Sensory Exam Flashcards
if the primary sensory modality isn’t in working order the deficit is referred to as
anesthesia and analgesia
the PNS or afferent organ have their cell bodies here
dorsal root ganglia
in the spinal cord, the sensory pathway/mechanosensory ascends on this side (contralateral, ipsilateral)
ipsilateral
the sensory pathway synapses here in the upper extremity
cuneate nucleus (cuneatus tract)
the sensory pathway synapses here in the lower extremity
gracile nucleus (gracilis tract)
in the spinal cord, the name of the area that houses the sensory/mechanosensory pathway
dorsal columns
in the spinal cord, the sensory pathway of pain/temperature ascends on this side (ipsilateral, contralateral)
contralateral
in the spinal cord, the name of the area that houses the pain/temperature pathway
spinothalamic tract
posterior aspect of the shoulders is this nerve root
C4
lateral aspect of the upper arms is this nerve root
C5
medial aspect of the lower arms is this nerve root
T1
tip of the thumb is this nerve root
C6
tip of the middle finger is this nerve root
C7
tip of the pinky finger is this nerve root
C8
3 ways to test superficial sensory
pain, temperature, light touch
tactile disc of merkle deals with this sensation
light touch
neuro-pathway for light touch
anterior spinothalamic tract
deficits to light touch in dermatomal pattern may indicate
nerve root compression or peripheral nerve lesions
neuro-pathway for pain
lateral spinothalamic tract
deficits in pain in dermatomal pattern may indicate
nerve root compression or peripheral nerve lesions
analgesia means
areas insensitive to pain
hypalgesia means
decreased sensation
hyperalgesia means
increased sensitivity
loss of vibration
pallanathesia
tract that vibration is carried in for upper extremity
cuneatus
tract that vibration is carried in for lower extremity
gracilis
temperature is carried along the same pathway as:
pain
compression of dorsal nerve root usually has these sensations
numbness and tingling, loss of vibration
compression of this area could cause hyporeflexia with no muscle atrophy
dorsal nerve root
compression of this area causes muscle weakness and loss of reflexes
anterior (motor) nerve root
causes of compression
disc herniation, DJD, trauma, inflammation, tumors
