Proprioception and Cerebellar Exams Flashcards
Are lesions of the cerebellum and posterior column contralateral or ipsilateral?
Ipsilateral
What are the clinically testable proprioceptive functions?
Motion, position, vibration, pressure and deep pain
What makes the pathway for proprioception different?
Stimuli is carried by a first order sensory neuron that ascends the spinal cord ipsilateraly in the posterior columns before it first synapses in the lower brain stem.
What are the principle receptors for proprioception?
Neuromuscular and neurotendinous spindles, the Golgi tendon organ, and 4 varieties of mechanoreceptors
Pallanesthesia
Loss of vibratory perception
How do you perform the Romberg test?
Standing, feet close together, first with eyes open and then with eyes closed.
Normal finding of Romberg test?
Patient maintain posture.
Little or no swaying.
Abnormal finding of Romberg test?
Patient steps to maintain posture or falls.
Patient falls with eyes open, whats wrong?
Cerebellar lesion
Patient falls with eyes closed, whats wrong?
Posterior (dorsal) column lesion
Patient falls with eyes closed and open, whats wrong?
Cerebellar or Vestibular Deficit.
How to perform hopping on one foot test?
Patient hops on one foot with eyes open and then closed. Then repeats on opposite leg.
What is required to be intact to be able to hop on one foot?
The long motor and sensory tracts, cerebellum, basal ganglia, and peripheral nerves
Normal finding of hoping on one foot?
Patient maintains posture with eyes open and closed.
Abnormal finding of hoping on one foot?
Patient takes a step to maintain posture or falls.
What is a good test to find minor weakness in the lower extremity?
Squatting on one foot
What is required to be intact to be able to squatting on one foot?
The long motor and sensory tracts, cerebellum, basal ganglia, and peripheral nerves.
How to perform squatting on one foot test?
Patient squats on one leg with eyes open and then with eyes closed.
How to perform Finger-to-Nose test?
Patient has arms straight out to the side and attempts to touch their nose with the tip of their finger, bilaterally. First with eyes open and then with them closed.
Normal finger-to-nose test?
Smooth, accurate movements
Abnormal finger-to-nose test?
Dyssynergia: uncoordinated movement
Dysmetria: inaccuracy in measuring distance
How to perform finger-to-finger test?
Patient has arms straight out to the sides and attempts to touch the tips of their index fingers together, straight out in front of them. First with eyes open, then closed.
Normal finger-to-finger test?
Smooth, accurate movements.