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Neurologic Examination

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Fundamentals of Neurologic Disease

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Abstract

The neurologic exam is divided into specific components that are documented in the medical record. Doing the exam in an organized, systematic way ensures that no component is missed. A complete neurologic exam includes the mental status exam, cranial nerve exam, motor exam, coordination, sensation, and reflexes. This chapter discusses in text and illustrations the instruments needed and how to properly perform and interpret each part of the exam in both adults and children. In addition, the book has a video demonstrating a neurologist conducting the normal neurologic exam that can be viewed.

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Reference

  1. Folstein MF, et al. Mini mental state. J Psychiatr Res. 1975;12:196–198.

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Recommended Reading

  • O’Brien M. Aids to the examination of the peripheral nervous system. 5th edn. London: Saunders; 2010. (Superb booklet that outlines how to test each muscle, describes areas of sensation for all peripheral nerves, and is easily kept in a doctor’s bag)

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chief Neurology Service, Distinguished Professor of Neurology New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Larry E. Davis MD

  2. Department of Neurology Health Sciences Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Sarah Pirio Richardson MD

Authors
  1. Larry E. Davis MD
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  2. Sarah Pirio Richardson MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Larry E. Davis MD .

Electronic supplementary material

Video Legend

Video Legend

This video shows an example of the Neurologic Examination on a 30 year-old healthy woman

Segment 1: Mental Status Examination

  • Folstein Mini-mental status exam

  • Language testing

Segment 2: Cranial Nerve Examination

  • CN I Olfaction

  • CN II Optic nerve

  • CN III, IV, VI Oculomotor, trochlear and abducens

  • CN V Trigeminal

  • CN VII Facial nerve

  • CN VIII Auditory nerve

  • CN IX, X, XII Glossopharyngeal, Vagus, Hypoglossal

  • CN XI Accessory nerve

Segment 3: Motor Examination

  • Muscle bulk

  • Muscle strength

  • Muscle tone

  • Gait exam

  • Romberg test

Segment 4: Coordination Examination

  • Finger-to-nose

  • Heel-to-shin

Segment 5: Sensation Examination

  • Light touch

  • Pain

  • Temperature

  • Vibration

  • Proprioception

Segment 6: Reflexes Examination

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© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Cite this chapter

Davis, L., Pirio Richardson, S. (2015). Neurologic Examination. In: Fundamentals of Neurologic Disease. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2359-5_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2359-5_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-2358-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-2359-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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