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Neurology > The Neurological Examination of Small Animals > Flashcards

The Neurological Examination of Small Animals Flashcards

1
Q

What are the aims of the neuro exam?

A
  1. Neurologically normal or abnormal?

2. Where is the lesion?

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2
Q

What tools are useful in a neurological exam?

A 
Room
Chair
Reflex hammer
Haemostates
Penlight
Lens
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3
Q

What are the 8 parts to the neuro exam?

A
  1. Mentation
  2. Posture
  3. Gait
  4. Postural reacrions
  5. Spinal Relfexes
  6. Cranial nerves
  7. Palpation
  8. Nociception
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4
Q

What are the different levels of consciousness?

A
  1. Alert
  2. Obtunded
  3. Stupor
  4. Comatosed
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5
Q

When looking at posture what should you look for?

A
  1. Posture of the head
  2. Posture of the limbs
  3. Posture of the body
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6
Q

What are the different postures of the head and what do they suggest?

A
  1. Tilt (Vestibular diease)

2. Turn (Forebrain disease)

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7
Q

What are the different postures of the limbs and what might they suggest?

A
  1. Wide based stance (proprioception loss)
  2. Narrow based stance (weakness)
  3. Decreased weight bearing (Evidence of pain)
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8
Q

What is a decerebrate posture?

A

Neck and limbs extended, no mentation

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9
Q

What is a decerebellate posture?

A

Neck and forelimbs extended, hindlimbs flexed, mentation okay

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10
Q

What is a Schiff-Scherrington posture?

A

Forelimbs rigid, hindlimbs flexed, mentation okay due to spinal lesion at T3-L3

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11
Q

What segments is the spinal cord split into?

A

C1-C5
C6-T2
T3-L3
L4-S3

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12
Q

Define stuporous

A

A state of impaired consciousness, in which the patient can only be aroused by continual stimulation

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13
Q

How does gait come about?

A

Integration of proprioceptive and motor systems

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14
Q

Define paresis. How can it be differentiated?

A

Decreased voluntary movement. Can be classified into upper motor or lower motor

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15
Q

How are UMN and LMN paresis differentiated?

A

Severity
Postural reactions
Spinal reflexes
Muscle tone

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16
Q

How are muscle tone and spinal reflexes affected in UMN paresis?

A

Both are normal to increased in limbs caudal to the lesion

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17
Q

How is stride affected by UMN paresis?

A

Normal to increased in stride, spasticity/increased muscle tone and +/- ataxia

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18
Q

How are muscle tone and spinal reflexes affected in LMN paresis?

A

Muscle tone is decreased in limbs with a reflex arc containing the lesions

Spinal reflexes are decreased to absent in limbs with a reflex arc containing the lesion

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19
Q

How is stride affected in LMN paresis?

A

Normal to decreased length, stiff, bunny hopping +/- collapse =/- ataxia, knuckling.

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20
Q

What are the three types of ataxia?

A

Sensory/proprioceptive
Cerebellar
Vestibular

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21
Q

What are the clinical signs of sensory ataxia?

A 
Loss of sense of limb/body position
Wide based stance
Increased stride length
Swaying
Knuckling
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22
Q

What are the clinical signs of cerebellar ataxia?

A

Disordered rate and range of movement
Hypermetria
Intention tremor
Postural tremor

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23
Q

What are the signs of vestibular ataxia?

A 
Uni or bilateral
Falling/leaning/circling to one side 
Head tilt
Wide excursions of the head
Crouched posture
24
Q

If a dog is circling to one side, what side of the brain would the lesion be on?

A

Same side the dog is circling towards

25
Define strabismus and nystagmus
Stabismus - abnormal alignment of eyes, eyes looking in different directions Nystagmus - continous involentary movement of the eye
26
What must you interpret with postural reactions?
Gait Spinal reflexes Muscle tone
27
What are the methods of testing postural reactions?
1. Paw positioning 2. Hopping 3. Wheelbarrowing 4. Hemiwalking 5. Placing 6. Extensor postural thrust
28
Outline the muscle group, associated nerve and vertebrae tested in the tendon reflex test...
Biceps - Musculocutaneous n. - C6-C8 Triceps - Radial n. - C7-T2 Patellar - Femoral n. - L4-L6 Gastroc - Sciatic n. - L6 - S2
29
Outline the muscle group, associated nerve and vertebrae tested in the flexor reflex test
Thoracic limb - Multiple n. - C6-T2 | Pelvic limb - Sciatic n. - (L6 - S2)
30
What nerve and vertebrae are tested with the perianal refelx?
Pudendal n. (S1 - S3)
31
Explain the cutaneous trunci reflex..
Pinching the skin on either side of the trunk and assessing the contraction of the cutaneous trunci.
32
In general, how do you interpret the results of the spinal reflexes?
A decreased or absent reflex may show: a lesion within the reflex arc, physical limitation of movement due to joint fibrosis or muscle contracture, excitement and fear. An exaggerated reflex may indicate a lesion to UMN pathways cranial to the spinal cord segments tested, or may simply be due to excitement and fear.
33
What are the 12 cranial nerves?
``` I. Olfactory II. Optic III. Oculomotor IV. Trochlear V. Trigeminal VI. Abducent VII. Facial VIII. Vestibulocochlear IX. Glossopharyngeal X. Vagus XI. Accessory XII. Hypoglossal ```
34
Describe the route of nervous transmission during the menace response..
CN II - Forebrain - Cerebellum - Brainstem - CN VII
35
What is the afferent route of nervous transmission in vision?
CN II - Forebrain
36
Describe the route of nervous transmission in the PLR...
CN II - Brainstem - CN III
37
What tests asses the optic nerve (CNII)?
Vision Menace response PLR Fundic exam
38
What are the clinical signs of Horner's Syndrome?
Miosis (Constriction of pupil) Ptosis (Drooping of upper eyelid) Enophthalmus (Posterior displacement of eyeball into orbit)
39
What cranial nerves control the extra ocular muscles?
Oculomotor CNIII Trochlear CN IV Abducent CN VI
40
Outline the neural pathway in stabismus
CN VIII - Central vestibular/brainstem - CN III, IV and VI
41
What cranial nerve provides sensation to the face?
Trigeminal (CN V)
42
Outline the neural pathway in the corneal reflex
CN V - Brainstem - CN VI
43
Which cranial nerve provides motor neurons to the muscle of mastication?
Trigeminal (CN V)
44
What are the clinical signs of trigeminal nerve dysfunction?
Atrophy of the mastication muscle | Inability to close jaw
45
Which cranial nerve provides motor neurons to the muscles of facial expression?
Facial (CN VII)
46
What are the clinical signs of facial nerve dysfunction?
Facial paresis/paralysis | Facial asymmetry
47
What autonomic function does the facial nerve provide and how can it be tested?
Innveration to the lacrimal glands and therefore can be tested by STT-1
48
What are the clinical signs of vestibulocochlear nerve dysfunction?
``` Ataxia Head tilt Stabismus Nystagmus Loss of hearing ```
49
Outline the neural pathway for a physiological nystagmus
CN VIII - Brainstem - CN III, IV and VI
50
What cranial nerves provide sensory and motor innervation to the pharynx?
Glossopharyngeal (CN IX) | Vagus (X)
51
Outline the neural pathway in the gag reflex..
CN IX and X - Brainstem - CN IX and X
52
Which cranial nerve provides motor innervation to the tongue?
Hypoglossal (XII)
53
What are the clinical signs of hypoglossal nerve dysfunction?
Paresis/paralysis of the tongue Atrophy/asymmetry of the tongue Deviation of the tongue
54
What can light and deep palpation asses in terms of neurology?
Light: swelling or atrophy Deep: pain
55
In a neurological exam, where should be palpated?
Head Spine Limb

Neurology (12 decks)

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