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Assessment of Neurologic Function

Assessment of Neurologic Function. Donna Melick MBA, MSN, RN, CNRN Assistant Professor, Nursing. Function of the Nervous System. Controls all motor, sensory, autonomic, cognitive, and behavioral activities. Structures of the Neurologic System. Central nervous system Brain and spinal cord

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Assessment of Neurologic Function

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  1. Assessment of Neurologic Function Donna Melick MBA, MSN, RN, CNRN Assistant Professor, Nursing

  2. Function of the Nervous System • Controls all motor, sensory, autonomic, cognitive, and behavioral activities

  3. Structures of the Neurologic System • Central nervous system • Brain and spinal cord • Peripheral nervous system • Includes cranial and spinal nerves • Autonomic and somatic systems • Basic functional unit: neuron

  4. Neuron

  5. Neurotransmitters • Communicate messages from one neuron to another or to a specific target tissue • Neurotransmitters can potentiate, terminate, or modulate a specific action or can excite or inhibit a target cell • See Table 60-1 • Many neurologic disorders are due to imbalance in neurotransmitters

  6. Brain

  7. Topography of the Cortex as It Relates to Function

  8. Medial View of the Brain Connects the two hemispheres of the brain and sends and receives signals from each. Such as: sensation, memory, learned discrimination Midbrain, Pons & Medulla Brain stem Cranial nerves III through XII originate in the brain stem

  9. Cranial Nerves

  10. Bones and Sutures of the Skull

  11. Meninges and Related Structures

  12. Arterial Blood Supply of the Brain

  13. Cross Section of the Spinal Cord Showing the Major Spinal Tracts

  14. Dermatome Distribution

  15. Autonomic Nervous System • Functions to regulates activities of internal organs and to maintain and restore internal homeostasis • Sympathetic NS • “Fight or flight” responses • Main neurotransmitter is norepinephrine • Parasympathetic NS • Controls mostly visceral functions • Regulated by centers in the spinal cord, brain stem, and hypothalamus • See Table 60-3

  16. Anatomy of the Autonomic Nervous System

  17. Neurological Assessment—Health History • Pain • Seizures • Dizziness (abnormal sensation of imbalance or movement) and vertigo (illusion of movement, usually rotation) • Visual disturbances • Weakness • Abnormal sensations

  18. Neurological Assessment • Cerebral function: mental status, intellectual function, thought content, emotional status, perception, motor ability, and language ability • The impact of any neurologic impairment on lifestyle and patient abilities and limitations • Cranial nerves: see Chart 60-1& Table 60-2 • Motor system: posture, gait, muscle tone and strength, coordination and balance, and Romberg test • Sensory system: tactile sensation, superficial pain, vibration, and position sense • Reflexes: DTRs, abdominal, and plantar (Babinski)

  19. Techniques Eliciting Major Reflexes

  20. Figure Used to Record Muscle Strength

  21. Gerontological Considerations • Important to distinguish normal aging changes from abnormal changes • Determine previous mental status for comparison; assess mental status carefully to distinguish delirium from dementia • Normal changes may include: • Losses in strength and agility; changes in gait, posture and balance; slowed reaction times and decreased reflexes; visual and hearing alterations; deceased sense of taste and smell; dulling of tactile sensations; changes in the perception of pain; and decreased thermoregulatory ability

  22. Diagnostic Tests • Computed tomography (CT) • Positron emission tomography (PET) • Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) • Cerebral angiography • Myelography • Noninvasive carotid flow studies

  23. Diagnostic Tests (cont.) • Transcranial Doppler • Electroencephalography (EEG) • Electromyography (EMG) • Nerve conduction studies, evoked potential studies • Lumbar puncture, Queckenstedt’s test, and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid

  24. Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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