The neurological exam allows for detection of symptoms that are indicative of underlying neurological pathologies and abnormalities. The exam is also necessary to determine the range of disability in neurological function. A properly conducted neurological examination allows for the localization of the pathology to particular areas in the central and…

The motor examination involves examining the following and comparing both sides to note abnormalities: Bulk and nutrition of muscles Tone of muscles Power of muscles Reflexes Coordination of movements Involuntary movements Gait The motor neurons whose axons terminate at neuromuscular junctions and which activate voluntary skeletal muscles contraction upon stimulation…

Reflexes can broadly be categorized as deep (tendon) reflexes and superficial reflexes.The deep (tendon) reflexes are monosynaptic stretch reflexes. They are tested through the use of a clinical hammer. Striking the clinical hammer against the tendon of the muscle elicits a sudden stretch impulse which can be observed as a…

Coordination of movements refers the performance of purposeful movements carried out smoothly by different groups of muscles. For this to occur, the motor, sensory and cerebellar systems need to be intact. Loss of coordination is called ataxia which is of two types: sensory and cerebellar. There are several tests which…

Sensations are of two types: primary and cortical. Primary sensations are touch, pain, temperature, position, passive movements and vibrations. Cortical sensations are localization, two-point discrimination, stereognosis, and graphesthesia. Sensations are carried by two afferent pathways: the spinothalamic tracts and the dorsal column tracts. Spinothalamic tracts detect pain, temperature, and crude…

An integral component of every doctor’s routine physical assessment is an inspection of the eye, a procedure called fundoscopic examination. Fundoscopy is a painless technique that allows the observer to gather a visualization of the patient’s retina. These observations come handy for the medical diagnosis of common medical conditions such…