Neurologic System – Assessment & Key Concepts

51 Question-and-Answer flashcards covering key neurologic anatomy, physiology, assessment findings, reflexes, aging changes, pediatric milestones, and common disorders.

What are the two major parts of the nervous system?

The central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system

Which cerebral lobe is primarily responsible for personality, behavior, emotions, and intellectual function?

The frontal lobe.

Which brain structure regulates body temperature and sleep?

The hypothalamus.

Which part of the nervous system is the main pathway that mediates reflexes?

The spinal cord.

Which sensory tract transmits pain and temperature sensations?

The lateral spinothalamic tract.

Why is cardiac pain often felt in the shoulder, arm, or jaw rather than in the chest itself?

The sensory cortex lacks a pain map for the heart, so pain is referred to nearby areas that have a mapped image.

Which motor pathway controls very skilled, purposeful movements such as writing?

The corticospinal (pyramidal) tract.

Which brain region is chiefly responsible for coordination, equilibrium, and balance?

The cerebellum.

If a single spinal nerve is severed, why does sensation often persist in its dermatome?

Dermatomes overlap, so adjacent spinal nerves can still transmit most sensations.

What happens to deep tendon reflexes in a patient who is unconscious from isolated head injury?

Reflexes usually remain normal because they operate below the level of conscious control.

Why do infants take time to develop the ability to roll over?

Newborn neurons are not yet fully myelinated, and myelin is required for efficient impulse conduction.

Is diminished vibration sense at the ankle and a slower gait normal in older adults?

Yes—these can be normal neurologic changes associated with aging when no other deficits are present.

What instruction helps older adults who feel dizzy upon standing?

Rise slowly from lying or sitting positions to reduce dizziness related to decreased cerebral blood flow.

What term describes the sensation that "the room is spinning"?

Vertigo.

What is a good question to ask when assessing for a seizure aura?

"Do you have any warning sign before your seizure starts?"

When a nurse asks about an infant's ability to suck and grasp a finger, what is being assessed?

Primitive reflexes.

Which follow-up question helps evaluate alcohol’s effect on a senile tremor?

"Does the tremor change when you drink alcohol?"

Which neurologic exam is appropriate for a patient with new left-sided weakness?

A complete neurologic examination.

Asymmetry in smiling, frowning, or cheek puffing indicates dysfunction of which cranial nerve?

Cranial Nerve VII (Facial nerve).

When testing Cranial Nerve XI, what response indicates it is intact?

The patient can move head and shrug shoulders against resistance equally.

What level of resistance is expected when passively moving relaxed muscles in a healthy adult?

Mild, even resistance (normal muscle tone).

A loss of balance when standing with eyes closed is documented as what?

A positive Romberg sign.

Slow, clumsy rapid-alternating movements suggest dysfunction of which structure?

The cerebellum.

Before performing detailed sensory testing on a confused patient, what should the nurse assess?

The patient’s mental status and ability to follow directions.

When multiple pinpricks are perceived as one strong prick, what phenomenon is this?

Summation effect from stimuli given too rapidly.

Loss of vibration sense beginning in the feet and improving proximally most commonly indicates what?

Peripheral neuropathy (e.g., from diabetes or alcoholism).

Inability to recognize a familiar object placed in the hand is called what?

Astereognosis.

If a reflex cannot be elicited, which reinforcement maneuver can the nurse use?

Ask the patient to interlock and pull their fingers (Jendrassik maneuver).

What reflex change is typical on the affected side after an upper motor neuron lesion such as a stroke?

Hyperreflexia (exaggerated reflexes).

What is the normal response when the triceps tendon is tapped?

Extension of the forearm.

Plantar flexion of the toes after stroking the sole indicates what reflex result in an adult?

A normal plantar reflex (negative Babinski).

A high-pitched, shrill cry in a 1-month-old infant warrants what action?

Immediate referral for further neurologic evaluation.

Which screening tool assesses gross and fine motor development in infants and young children?

The Denver II Developmental Screening Test.

What is the normal Landau reflex observed at about 3 months of age?

The infant raises the head and arches the back when held prone—like a "swan dive."

Persistence of the Moro reflex beyond 4–5 months suggests what?

Possible central nervous system injury.

Which activity best tests gross motor coordination in a 6-year-old child?

Hopping on one foot.

Intention hand tremor, head nodding, and tongue protrusion in an elderly patient are usually considered what?

Benign senile tremors—normal age-related findings.

Disorientation about time or place after head injury signals what clinical concern?

A decreased level of consciousness.

During a neurologic re-check, what four assessments help detect increasing intracranial pressure?

Level of consciousness, motor function, pupillary response, and vital signs.

A sudden unilateral dilated nonreactive pupil after head injury suggests what?

Increased intracranial pressure compressing Cranial Nerve III.

Sudden, rapid, jerky, purposeless limb or facial movements are called what?

Chorea.

Stooped posture, shuffling gait, flat facial expression, and pill-rolling tremor are characteristic of what disorder?

Parkinsonism.

Extension, adduction, and internal rotation of limbs in response to pain (decerebrate rigidity) indicate what?

Severe brainstem injury—an ominous sign.

An immobile arm with flexed elbow and a circumducting stiff leg during gait describes what pattern?

Spastic hemiparesis, often after a cerebrovascular accident.

Which reflex finding is typical of an upper motor neuron lesion?

Hyperreflexia with diminished or absent superficial reflexes.

Hyporeflexia in the presence of a herniated intervertebral disk signifies involvement of which motor neuron group?

Lower motor neurons.

Inability to perform rapid alternating movements is documented as what?

Dysdiadochokinesia.

Testing a patient’s orientation to person, place, and time evaluates the function of which brain region?

The cerebral cortex (cerebrum).

Severe, persistent nystagmus in both eyes may indicate disease in which areas?

The vestibular system, cerebellum, or brainstem.

Kinesthesia testing evaluates which sensory ability?

Position sense (awareness of passive movement).