ear
What happens during rinne’s test in conductive hearing loss
Bone conduction > air conduction
What happens during rinne’s test in sensorineural hearing loss
Air conduction > bone conduction
What does a positive rhomberg’s indicate
Loss of proprioceptive (or vestibular) function
(Does not assess cerebellar function)
What are the nerve roots of the femoral nerve
L2-L4
What are the motor functions of the femoral nerve
Anterior thigh muscles (flex hip, extend knee)
What is the sensory function of the femoral nerve
Anteromedial thigh, medial leg
What are the nerve roots of the sciatic nerve
L4-S3
What is the motor function of the sciatic nerve
Posterior thigh
Whole leg (tibial + common fibular nerve branches)
Whole foot (tibial + common fibular)
What is the sensory function of the sciatic nerve
No direct sensory innervation
Tibial branch - posterolateral leg, lateral foot, sole of foot
Common fibular - lateral leg, dorsum of foot
What nerve damage causes foot drop
Common or deep fibular nerve
Where will wasting and weakness be seen most in myotonic dystrophy
Distal muscles (type 1 most common)
What are the extra-neurological features of myotonic dystrophy
Frontal balding
Cataracts
Cardiomyopathy
Diabetes
Testicular atrophy
Dysphagia
What will show up on EMG in myotonic dystrophy
‘Dive-bomber’ potentials