W5- Clinical examination of the CNS
questions well answered to pass
what is involved in the history-taking of a CNS examination? - correct answer ✔✔-
open and closed qs
-ask direct qs to find out about symptoms
-ask about onset and progression of signs and symptoms
-family history
-medication history
what is involved in the physical examination of CNS examination? - correct answer
✔✔-full general examination first
-examine specifically for relevant abnormalities
(be systematic)
what are the 7 steps of the neurological CNS examination? - correct answer ✔✔1.
cognitive function
,2. cranial nerves
3. motor system
4. sensory system
5. coordination
6. gait
7. Romberg's test
how is cognitive function assessed? - correct answer ✔✔assess functions of
different cortical lobes using specific tools
(mini mental state exam, ACE-R, MOCA)
what are the 5 ways in which the optic nerve (CN II) is tested? - correct answer
✔✔-visual acuity
-visual fields
-visual accommodation
-pupillary response to light and dark
, -fundus examination
what might be observed in an abnormal optic nerve examination? - correct
answer ✔✔-visual field defects
-positive visual symptoms involved in migraine
-papilloedema
what are 4 features of a normal fundus? - correct answer ✔✔-macula- yellow,
highly pigmented, found in centre of retina
-fovea- depression within macula, high conc of photoreceptors, responsible for
high acuity vision
-optic disc- contains no photoreceptors, where optic nerve enters retina
-retinal vessels- run from/to optic disc and around retina
what is papilloedema? - correct answer ✔✔swelling of the optic disc and swollen
retinal vessels
(caused by increased intracranial pressure, usually bilateral)
questions well answered to pass
what is involved in the history-taking of a CNS examination? - correct answer ✔✔-
open and closed qs
-ask direct qs to find out about symptoms
-ask about onset and progression of signs and symptoms
-family history
-medication history
what is involved in the physical examination of CNS examination? - correct answer
✔✔-full general examination first
-examine specifically for relevant abnormalities
(be systematic)
what are the 7 steps of the neurological CNS examination? - correct answer ✔✔1.
cognitive function
,2. cranial nerves
3. motor system
4. sensory system
5. coordination
6. gait
7. Romberg's test
how is cognitive function assessed? - correct answer ✔✔assess functions of
different cortical lobes using specific tools
(mini mental state exam, ACE-R, MOCA)
what are the 5 ways in which the optic nerve (CN II) is tested? - correct answer
✔✔-visual acuity
-visual fields
-visual accommodation
-pupillary response to light and dark
, -fundus examination
what might be observed in an abnormal optic nerve examination? - correct
answer ✔✔-visual field defects
-positive visual symptoms involved in migraine
-papilloedema
what are 4 features of a normal fundus? - correct answer ✔✔-macula- yellow,
highly pigmented, found in centre of retina
-fovea- depression within macula, high conc of photoreceptors, responsible for
high acuity vision
-optic disc- contains no photoreceptors, where optic nerve enters retina
-retinal vessels- run from/to optic disc and around retina
what is papilloedema? - correct answer ✔✔swelling of the optic disc and swollen
retinal vessels
(caused by increased intracranial pressure, usually bilateral)
