Neurological Health Assessment
Neurological Assessment notes
Neurologic System
Controls body function and is related to every other body system. Consequently, patients who suffer fr
can develop neurologic impairments related to the disease.
Example: a patient who has heart surgery may then suffer a stroke.
Just talking with a patient helps you assess his orientation, level of consciousness, and ability to formul
him perform a simple task such as walking allows you to evaluate motor ability.
Neurologic system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system, and
system. Through complex and coordinated interactions, these three parts integrate all physical, intellec
activities. Understanding how each part works is essential to conducting an accurate neurologic assess
Central nervous system (CNS) includes the brain and spinal cord. These two structures collect and int
motor and sensory stimuli.
Brain consists of the cerebrum, the brain stem, and the cerebellum. It collects, integrates, and interpret
monitors voluntary and involuntary motor activity.
The cerebrum gives us the ability to think and reason. It’s encased by the skull and enclosed by three
arachnoid mater, and pia mater) called meninges. The space under the arachnoid layer (subarachnoid s
(CSF). If blood or fluid accumulates between these layers, pressure builds inside the skull and comprom
The cerebrum is divided into four lobes and two hemispheres. The right hemisphere controls the left si
hemisphere controls the right side of the body. Each lobe controls different functions. Cranial nerves I a
The diencephalons, a division of the cerebrum, contain the thalamus and hypothalamus. The thalamu
impulses. The hypothalamus has many regulatory functions, including temperature control, pituitary ho
, The dorsal white matter contains the ascending tracts that carry impulses up the spinal cord to higher
matter contains the descending motor tracts that transmit motor impulses down from the higher moto
For the purpose of documenting sensory function, the body is divided into dermatomes. Each dermato
with afferent, or sensory, nerve fibers from an individual spinal root – either cervical, thoracic, lumbar,
when testing sensation and trying to identify the source of a lesion.
The peripheral nervous system includes the peripheral and cranial nerves. Peripheral sensory nerves t
horn of the spinal cord from sensory receptors located in the skin, muscles, sensory organs, and viscera
brain and the lower motor neurons of the cell bodies in the anterior horn of the spinal cord carry impu
The 12 pairs of cranial nerves are the primary motor and sensory pathways between the brain, head, an
Identifying cranial nerves
Olfactory (CNI) – Smell
Optic (CN II) – Vision
Oculomotor (CN III) – Most eye movement, papillary constriction, upper eyelid elevation
Trochlear (CN IV) -- Down and in eye movement
Trigeminal (CN V) – Chewing, corneal reflex, face and scalp sensations
Abducent (CN VI) – Lateral eye movement
Facial (CN VII) – Expressions in forehead, eye and mouth; taste; salivation; tearing
Acoustic (CN VIII) – Hearing and balance
Glossopharyngeal (CN IX) – Swallowing, salivating, and taste
Vagus (CN X) – Swallowing; gag reflex; talking; sensations of throat, larynx, and abdominal viscera; a
viscera, such as heart rate and peristalsis
Accessory (CN XI) – Shoulder movement and head rotation
Hypoglossal (CN XII) – Tongue movement
Autonomic nervous system contains motor neurons that regulate the activities of the visceral organs
muscles and the glands. It consists of two parts:
1. sympathetic division, which controls fight-or-flight reactions
2. parasympathetic division, which maintains baseline body function.
Obtaining a health history
Most common complaints about the neurologic system include: headache, dizziness, faintness
disturbances in balance or gait, and changes in LOC> When documenting the reason for seeki
the patient’s own words.
Ask the patient about his current health, including his memory and ability to concentrate was w
Ask him about his past health, including illnesses, accidents or injuries, surgeries, and allergies
Inquire about a family history of neurologic disorders that may have a genetic component, suc
headaches.
Assessing the neurologic system – A complete neurologic examination is so long and detailed that you
Neurological Assessment notes
Neurologic System
Controls body function and is related to every other body system. Consequently, patients who suffer fr
can develop neurologic impairments related to the disease.
Example: a patient who has heart surgery may then suffer a stroke.
Just talking with a patient helps you assess his orientation, level of consciousness, and ability to formul
him perform a simple task such as walking allows you to evaluate motor ability.
Neurologic system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system, and
system. Through complex and coordinated interactions, these three parts integrate all physical, intellec
activities. Understanding how each part works is essential to conducting an accurate neurologic assess
Central nervous system (CNS) includes the brain and spinal cord. These two structures collect and int
motor and sensory stimuli.
Brain consists of the cerebrum, the brain stem, and the cerebellum. It collects, integrates, and interpret
monitors voluntary and involuntary motor activity.
The cerebrum gives us the ability to think and reason. It’s encased by the skull and enclosed by three
arachnoid mater, and pia mater) called meninges. The space under the arachnoid layer (subarachnoid s
(CSF). If blood or fluid accumulates between these layers, pressure builds inside the skull and comprom
The cerebrum is divided into four lobes and two hemispheres. The right hemisphere controls the left si
hemisphere controls the right side of the body. Each lobe controls different functions. Cranial nerves I a
The diencephalons, a division of the cerebrum, contain the thalamus and hypothalamus. The thalamu
impulses. The hypothalamus has many regulatory functions, including temperature control, pituitary ho
, The dorsal white matter contains the ascending tracts that carry impulses up the spinal cord to higher
matter contains the descending motor tracts that transmit motor impulses down from the higher moto
For the purpose of documenting sensory function, the body is divided into dermatomes. Each dermato
with afferent, or sensory, nerve fibers from an individual spinal root – either cervical, thoracic, lumbar,
when testing sensation and trying to identify the source of a lesion.
The peripheral nervous system includes the peripheral and cranial nerves. Peripheral sensory nerves t
horn of the spinal cord from sensory receptors located in the skin, muscles, sensory organs, and viscera
brain and the lower motor neurons of the cell bodies in the anterior horn of the spinal cord carry impu
The 12 pairs of cranial nerves are the primary motor and sensory pathways between the brain, head, an
Identifying cranial nerves
Olfactory (CNI) – Smell
Optic (CN II) – Vision
Oculomotor (CN III) – Most eye movement, papillary constriction, upper eyelid elevation
Trochlear (CN IV) -- Down and in eye movement
Trigeminal (CN V) – Chewing, corneal reflex, face and scalp sensations
Abducent (CN VI) – Lateral eye movement
Facial (CN VII) – Expressions in forehead, eye and mouth; taste; salivation; tearing
Acoustic (CN VIII) – Hearing and balance
Glossopharyngeal (CN IX) – Swallowing, salivating, and taste
Vagus (CN X) – Swallowing; gag reflex; talking; sensations of throat, larynx, and abdominal viscera; a
viscera, such as heart rate and peristalsis
Accessory (CN XI) – Shoulder movement and head rotation
Hypoglossal (CN XII) – Tongue movement
Autonomic nervous system contains motor neurons that regulate the activities of the visceral organs
muscles and the glands. It consists of two parts:
1. sympathetic division, which controls fight-or-flight reactions
2. parasympathetic division, which maintains baseline body function.
Obtaining a health history
Most common complaints about the neurologic system include: headache, dizziness, faintness
disturbances in balance or gait, and changes in LOC> When documenting the reason for seeki
the patient’s own words.
Ask the patient about his current health, including his memory and ability to concentrate was w
Ask him about his past health, including illnesses, accidents or injuries, surgeries, and allergies
Inquire about a family history of neurologic disorders that may have a genetic component, suc
headaches.
Assessing the neurologic system – A complete neurologic examination is so long and detailed that you
