The complete examination of the nervous system can also be done at the end of the examination. It consists of the five segments: mental status, cranial nerves (including funduscopic examination), motor system, sensory system, and reflexes.

Mental Status. 

If indicated and not done during the interview, assess the patient's orientation, mood, thought process, thought content, abnormal perceptions, insight and judgment, memory and attention, information and vocabulary, calculating abilities, abstract thinking, and constructional ability.

Cranial Nerves. 

If not already examined, check sense of smell, strength of the temporal and masseter muscles, corneal reflexes, facial movements, gag reflex, and strength of the trapezia and sternocleidomastoid muscles.

Motor System. 

Assess muscle bulk, tone, and strength of major muscle groups. Cerebellar function: rapid alternating movements (RAMs), point-to-point movements, such as finger-to-nose (F → N) and heel-to-shin (H → S), gait.

Sensory System.

Assess pain, temperature, light touch, vibration, and discrimination. Compare right with left sides and distal with proximal areas on the limbs.

Reflexes. 

Including biceps, triceps, brachioradialis, patellar, Achilles deep tendon reflexes; also plantar reflexes or Babinski response.

责任编辑：admin