Spinal examination Flashcards
What structures are examined in a spine examination?
Vertebral column, paraspinal musculature, neurologic function.
What is the purpose of inspecting head and neck posture?
To assess symmetry and detect abnormalities.
What does shoulder girdle wasting suggest?
C5-C6 pathology.
What does calf atrophy indicate?
L5-S1 weakness or neuropathy.
What might prominence of the scapula or rib cage suggest?
An underlying scoliotic deformity.
What findings on the posterior inspection suggest pathology?
Scars, muscle wasting, swelling, scoliosis, abnormal hair growth.
What does elevation of one side of the pelvis indicate?
Possible leg length discrepancy or scoliosis.
What abnormalities in the gait cycle should be noted?
Symmetry, harmony, and any signs of discomfort.
What does tenderness in the sacroiliac joint suggest?
Sacroiliitis or joint dysfunction.
What does deep palpation in the sciatic notch assess?
Chronic nerve root irritation or spinal stenosis.
What structures are palpated in a spine examination?
Spinous processes, paraspinal muscles, costovertebral junctions, facet joints.
What is the normal range of cervical flexion?
80 degrees (chin to chest).
What is the normal range of cervical extension?
50 degrees (looking up at the ceiling).
What is the normal range of cervical axial rotation?
80 degrees (looking over the shoulder).
What is the normal range of cervical lateral bending?
45 degrees (bringing ear to shoulder).
What does Schober’s test assess?
Lumbar spinal mobility by measuring flexion.
What is the threshold for a positive Schober’s test?
An increase of less than 5 cm when bending forward.
What does the Spurling maneuver provoke?
Radicular symptoms like pain, numbness, and tingling.
What is a positive Lasegue (Straight Leg Raise) test?
Pain radiating below the knee with hip flexion and knee extension.
What does Bragard’s test do?
Increases sensitivity of the straight leg raise test.
What does the femoral stretch test assess?
Upper lumbar disk herniations.
What does the Hoffmann’s test indicate?
Cervical myelopathy or upper motor neuron lesion.
What does a positive Babinski sign suggest?
An upper motor neuron lesion.
What deep tendon reflex is associated with C5?
Biceps reflex.
What deep tendon reflex is associated with C6?
Brachioradialis reflex.
What deep tendon reflex is associated with C7?
Triceps reflex.
What deep tendon reflex is associated with L2-L4?
Patellar tendon reflex.
What deep tendon reflex is associated with S1-S2?
Achilles tendon reflex.
What does a monosynaptic reflex arc involve?
A single synapse between a sensory and motor neuron.
What motor function does L3 assess?
Knee extension.
What motor function does L4 assess?
Ankle dorsiflexion.
What motor function does L5 assess?
Great toe extension.
What motor function does S1 assess?
Ankle plantar flexion.
What are the lower extremity dermatomes?
L1 (inguinal), L2 (upper thigh), L3 (lower thigh/knee), L4 (medial cruris), L5 (lateral cruris), S1 (sole of foot).
What does cruralgia refer to?
Pain along the femoral nerve distribution.
