If pain sensation is intact, which sensation test may be omitted during a sensory exam?

Unlock all questions

This demo includes only 20 questions. Upgrade to access hundreds of questions, flashcards, exam simulations, and disable ads.

Full question bankExam simulationsFlashcards
From $25.99Unlock all

Study for the Parkinson’s Disease Exam. Engage with detailed flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Multiple Choice

If pain sensation is intact, which sensation test may be omitted during a sensory exam?

Explanation:
Pain and temperature travel in the same spinothalamic pathway, so if pain sensation is intact, temperature sensation is typically preserved as well. In a bedside sensory exam, this means you can omit testing temperature when pain is normal, since a normal pain response strongly suggests the spinothalamic tract is functioning. Proprioception and stereognosis assess different pathways and higher cortical processing, so they still need to be tested independently. Keep in mind there are rare cases of dissociated deficits, but for routine exams, skipping temperature testing when pain is intact is efficient and appropriate.

Pain and temperature travel in the same spinothalamic pathway, so if pain sensation is intact, temperature sensation is typically preserved as well. In a bedside sensory exam, this means you can omit testing temperature when pain is normal, since a normal pain response strongly suggests the spinothalamic tract is functioning. Proprioception and stereognosis assess different pathways and higher cortical processing, so they still need to be tested independently. Keep in mind there are rare cases of dissociated deficits, but for routine exams, skipping temperature testing when pain is intact is efficient and appropriate.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy