Two assumptions are at the base of a good understanding of neurological problems: a) the first is the need of good anatomical knowledge of the nervous system, b) the second is the importance of a thorough post mortem investigation each time the examined patient dies or is euthanized. The neurological investigation is an integral part of the clinical investigation. It means, that before methodically undertaking the different steps of the specific neurological examination the clinician should have already carried out a general examination. The progression from clinical findings to diagnosis goes through intermediate steps: a) determine whether the condition that the patient shows is a primary neuropathological disorder or is a disease of other organs which secondarily involves the nervous system, b) locate the lesion within the nervous system, c) run a rational differential diagnosis in order to assess the nature and the etiology of the lesion, d) evaluate the severity of the process, deliver a prognosis and take a decision. The hereby proposed logical sequence of the neurological examination is the following: 1) behavior: the animal’s behavioral patterns (= the ability of the patient to interact with its environment) that includes mentation (= reactions to various external stimuli), and consciousness (= state of self-awareness) is assessed; 2) posture: the position of the animal, both in decubitus and in quadrupedal stance, is assessed; 3) movement: the ability of the calf to coordinate the movement of its body from one place to another (that means to displace its body’s centre of gravity: forwards, to each side or backwards) is assessed; 4) postural reactions: the capacity of the animal to maintain or re-establish the physiological posture is assessed; 5) cranial nerves: the integrity of both the peripheral cranial nerves (CNs II to XII) and their respective nuclei in the brainstem is assessed; 6) spinal reflexes: the integrity of the afferent and the efferent pathways of a specific nerve as well as the function of the corresponding specific segment of the grey substance of the spinal cord are assessed; 7) superficial sensitivity: the sensitivity of the surface of trunk and limbs is assessed.
Arcangelo Gentile, Cristiano Bombardi, Gianfranco Militerno (2014). CALF NEUROLOGY: CLINICAL INVESTIGATION. Werribee, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Melbourne : David S Beggs.
CALF NEUROLOGY: CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
GENTILE, ARCANGELO;BOMBARDI, CRISTIANO;MILITERNO, GIANFRANCO
2014
Abstract
Two assumptions are at the base of a good understanding of neurological problems: a) the first is the need of good anatomical knowledge of the nervous system, b) the second is the importance of a thorough post mortem investigation each time the examined patient dies or is euthanized. The neurological investigation is an integral part of the clinical investigation. It means, that before methodically undertaking the different steps of the specific neurological examination the clinician should have already carried out a general examination. The progression from clinical findings to diagnosis goes through intermediate steps: a) determine whether the condition that the patient shows is a primary neuropathological disorder or is a disease of other organs which secondarily involves the nervous system, b) locate the lesion within the nervous system, c) run a rational differential diagnosis in order to assess the nature and the etiology of the lesion, d) evaluate the severity of the process, deliver a prognosis and take a decision. The hereby proposed logical sequence of the neurological examination is the following: 1) behavior: the animal’s behavioral patterns (= the ability of the patient to interact with its environment) that includes mentation (= reactions to various external stimuli), and consciousness (= state of self-awareness) is assessed; 2) posture: the position of the animal, both in decubitus and in quadrupedal stance, is assessed; 3) movement: the ability of the calf to coordinate the movement of its body from one place to another (that means to displace its body’s centre of gravity: forwards, to each side or backwards) is assessed; 4) postural reactions: the capacity of the animal to maintain or re-establish the physiological posture is assessed; 5) cranial nerves: the integrity of both the peripheral cranial nerves (CNs II to XII) and their respective nuclei in the brainstem is assessed; 6) spinal reflexes: the integrity of the afferent and the efferent pathways of a specific nerve as well as the function of the corresponding specific segment of the grey substance of the spinal cord are assessed; 7) superficial sensitivity: the sensitivity of the surface of trunk and limbs is assessed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
