6.Examination of the nervous system of the horse Flashcards
(47 cards)
what are the general considerations?
- Is it necessary to use life saving methods?
- Is it a real nervous system problem?
- Is it a cerebral, spinal or peripheral dysfunction?
- Is it an acute or a chronic process?
- Do you suspect any infectious disease?
What are the types of neurological diagnosis?
- Functional or symptomatic
- Anatomical
- Pathological
- Aetiological
Why is history taking important?
- Limitations of the examination
- Characteristic of neuropathies
- Missing subjective information
- Infectious diseases of the nervous system
what are som disturbing factors?
- Restraint
- Sedatives
- Environment
Methods of physical examination:
- Inspection
- Palpation
- Postural reactions
- Vertebral reflexes
- Cranial nerves
- Sensitivity
- Pain perception
Ancillary diagnostic aids:
• Neuroradiography 1. Plain 2.Myelography 3. Angiography (cerebral and vertebral) • Nuclear scintigraphy • Computed tomography • Magnetic resonance imaging • Electroencephalography (electromyelography) • Laboratory tests (blood, urine, CSF)
Explain the structure of the physical examination:
- Head
- Behaviour
- Mental status
- Head posture and coordination
- Cranial nerves
- Gait and posture
- Neck and forelimbs
- Trunk and hind limbs
- Tail and anus
- Cerebrum
- Brain stem
- Cerebellum
- Spinal cord
- Peripheral nerves (and muscles)
Where is the 4 functional areas of the spinal cord where lesions often show up?
c1-c5, c6-T2, T3-L3, L4-S3, caudal
What are the clinical signs in this area: C1-C5
Tetraparesis/plegia, sometimes neck pain, normal to exaggerated spinal reflexes
What are the clinical signs in this area: C6-T2
Tetraparesis/plegia, sometimes neck pain, decreased to absent thoracic limb spinal reflexes, normal to exaggerated spinal reflexes - pelvic limbs
What are the clinical signs in this area: T3-L3
Paraparesis/plegia, sometimes back pain, normal thoracic limb spinal reflexes. Normal to exaggerated pelvic limbs spinal reflexes
What are the clinical signs in this area: L4-S3
Paraparesis/plegia, sometimes lower back pain, normal thoracic limb spinal reflexes. decreased to absent spinal reflexes -pelvic limbs
What are the clinical signs in this area
Paresis/plegia of tail, decreased tail tone, decreased tail sensation
What is important to take into consideration when checking behaviour?
- Typical reactions
- Age
- Breed
- Sex
- Abnormal reactions
- Stable vices
What are the three states of increased reactivity?
- Excitement
- Agitation
- Aggression
Name the categories of consciousness:
Alert, depressed, delerium/dementia, semicomatose stuporous, comatose
Explain delerium,dementia ;
Responsive to environmental stimuli, but responses are not clearly directed to the stimuli
Explain semicomatose stuporous:
Remains unresponsive to environmental stimuli but responsive to painful sensation
Explain comatose:
non-responsive to either environmental or painful stimulation
What head postures and coordinations are we looking for?
- Position and movements of the atlantooccipital joint
* Control of cerebrum, cerebellum and vestibular system
What can we see when there is a vestibular lesion?
Head tilt
What can we see when there is a cerebral lesion?
Deviation of head and neck toward the side of the lesion
What can we see when there is a cerebrellar lesion?
Jerky movements during voluntary motion and fine tremor when at rest (intention tremor)
How do we test the olfactory nerve?
Evaluation of smell
