neurologic
Meaning of neurologic: A pointer to a system rather than a diagnosis, and one that narrows the search only once the examination localizes the problem.
Definition of neurologic
Neurologic means belonging to the nervous system, which takes in the brain, the spinal cord and the nerves reaching the rest of the body. It is applied to structures, functions, symptoms, examinations and diseases alike, so a neurologic sign, a neurologic examination and a neurologic disorder all point to the same system. Neurological means the same thing.
What does a neurologic examination cover?
| Part | What it tests |
|---|---|
| Mental status | Alertness, orientation, attention, memory, language |
| Cranial nerves | Vision, eye movement, facial sensation and movement, hearing, swallowing |
| Motor | Muscle bulk, tone, power, and involuntary movement |
| Sensory | Light touch, pinprick, temperature, vibration and joint position |
| Reflexes | Tendon reflexes and the plantar response |
| Coordination and gait | Fine movement, balance, and the pattern of walking |
The parts are examined in sequence because each maps to a different level of the nervous system, and the combination of what is normal and what is not is more informative than any single finding.
What counts as a neurologic symptom?
Weakness, numbness, tingling, loss of coordination, tremor, unsteadiness, double or lost vision, slurred speech, difficulty finding words, swallowing trouble, seizures, fainting, memory change and certain headaches all belong to this group. So do problems that seem unconnected, such as bladder difficulty appearing alongside leg weakness, which together point at the spinal cord rather than at either problem separately. Pain is neurologic when it arises from nerve damage itself, described as burning, shooting or electric, and it behaves differently from pain arising in joints or muscle.
Why does localization come before diagnosis?
Neurology works in two steps. The pattern of findings first answers where the problem is: brain, brainstem, cerebellum, spinal cord, nerve root, peripheral nerve, the junction between nerve and muscle, or muscle itself. Weakness on one side of the body with speech difficulty points high; weakness of both legs with a sensory level across the trunk points to the cord; weakness with lost reflexes and numbness in a glove and stocking pattern points to the peripheral nerves. Only then does the time course suggest what: sudden onset points toward a vascular cause, hours to days toward inflammation or infection, and months to years toward a degenerative process. The autonomic nervous system, which runs blood pressure, sweating, digestion and bladder function, is assessed alongside the rest, because its involvement narrows the possibilities considerably.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
A full neurologic examination was performed after the patient reported new weakness in one arm.
Good to know
A neurologic finding indicates that the nervous system is involved but does not by itself specify the cause, which can range from a structural lesion to a metabolic or infectious process.
Word origin
Where “neurologic” comes from
Formed from neuro-, from Greek neuron, meaning nerve, and -logic, from Greek -logia, meaning study of.