Nervous_System_Examination_12_Slides_Presentation.pdf

Contains nervous system examination for doctors

1. Nervous System Examination
Bates' Physical Examination and
History Taking - Chapter 17

2. Overview of the Nervous System
•• Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and
spinal cord
•• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Cranial
and spinal nerves, and their connections
•• Functions: Control of body functions,
sensory input, motor output, cognitive
processes

3. Neurological Exam Components
•• Mental Status: Orientation, memory,
cognition
•• Cranial Nerves: Examination of the 12 cranial
nerves
•• Motor System: Muscle strength, tone,
coordination, and gait
•• Sensory System: Pain, temperature, touch,
proprioception
•• Reflexes: Deep tendon and superficial
reflexes

4. Common Neurological Symptoms
•• Headache: Types, patterns, associated
features
•• Dizziness and Vertigo: Differentiating
between them
•• Seizures: Classification, causes,
characteristics
•• Weakness and Numbness: Central vs
peripheral causes
•• Tremors and Involuntary Movements: Types
and associated conditions

5. Mental Status Examination
•• Orientation: Time, place, person
•• Memory: Immediate, short-term, long-term
•• Attention: Ability to focus and sustain
attention
•• Language: Fluency, comprehension,
repetition

6. Cranial Nerve Examination
•• CN I: Olfactory - Smell test
•• CN II: Optic - Visual acuity and fields
•• CN III, IV, VI: Oculomotor, Trochlear,
Abducens - Eye movements
•• CN V: Trigeminal - Facial sensation, motor
function
•• CN VII: Facial - Facial movements, symmetry
•• CN VIII: Vestibulocochlear - Hearing and
balance
•• CN IX, X: Glossopharyngeal, Vagus - Gag

7. Motor System Examination
•• Muscle Strength: Grading scale (0-5)
•• Tone: Normal, spasticity, rigidity, flaccidity
•• Coordination: Finger-to-nose, heel-to-shin,
rapid alternating movements
•• Gait: Observation of walking, heel-to-toe
walking

8. Sensory System Examination
•• Light Touch: Cotton swab test
•• Pain and Temperature: Pinprick and cold
sensation
•• Vibration: Tuning fork on bony prominences
•• Proprioception: Joint position sense

9. Reflex Examination
•• Deep Tendon Reflexes: Biceps, triceps,
patellar, Achilles
•• Superficial Reflexes: Abdominal, cremasteric
•• Pathological Reflexes: Babinski sign

10. Documentation and Interpretation
•• Clear documentation of findings
•• Correlate findings with differential diagnoses
•• Plan further investigations or referrals

11. Special Considerations
•• Pediatric Neurological Examination
•• Geriatric Neurological Examination
•• Neurological Examination in Trauma

12. Conclusion
•• Importance of a thorough neurological
examination
•• Correlation with clinical findings
•• Continual reassessment as the clinical
picture evolves