Term
| Touching the anal margin lightly will cause the anus to contract and pucker. Failure to do so = cauda equina syndrome. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Hold the lower aspect of the leg of a supine patient and stroke the lateral part f the plantar aspect of the foot from the heel to the balls of the foot. If the big toe extends and the other toes fan out = upper motor neuron lesion in the lower limb. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| With the patient seated tap the facial nerve as it passes through the parotid gland just in front of the ear and below the zygomatic bone. If the same side of the face twitches, this is indicative of hypocalcemia often seen in hypoparathyroidism. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Ask the seated patient to grasp a piece of paper between any two fingers in the affected hand. Try to remove the paper. If the patient is unable to maintain the grip when the paper is pulled way = ulnar nerve palsy. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Ask the child to sit on the floor and then to stand up. If the child places his hands on his thighs to stand up = Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Hold the middle finger of the patient proximal to the distal interphalangeal joint. The doctor then nips the fingernail of the middle finger of the patient between the thumb and index finger or flicks the middle finger with the fingernail of the doctor. If this action causes adduction of the thumb and slight flexion of the fingers = upper motor neuron lesion is present in upper limb. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Passively flex the patient’s neck towards the chest. If the patient complains of sharp electrical pains which shoots into the arms or legs = cervical myelopathy or multiple sclerosis or dural irritation. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Ask the seated patient to hold the tips of the thumb and index finger as if pinching something. Attempt to pull the tips apart with your index finger. If the patient is unable to make a perfect circle with the tip-to-tip pinch and uses a pulp-to-pulp pinch = damage to the anterior interosseous branch of the median nerve somewhere in the forearm. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Ask the patient to stand with the feet close together with the eyes open. Stand to the side and slightly behind to catch the patient if necessary. Ask the patient to close the eyes. If the patient starts to sway after the eyes are closed = dorsal column pathology [such as tabes dorsalis or subacute combined cord degeneration aka posterior lateral sclerosis] |
|
Definition
|
|
