nervous system diagnostic tests and procedures
Terms
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- reflex testing
- test preformed to observe the body's response to a stimulus
- transcranial sonogram
- image made by sending ultrasound beams through the skull to asses blood flow in intracranial vessels; used in diagnosis and management of stroke and head trauma
- Intracranial MRA
- magnetic resonance image of the head to visualize the vessels of the circle of Willis (common site of cerebral aneurysm, stenosis, or occlusion)
- nuclear medicine imaging
- radionuclide organ imaging
- Babinski sign or reflex
- pathological response to stimulation of the plantar surface of the foot; a positive sign is indicated when the toes dorsiflex (curl upward)
- SPECT brain scan (single photon emission computed tomography)
- scan combining nuclear medicine and computed tomography to produce images of the brain after administration of radioactive isotopes
- electroencephalogram (EEG)
- record of the minute electrical impulses of the brain, used to identify neurologic conditions that affect brain function and level of consciousness
- computed tomography
- computed tomographic x-ray images of the head used to visualize abnormalities, such as brain tumors and malformations
- radiography
- x-ray imaging
- deep tendon reflexes (DTR)
- involuntary muscle contraction after percussion at a tendon (e.g., patella, Achilles) indicating function; positivefindings are either no refles reponse or an exaggerated response to stimulus; numbers are often used to record reponses: no response 1+ diminished reponse 2+ normal reponse 3+ more brisk than average response 4+ hyperactive response
- polysomnography (PSG)
- recording of various aspects of sleep (e.g., eye and muscle movements, respiration, and EEG patterns) to diagnose sleep disorders
- lumbar puncture (LP)
- introduction of a specialized needle into the spine in the lumbar region for diagnostic or therapeutic purpose, such as to obtain cerebrospinal fluid for testing; also called spinal tap
- magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
- magnetic resonance imaging of the blood vessels, for detecing pathologic conditions such as thrombosis and atherosclerosis
- cerebral angiogram
- x-ray of blood vessels in the brain after intracarotid injection of contrast medium
- evoked potentials
- minute electrical waves that are sorted out of ongoing EEG activity to diagnose auditory, visual, and sensory pathway disorders
- magnetic resonance imaging
- nonionizing imaging technique using magnetic fields (MRI) and radio frequency waves to visualize anatomic structures (especially soft tissue) such as the tissues of the brain and spinal cord
- extracranial MRA
- magnetic resonance image of the neck to visualize the carotid artery
- positron emisson tomography (PET)
- technigue combining nuclear medicine and computed tomography to produce images of brain anatomy and corresponding physiology; used to study stroke, Alzeheimer disease, epilepsy, metabolic brain disorders, chemistry of nerve transmission in the brain, and so on; provides greater accuracy than SPECT but is used less often becaue of cost and limited availability of the radioisotopes
- myelogram
- x-ray of the spinal cord made after intraspinal injection of contrast medium