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misty89 misty89
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10 years ago
Most of us go through a medical exam or physical on a routine basis in order to monitor our state of health and help identify problems early. A number of the tests performed during a routine physical test the function of the nervous system. For this week’s forum, think about your routine physical exam and list the tests performed to check the function of your nervous system.
 
After you complete your list, select one diagnostic test and describe it in detail. What parts of the nervous system are being tested? What is the normal result of the test?


Don’t forget to back up your arguments with properly cited references
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9 years ago
Physical examination and Nervous system’s evaluation

   Assessment of nervous system can be considered an important part of physical examination which helps the doctor in evaluation of nervous system’s fitness through monitoring of patient’s mental status, cranial nerves, reflexes, motor system, cerebellar function, sensory system, and gait. For instance, evaluation of cranial nerves could be performed via a number of tests including those based on examination of diverse sensory organs (like; Snellen chart test) as; eyes, ears, and skin. While, the mental status of an individual could be judged through a verbal examination. Further, motor system’s scrutiny could be performed through tests based on functioning of arm and leg muscles, and sensory system might be monitored by monofilament test. In addition to above, performance of cerebellum can be assessed by screening of particular movements performed by patient according to the instructions of medical expert (Seemungal, 2007).

Assessment of Cerebellar function

   Since; the sense of equilibrium is determined by cerebellum thus; there could be identified various tests  that are relevant with detection of abnormalities in this region of brain (though, usually a single test is performed and if any irregularity is recognized then other tests are carried out to confirm the result of initial test). For instance, examination of gait is done by doctor via asking the patient to move in a straight line. During such movement, he may check- out how steadily the person proceeds. If the patient exhibits almost straight movement then his cerebellum is considered in normal state and vice- versa. Other tests linked with monitoring of cerebellum functioning may involve Romberg test, finger-nose test, and heel-knee test.


   In Romberg test, the person under investigation is requested by doctor to stand with his feet together and eyes closed. If he starts to fall then it’s an indication of cerebellar dysfunction though, a normal person does not lose his balance in this way. Further in case of finger-nose test, the individual is asked to close his eyes and move his hand out from his side in a large circle to lastly touch his nose with his finger. If he performs it successfully then it indicates that his cerebellum is working in a well manner and vice-versa (Neuhauser, 2007).

   To end with, the heel-knee test might be carried out when the individual under assessment is lying down. Here he is requested by neurologist to keep his right heel on left knee (or vice versa) and gradually shift the heel down in the direction of his foot. Thus; the coordination performance and ability of a person to monitor distances can be evaluated by it as; a normal person does not miss the knee whereas; an abnormal person can cause the heel to go beyond and neglect the knee, and/or swing extensively as it runs down the leg to lastly pass the foot in an uninhibited mode. In this manner, measurement of cerebellum functioning can be done, and the relevant treatment might be started further if any abnormality could be detected out during such examination (Chalela et al., 2007).
Source  Chalela JA, Kidwell CS, Nentwich LM, et al. (2007). Magnetic resonance imaging and computed    tomography in emergency assessment of patients with suspected acute stroke: a prospective    comparison. Lancet. 369:293–8.
Neuhauser HK. (2007). Epidemiology
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