Neurologic Assessment

agnosia

agnosia:

Loss of the ability to  recognize importance of sensory impressions

Neurologic Assessment

agraphia

agraphia:

Loss of the ability to express thoughts in writing

Neurologic Assessment

amnesia

amnesia:

loss of memory

Neurologic Assessment

analgesia

analgesia:

loss of pain sensation

Neurologic Assessment

apraxia

Loss of the ability to perform purposeful movements in the absence of sensory or motor damage, e.g., inability to use objects correctly

Neurologic Assessment

aphasia

aphasia:

loss of power of expression through speech, writing, or signs, or of comprehension of spoken or written language

Neurologic Assessment

ataxia

inability  to perform coordinated movements

Neurologic Assessment

athetosis

bizarre, slow, twisting, writing movement, resembling a snake or worm

Neurologic Assessment

chorea

sudden, rapid, jerky, purposeless movement involving the limbs, trunk, or face

Neurologic Assessment

clonus

rapidly alternating involuntary contraction and relaxation of a muscle in response to sudden stretch

Neurologic Assessment

coma

state of profound unconsciousness from which person cannot be aroused

Neurologic Assessment

decerebrate   rigidity

arms stiffly extended , adducted, internally rotated ; legs stiffly extended, plantar flexed

Neurologic Assessment

decorticate rigidity

arms adducted and flexed, wrists and fingers flexed; legs extended, internally rotated, plantar flexed

Neurologic Assessment

dysarthria

imperfect articulation of speech due to problems of muscular control  resulting from central or peripheral nervous system damage

Neurologic Assessment

dysphasia

impairment of speech consisting of lack  of coordination and inability to arrange words in their proper order

Neurologic Assessment

extinction

disappearance of a conditioned response

Neurologic Assessment

fasciculation

rapid continuous twitching of resting muscle without movement of the limb

Neurological Assessment

flaccidity

loss of muscle tone, limp

Neurological Assessment

graphesthesia

ability to "read" a number by having it traced on the skin

Neurological Assessment

hemiplegia

loss of motor power (paralysis) on one side of the body, usually caused by a cerbrovascular accident; paralysis occurs on the side opposite the lesion

Neurological Assessment

lower motor neuron

motor neuron in the peripheral nervous system with its nerve fiber extending out to the muscle  and only its cell body in the central nervous system

Neurologic Assessment

myoclonus

rapid sudden jerk of a muscle

Neurological Assessment

nuchal rigidity

stiffness in cervical (neck) area

Neurological Assessment

nystagmus

back-and-forth oscillation of the eyes

Neurological Assessment

opisthotonus

prolonged arching of the back, with head and heels bent backwards, and miningeal irritation

Neuroogical Assessment

paralysis

decreased or loss of motor function due to problem with motor nerve or muscle fiber

Neurological Assessment

paraplegia

impairment or loss of motor and/or sensory function in the lower half of the body

Neurological Assessment

paresthesia

abnormal sensation, i.e., burning, numbness, tingling, prickling, crawling skin sensation

Neurological Assessment

point  localization

ability of the person to discriminate exactly where on the body the skin has been touched

Neurological Assessment

proprioception

sensory information concerning body movements and position of the body in space

Neurological Assessment

spasticity

continuous resistance to stretching by a muscle due to abnormally increased tension, with increased deep tendon reflexes

Neurological Assessment

stereognosis

ability to recognize objects by feeling their forms, sizes, shapes, weights while the eyes are closed

Neurological Assessment

tic

repetitive twitching of a muscle group at inappropriate times, e.g., wink, grimace

Neurological Assessment

tremor

involuntary contraction of opposing muscle groups resulting in rhythmic movement of one or more joints

Neurological Assessment

two-point discrimination

ability to distinguish the separation of two simultaneous pinpricks on the skin

Neurological Assessment

upper motor neuron

nerve located entirely within the central nervous system