Equine neurological exam

Question 1

Aimsoftheneurologicalexam

Answer 1

determine presence or absence of neurological disease

Question 2

typical gait of radial nerve damage

Answer 2

dropped elbow

Question 3

white matter is made up of

Answer 3

myelinated axons of nerve cells.

Question 4

Grey matter is made up of

Answer 4

neuronal cell bodies, containing the nucleus.

Question 5

Afferent pathways relay…

Answer 5

sensory information from receptors back towards the spinal cord or brain.

Question 6

Efferent pathways relay…

Answer 6

motor or effector information from the brain or spinal cord to muscles or organs.

Question 7

abnormal forebrain associated behaviours

Answer 7

circling
hyperaesthesia
head turn
odd postures
head pressing
yawning
seizures/twitching

Question 8

Signs associated with cerebellar dysfunction

Answer 8

spastic/exaggerated movements
absence/diminished menace reflex
intention tremor
ataxia without weakness

Question 9

what is contained in the brainstem

Answer 9

pons and medulla
reticular formation
ascending proprioceptive pathways
descending motor pathways
cranial nerve nuclei

Question 10

signs of brainstem lesion

Answer 10

weakness + ataxia d/t ascending proprioceptive pathways + descending motor pathways

Question 11

Pupillarylightreflex (PLR) - afferent limb

Answer 11

optic nerve

Question 12

PLR - efferent limb

Answer 12

parasympathetic fibres that run in the oculomotor nerve (III) to constrict pupil

Question 13

cranial nerves involved in eye position

Answer 13

Oculomotor nerve (III)
Trochlear nerve (IV)
Abducens nerve (VI)

Question 14

Retractoroculireflex - method

Answer 14

press on cornea through eyelid

feel for reflex retraction of the globe

Question 15

Retractoroculireflex - afferent + efferent pathways

Answer 15

afferent - Trigeminal nerve (V)

efferent - abducens nerve (VI)

Question 16

signs that the trigeminal nerve (V) is affected

Answer 16

muscle atrophy

no response to painful stimuli

Question 17

functional deficit associated with defective proprioception

Answer 17

Hypermetria
Hypometria
Dysmetria
Truncal sway

Question 18

Causesofataxia

Answer 18

Cerebellar dysfunction
Vestibular dysfunction
Brain stem / spinal cord lesions
Peripheral nerve

Question 19

ataxia clues

Answer 19

pacing - both legs on each side move together

circumduction - swinging the outside pelvic limb out

Question 20

ataxia generally is associated with

Answer 20

irregular irregularities

Question 21

Spinal ataxia is often associated with

Answer 21

weakness

Question 22

clinical signs of UMN

Answer 22

Inability to control the muscles
normal or increased tone
no muscle atrophy

Question 23

clinical signs of LMN

Answer 23

Inability to contract the muscles
flaccidity
muscle atrophy if chronic

Question 24

how to localise spinal lesions

Answer 24

Limb weakness can indicate local spinal cord damage

withdrawal reflexes

Question 25

Sacral and perineal tests

Answer 25

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