Neurological Assessment and Correlation in Spinal Cord Nerve Root Pathology

Abstract

In order to perform an adequate neurological assessment of a patient, one must combine a thorough history and physical assessment with other diagnostic studies. When patients present with neurological symptoms such as weakness, pain, or numbness and tingling, the clinician needs to perform a detailed examination to determine if a neurological deficit actually does exist. Sometimes more than one component of the neurological system may be affected. It is important to note that while the sensory cell body of the nerve root lies within the dorsal root ganglion and is extraspinal, the cell body of the motor nerve root is the anterior horn cell that lies within the spinal cord which is intraspinal. This chapter will emphasize spinal cord nerve root pathology and the role of the clinician in identifying aberrant states.