Neurological Exam

Front 1

Components of the neurological exam

Back 1

Patient history, Cranial nerves, Motor function/reflexes, Somatosensory function, Coordination, Mental status exam

(PCMSCM)

Front 2

Patient history includes

Back 2

Acute/chronic symptoms, Age, education, handedness, past medical history, medications, family history

Front 3

Cranial Nerves in the neurological assessment

Back 3

We check these because swelling can push on them and cause a lack of function --> we can get a sense of whether impairment is in one region or many

Front 4

Standard visual acuity test

Back 4

This tests for each eye's visual field confrontation, papilledema and intracranial pressure (optic nerve test)

Front 5

Bell's Palsy

Back 5

Condition due to a lesion to the facial nerve (CN7)

Front 6

Gag reflex test

Back 6

Part of the neurological exam that tests the Vagus nerve (CN10)

Front 7

Shoulder shrug/Head resistance test

Back 7

Part of neurological assessment that tests the accessory nerve (CN11)

Front 8

Stick out/move tongue test

Back 8

Part of neurological assessment that tests the hypoglossal nerve (CN12)

Front 9

Motor function and reflexes on the neurological assessment

Back 9

Test gross muscle appearances, strength, and muscle tone in left vs. right side

Front 10

Somatosensory function on the neurological exam tests for

Back 10

Pain, light touch, proprioception, asterognosis, agraphesthesia

Front 11

Testing proprioception

Back 11

Place the patient's arm in a position and ask them where it is

Front 12

Testing pain/touch

Back 12

Poke or brush the body on either side of the body in differing patterns

Front 13

Asterognosis

Back 13

The inability to identify objects based on only touch --> indicates an issue in the bridge between touch and memory, damage to the parietal cortex, pathway to the somatosensory cortex, or memory/association areas

Front 14

Agraphesthesia

Back 14

The inability to link writing on the skin to memory --> indicates an issue in the bridge between touch and language and also memory

Front 15

Testing coordination on the neurological assessment

Back 15

Quick alternating movements, point to point movements, heel-to-shin test, Standing/sitting, Gait assessment, Romberg test --> all test for cerebellar function

Front 16

Mental status exam tests for:

Back 16

Attention and orientation, Language, Memory, Visuospatial function, Executive function (AOMLEV)

Front 17

Praxis

Back 17

Linking language to action, tested by asking for a demonstration of how to use a common item like a toothbrush

Front 18

Luria 3-step test

Back 18

Test for executive function by following a sequence of 3 actions

Front 19

Perseverative behavior tests

Back 19

Tests that see if you continue to do something that is no longer appropriate in sequence (loop/pattern drawing, luria 3-step, oral trail making)