Neurological Examination of the Lower Limb

Question 1

What neurological lesion results in “foot drop”?

Answer 1

mononeuropathies of the deep peroneal nerve, the common peroneal nerve, or the sciatic nerve

Question 2

hemiplegia

Answer 2

is a condition, caused by a brain injury, that results in a varying degree of weakness, stiffness (spasticity) and lack of control in one side of the body

Question 3

paraplegia

Answer 3

is an impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities

Question 4

quadriplegia

Answer 4

the partial or total loss of use of all four limbs and torso

Question 5

MRC Scale for grading muscle strength

Answer 5

0-5
0 = no contraction
1 = flicker or trace of contraction
2 = active movement with gravity eliminated
3 = active movement against gravity
4 = active movement against gravity and resistance
5 = normal power

Question 6

proximal myopathy

Answer 6

symmetrical weakness of proximal upper and/or lower limbs

associated with thyroid disease, osteomalacia, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

Question 7

upper motor neurone

Answer 7

found in the cerebral cortex and brainstem and carry information down to activate interneurons and lower motor neurons, which in turn directly signal muscles to contract or relax

Question 8

lower motor neurone

Answer 8

onnects the upper motor neurone (UMN) to the skeletal muscle it innervates

Question 9

Upper motor neurone lesion signs

Answer 9

• Muscle weakness
• overreactive reflexes
• increased tone
• positive bainski response

Question 10

Lower motor neurone lesion signs

Answer 10

• reduced tone
• decreased reflexes
• atrophy
• fascinations present

Question 11

inverted champagne bottles legs cause

Answer 11

MS

Question 12

conditions which would give a mixture of upper motor neurone and lower motor neurone signs.

Answer 12

motor neurone disease

Question 13

clonus

Answer 13

nerve cells that control the muscles are damaged and this causes involuntary contractions and spasms

Question 14

conditions that elicit clonus

Answer 14

cerebral palsy

brain injury

Question 15

grading system for reflex response

Answer 15

0 = no response; always abnormal

1+ = a slight but definitely present response; may or may not be normal

2+ = a brisk response; normal

3+ = a very brisk response; may or may not be normal

4+ = a tap elicits a repeating reflex (clonus); always abnormal