Neurology
Conducting an extensive health history and undertaking a careful physical examination can assist the health practitioner to identify the site of a particular neurological lesion or disease and to pursue a comprehensive diagnosis or a number of differential diagnoses. The World Health Organization, (2020) insisted that systematic enquiry and evidence-based approach is needed as the fundamental basis for ensuring successful neurological examinations.
Structure and function of the body system and its major organ systems
The Nervous System has a highly complex anatomical structure comprising of many different organs and organ systems. As the human body’s prime coordination and communication network, the structure of the nervous system is divided into two main regions: the Central Nervous System (CNS) (made up of the brain and the spinal cord) and the Peripheral Nervous system (PNS) (made up of the nerves and sensory organs) (Whiteley, 2016). In terms of key functions, the brain and the spinal cord operate as the control center based on how they receive feedback and information from the different nerves and sensory organs throughout the human body. As part of the PNS, the nerves assumes a highly integral function as the pathways for carrying the incoming and outgoing signals and motor commands that travels up and down the spinal cord, heading to and from the brain (World Health Organization, 2020). Other key functions of the nervous system include sensation (stimulus) through receiving data and information about the natural environment (for example heat from the sun) and inside the human body (i.e. heat from muscle activity) (Mazengenya & Bhikha, 2017). Usker and Sherman (2019) established that the nervous system is also responsible for generating a response in effector organs (glands and muscles) as a result of the sensory stimuli. As a body system, the CNS and the PNS function to ensure the various stimuli and signals received by the different nerves, sensory organs and structures are communicated to the Nervous System where that data, signals and information of processed.
Construct Relevant Health Questions (subjective data)
In order to test the functioning of the nervous system a number of health questions can used by the healthcare provider strengthen the outcomes of the physical assessment and neurological examination. As identified in the reviewed literature, the following are some of the key questions and subjective data that may be tests and assessed during a neurological exam.
| Health Questions Checklist | |
| STEPS | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
| Ask about the symptoms:
· What are they? · Which part of the body do they affect? Are they widespread or localized? · When did they start? · Are the symptoms deteriorating or static or are there remissions and exacerbations? · Does anything trigger symptoms (posture, sleep or external stimulus such as smell, light?
· Ask the person about any associated complaints (headaches, fever, fatigue, and change in balance or coordination, injury to the health, back or neck, numbness, or tingling in the arms, change in behavior, tremor, seizures, slurred speech or body weakness). · Ask about activities of daily life. How the has the health concern affected life and daily engagements?
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Alterations may imply the possibility of a neurologic impairment, and hence unusual results are expected to be accompanied with a comprehensive Neurological System Assessment.
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| Past medical history:
· Ask about other medical conditions, past and present · Have your experienced atrial fibrillation? · Any recurrent miscarriage” or vascular problems? · Have you been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus? · Ask about Order this paper | |