Clinical Assesment Spine/Cord Flashcards
What neurological signs characterize Lower Motor Neuron injuries?
Muscle weakness, hypotonia, hyporeflexia/areflexia are all immediate and long lasting, flaccid paresis, fasciculations, atrophy
What neurological signs characterize Upper Motor Neuron injuries?
Immediate muscle weakness, hypotonia, hyporeflexia/areflexia (spinal shock). Followed by hyperreflexia and spasticity after days or weeks, including extensor plantar response. Spastic Paresis.
What are the sensory territory, motor territory, and reflex components of the C5 nerve?
Sensory: Shoulder, upper lateral arm; Motor: Deltoid, Infraspinatus, Biceps; Reflex: Biceps (w/C6)
What are the sensory territory, motor territory, and reflex components of the C6 nerve?
Sensory: 1st and 2nd digits of hand; Motor: Wrist extensors, biceps; Reflex: Biceps (w/C5), Brachioradialis.
What are the sensory territory, motor territory, and reflex components of the C7 nerve?
Sensory: 3rd digit; Motor: Triceps; Reflex: Triceps
What are the sensory territory, motor territory, and reflex components of the L4 nerve?
Sensory: Knee, medial leg; Motor: Psoas, Quads; Reflex: Patellar
What are the sensory territory, motor territory, and reflex components of the L5 nerve?
Sensory: Dorsum of foot, large toe; Motor: Foot dorsiflexion, big toe extension, foot eversion and inversion; Reflex: none.
What are the sensory territory, motor territory, and reflex components of the S1 nerve?
Sensory: Lateral foot, small toe, sole of foot; Motor: Foot plantarflexation; Reflex: Achilles
Which thoracic dermatomes typically cover the nipple line, xyphoid, and umbilicus?
Nipples: T4, Xyphoid: T7/T8, Umbilicus: T10
What are the three main spinal tracts?
The spinothalamic tract, posterior columns, and the corticospinal tract.
What information is carried by the spinothalamic tract and where does it decussate?
The spinothalamic tract (anterolateral/ventrolateral system) carries pain and temperature information. It decussates in the spinal cord (Anterior white commissure).
What information is carried by the posterior columns and where do they decussate?
The posterior columns (Dorsal Column - Medial Lemniscus) carries position and vibration information. It decussates in the medulla.
What information is carried by the corticospinal tract?
The corticospinal tract carries motor information to the periphery. It decussates mostly in the pyramid.
What are the symptoms of a radiculopathy?
Pain (lehrmitte’s sign: lightning pain down back or arms with neck flexion), paresthesia, weakness, sensory loss, disorders of bowel, bladder or sexual function, gait problems.
