Neuro Diagnosis

Front 1

What are the normal findings of a muscle strength exam?

Back 1

ms strength should be bilaterally symmetrical with complete ROM against gravity & full resistance

grade: 5/5

Front 2

What are the abnormal findings of a muscle strength exam?

Back 2

-ms strength test graded 4/5-0/5, indicating muscle weakness

Front 3

What is the etiology of muscle weakness?

Back 3

Weakness may result from a lesion anywhere b/t tthe motor cortex and the muscle:
-LMN lesion due to radiculopathy
-LMN lesion due to peripheral nerve disorder
-UMN lesion
-NMJ disease
-muscle disease (myopathy)

Front 4

What are the normal findings on a somatosensory exam?

Back 4

sensation should be bilaterally equal and equal to areas on the same side as well as b/t different areas of the body (upper vs. lower extremity).

Front 5

What are the abnormal findings on a somatosensory exam?

Back 5

-decreased sensation or sensory loss
-increased sensation
-pain provoked by normally non-painful stimuli

Front 6

What is the etiology of somatosensory alteration?

Back 6

-may occur due to a lesion anywhere b/t the receptor and the somatosensory cortex

PNS lesion
-peripheral neuropathy
-radiculopathy
CNS lesion
-ascending tract in spinal cord & brainstem
-thalamus
-thalamo-cortical projections
-somatosensory cortex (parietal lobe)

Front 7

What are the normal and abnormal findings on a DTR exam?

Back 7

-DTR activity reflects integrity of reflex arc.

-graded on a scale from 0-4
-normal= 2

-a lesion affecting reflex arc leads to decreased or absent DTR (graded 1+, 1+(R), 0(R))

-an UMN lesion leads to hyperreflexia (graded 4+)

-bilaterally sluggish/brisk reflexes with no other neurological symptoms and exam findings are usually normal.

Front 8

What is the etiology of DTR alteration?

Back 8

-lesion affecting LMN and sensory component of reflex arc due to radiculopathy or peripheral neuropathy

-UMN lesions:
*CVA
*MS
*injury to the spinal cord