Neuro Exam

Question 1

What are the cerebral lobes of the brain?

Answer 1

Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, Temporal

Question 2

What are the 3 elements of consciousness?

Answer 2

Arousal, Alertness, Awareness

Question 3

What are the structures required for normal consciousness?

Answer 3

Reticular activating system (midbrain, thalmus, hypothalmus)

Atleast one cerebral hemisphere

Question 4

What do we look for in expression of language?

Answer 4

fluency, clarity, grammar

Question 5

What do we look for in comprehension of language?

Answer 5

able to follow complex, multi-step, instructions or commands

Question 6

What are the structures required for expression of language?

Answer 6

Broca’s area (dominant frontal lobe)

Question 7

What are the structures required for comprehension of language?

Answer 7

Wernike’s Area (dominant temporal/parietal lobes)

Question 8

What are the structures required for repetition of language?

Answer 8

Acuate Fasciculus (white matter tract between Broca’s and Wernike’s)

Question 9

What are the structures required for naming in association with language?

Answer 9

Dominant frontal lobe

Question 10

How do we assess attention and concentration?

Answer 10

assess ability to maintain steps in working memory (spell words backwards, count backwards)

Question 11

What structures are required for attention and concentration?

Answer 11

frontal-subcortical network

visual-spatial attention (non-dominant parietal lobe)

Question 12

What are the structures involved in memory?

Answer 12

hippocampus (encoding and consolidating memory)

frontal-subcortical system (retrival of memories)

Question 13

What are the structures involved in the “fund of knowledge”?

Answer 13

temporal and parietal lobes (semantic knowledge)

Question 14

What cranial nerves are associated with what parts of the brainstem?

Answer 14

midbrain - 2, 3, 4
pons - 5, 6, 7, 1/2 8
medulla- 1/2 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Question 15

What is a key element of the physical exam for cranial nerve II?

Answer 15

inspection of the optic disc

Question 16

What aspects of the EOMs are cranial nerves III, IV and VI responsible for?

Answer 16

III: raises eyebrows, moves eyes nasally (also up and down somewhat)
IV: moves eyes downward
VI: moves eyes laterally

Question 17

What are the functions of CN V?

Answer 17

light touch or pin prick of forehead (V1), cheeks (V2) and jaw (V3)
also the muscle of mastication

Question 18

What is the function of CN VII?

Answer 18

Facial movement and expression

Question 19

What is the function of CN VIII?

Answer 19

hearing an balance

Question 20

What is the function of CN IX and X?

Answer 20

palatal elevation (ahhhh)

Question 21

What is the function of CN XI?

Answer 21

head turning and shoulder shrug

Question 22

What is the function of CN XII?

Answer 22

tongue protrusion

Question 23

What is the normal motor strength rating?

Answer 23

5

Question 24

What are the muscles and nerves responsible for shoulder abduction?

Answer 24

deltoids, axillary nerve (C5-C6)

Question 25

What are the muscles and nerves responsible for elbow flexion?

Answer 25

biceps, musculocutaneous nerve (C5-C6)

Question 26

What are the muscles and nerves responsible for elbow extension?

Answer 26

triceps, radial nerve (C5-C6)

Question 27

What are the muscles and nerves responsible for finger spreading?

Answer 27

dorsal interossei (C8, T1)

Question 28

What are the muscles and nerves responsible for finger opposition?

Answer 28

opponens pollicis, median (C8, T1)

Question 29

What are the muscles and nerves responsible for hip flexion?

Answer 29

iliopsoas, femoral nerve (L1-L2))

Question 30

What are the muscles and nerves responsible for knee flexion?

Answer 30

hamstrings, sciatic nerve (L5, S1, S2)

Question 31

What are the muscles and nerves responsible for knee extension?

Answer 31

quadriceps, femoral nerve (L2-L4)

Question 32

What are the muscles and nerves responsible for foot dorsiflexion?

Answer 32

tibialis anterior, deep peroneal nerve (L4-L5)

Question 33

What are the muscles and nerves responsible for foot plantar flexion?

Answer 33

gastrocnemius and soleus, tibial nerve (S1-S2)

Question 34

What is the rating for normal reflexes?

Answer 34

2+

Question 35

What are the upper extremity reflexes and the nerves that innervate them?

Answer 35

biceps- C5, C6 triceps- C7 brachioradialis- C6

Question 36

What are the lower extremity reflexes and the nerves that innervate them?

Answer 36

patellar- L4 achilles- S1 (w/ankle clonus) babinski

Question 37

What are the aspects of a sensory assessment?

Answer 37

light touch pin prick (or alternatively temp) vibratory proprioception

Question 38

What are the aspects of a coordination assessment?

Answer 38

point to point rapid alternating movements romberg heel to shin

Question 39

What are the aspects of a gait and station assessment?

Answer 39

station tandem gait heel walking, toe walking

Question 40

What do we also have to note in a gait and station exam?

Answer 40

speed, stride length, arm swing, turns

Question 41

What is required to be able to assess for gait and station?

Answer 41

LOC, strength, sensation and coordination