ABSTRACT
The clinical neurological examination is the systematic study of signs and symptoms associated with the normal or abnormal function of the nervous system through observation and probes. In epidemiological surveys, information derived from the systematic clinical examination of a large number of individuals affected by neurotoxic agents is sometimes the only data available. The neurological examination is carried out in somewhat different manners depending on the context within which the study is conducted. In the clinic, the neurological examination is typically carried out by a single physician and includes the patient’s medical history, the physical examination, and a review of neurological signs and symptoms. In the maintenance of the upright posture and walking, a substantial portion of the nervous system is brought into action. The reflex examination consists of the testing of deep tendon and superficial cutaneous reflexes. Deep tendon reflexes are elicited by tapping the tendon of major muscles with a soft rubber percussion hammer.
