Physical Exams

Question 1

basic components of neuro exam

Answer 1

Mental status testing (covered in a separate section of this web site)
Cranial Nerves
Muscle strength, tone and bulk
Reflexes
Coordination
Sensory Function
Gait

Question 2

muscle strength grading

Answer 2

0/5: no contraction
1/5: muscle flicker, but no movement
2/5: movement possible, but not against gravity (test the joint in its horizontal plane)
3/5: movement possible against gravity, but not against resistance by the examiner
4/5: movement possible against some resistance by the examiner (sometimes this category is subdivided further into 4–/5, 4/5, and 4+/5)
5/5: normal strength

Question 3

pitting edema scale

Answer 3

1+
Barely detectable impression when finger is presssed into skin.
2+
Slight indentation.
15 seconds to rebound
3+
Deeper indentation.
30 seconds to rebound.
4+
> 30 seconds to rebound.