Neurological Examination I

Question 1

Sudden disruption of the brain’s normal electrical activity accompanied by altered consciousness and/or other neurological and behavioral manifestation

Answer 1

Seizures

Question 2

Rhythmic, involuntary, oscillatory movements of body parts

Answer 2

Tremors

Question 3

Behavior if cerebrum is affected

Answer 3

Dull, wandering, vocalizing, loss of cognitive function/ demented

Question 4

behavior if diencephalon is affected

Answer 4

Increased/decreased appetite, water intake

Question 4

neurologic history | brain stem, cerebrum

Answer 4

Stupor, obtunded < full mental capacity

Question 5

is a decreased level of consciousness in which a patient requires vigorous physical stimuli to awaken.

Answer 5

stupor

Question 6

True or false?
Cerebellar lesions, usually on the same side as the tremor in the lateral zone, which controls visually guided movements

Answer 6

True

Question 7

occurs when the affected body part maintains position against gravity.
-not necessarily caused by neurologic disease but it can be due to neurologic weakness or pain

Answer 7

Postural/ action tremors

Question 8

tonic spasm or temporary rigidity of one or more muscles. The inability of muscles to relax after contraction.

Answer 8

Myotonia

Question 9

Seen as sudden, involuntary jerking of a muscle or group of muscles in the limbs, pelvis or face. (in response to noise, flickering light, and sudden movement in the visual field.

Answer 9

Myoclonus

Question 10

Frequent causes of myoclonus in dogs

Answer 10

Canine Distemper, lead poisoning, Lafora’s disease in Dogs

Question 11

The test checks if the brain responds to noise and is a reliable way to see if a dog is deaf and to what extent.

Answer 11

BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) hearing test

Question 12

Oral dysphagia (mouth)

Answer 12

jaw/tongue paralysis, dental disease, swelling or wasting of chewing muscles, inability to open mouth

Question 13

Dog can grab food but show repeated attempts to swallow while flexing and extending head and neck, chewing excessively and gagging.

Answer 13

Pharyngeal dysphagia (pharynx)

Question 14

Dog may succeed at swallowing after several attempts, but later gags, coughs and forcibly throws its food back up

Answer 14

Cricopharyngeal dysphagia (distal pharynx, near esophagus)

Question 15

A brainstem pathway which receives sensory input (vision, auditory and somatic)
-directs these stimuli to the thalamus as part of the reticular activating system

Answer 15

Reticular Activating System (RAS)

Question 16

Patient is responsive to environmental stimuli but is lethargic

Answer 16

Depression

Question 17

Patient is unresponsive to environmental stimuli but responds to painful stimuli

Answer 17

Stupor

Question 18

Patient is not responsive to environmental or painful stimuli

Answer 18

Coma

Question 19

Patient is alert, overactive, but responds inappropriately to stimuli

Answer 19

Delirium

Question 20

(lesions) Opisthotonus

Answer 20

Lesions in brain stem or rostral cerebellum

Question 21

(Lesions) Vetroflexion in cats

Answer 21

Brain stem or neuromuscular lesion

Question 22

Dorsal curvature of the spine

Answer 22

Kyphosis

Question 23

Ventral curvature of the spine

Answer 23

Lordosis

Question 24

Lateral deviation of the spine

Answer 24

Scoliosis

Question 25

Twisting of the neck (Posture assessment)

Answer 25

Torticollis

Question 26

Limbs | Wide based stance is often seen?

Answer 26

with ataxia, abnormal conscious proprioception, and generalized weakness

Question 27

limbs | Knuckling is a result of?

Answer 27

proprioceptive deficit, LMN/UMN

Question 28

Increased tone in forelimbs with flaccid paralysis in hind limbs (Lesion between T2 and L4)

Answer 28

Schiff-Sherrington

Question 29

Increased tone in flexors and extensors (Strychnine poisoning and tetanus)

Answer 29

Tetany

Question 30

Opisthotonos, extension of thoracis limbs, flexion of pelvic limbs

Answer 30

Decerebellate rigidity

Question 31

Opisthotonos, Extension of all limbs, severely altered mentation

Answer 31

Decerebrate rigidity

Question 32

1. Painful limbs are _____? 2. Weak limbs are _____?

Answer 32

1. carried 2. dragged

Question 33

(strictly neurological) Inability to coordinate voluntary muscles movements

Answer 33

Ataxia

Question 34

Weakness related to a neurological condition, partial deficit of motor function

Answer 34

Paresis

Question 35

Complete loss of voluntary movement (-plegia) ( paraplegia, tetraplegia)

Answer 35

Paralysis

Question 36

Loss of sensitivity to the positions of joint and body parts which usually occurs when spinal cord is slowly compressed. - crossing of the limbs, dragging of the toes, knuckling

Answer 36

Proprioceptive (Sensory) Ataxia

Question 37

Signs of sensory ataxia

Answer 37

Abnormal standing posture - wobbly appearance - Proprioceptive deficits - limbs may swing to the side or cross beneath trunk

Question 38

Abnormality in the vestibular system - CN VIII. changes in head and neck position, as affected animal may feel a false sense of movement or may be having problems with hearing.

Answer 38

Vestibular ataxia

Question 39

Uncoordinated motor activity of the limbs, head, and neck, taking large neck, body tremors and body swaying -Characterized dysmetria

Answer 39

Cerebellar Ataxia

Question 40

Inability to judge the rate, range, and force of muscular actions

Answer 40

Dysmetria

Question 41

Describes the action of overreaching, or high stepping, the intended object or location

Answer 41

Hypermetria

Question 42

Fine tremors present on initiation of voluntary movements

Answer 42

Intention tremors

Question 43

Refers to the complex series of responses that maintain an animal in an upright position

Answer 43

Postural Reactions

Question 44

Postural Reactions that may be assessed in Dogs and Cats

Answer 44

- Conscious proprioception - Hopping - Wheelbarrowing - Hemiwalking - Extensor postural thrust - Tactile & visual placing reactions - Tonic neck responses

Question 45

Ability to sense body position, locations, orientation, & movement of the body and its parts

Answer 45

Proprioception (Cerebral cortex)

Question 46

(Test) Dorsal part of the paw is placed on flat surface -normal: return to normal position

Answer 46

Knuckling Test

Question 47

A progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs (onset 7-14 years old) -mutated gene - initially affects the back legs and causes muscle weakness and loss and lack of coordination

Answer 47

Degenerative Myelopathy (No conscious proprioception)

Question 48

A test where the animal is held as such that most of its weight is borne on one limb and the animal is moved laterally. -normal: animal hops on the limb while keeping the foot under the body for support

Answer 48

Hopping test

Question 49

Is done by supporting patient under the abdomen so pelvic limbs do not touch the floor and moving the patient forward.

Answer 49

Wheelbarrow test

Question 50

Is done by lifting limbs on one side and moving patient laterally

Answer 50

Hemiwalking/Hemistanding test

Question 51

The patient is supported by the thorax as its pelvic limbs are lowered to the floor. - as the px's limbs are lowered the animal extends the limbs.

Answer 51

Extensor Postural Thrust Reaction

Question 52

is performed by supporting the animal under the thorax and obscuring its vision. the distal thoracic limbs are brought in contact with the edge of the table

Answer 52

Tactile Placement

Question 53

Is tested by allowing the animal to see the table surface.

Answer 53

Visual placement

Question 54

Elevating dog’s head when it is standing increases tone in forelimbs and decreases tone in rear limbs

Answer 54

Tonic Neck Reaction