Deck 5: Examination of Sensory Function

Question 1

What is the best method for examining a patient's attention?

A)Asking the patient to answer questions about current location.
B)Asking the patient to tell the therapist the correct date and time.
C)Asking the patient to interpret word usage outside of their usual context.
D)Asking the patient to repeat a gradually longer list of words or letters.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Feedforward control uses sensory information in what way?

A)In advance of movement.
B)To correct errors in movement.
C)During the movement.
D)In response to movement.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which type of receptors is responsible for the perception of pain?

A)Mechanoreceptors
B)Chemoreceptors
C)Nociceptors
D)Thermoreceptors

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The patient's record indicates that the patient is "oriented ×2 (place)." What is the correct interpretation of this documentation?

A)The patient is oriented to place.
B)The patient is oriented to person and time.
C)The patient is oriented to place and person.
D)The patient is oriented to place and time.

Question 5

Which type of receptors is responsible for the perception of taste and smell?

A)mechanoreceptors
B)Chemoreceptors
C)Nociceptors
D)Thermoreceptors

Question 6

Feedback control uses sensory information in what way?

A)In advance of movement.
B)To prepare for movement.
C)During the movement.
D)To prevent movement.

Question 7

Which of the following requires information and stimulation of both exteroceptive and proprioceptive receptors?

A)Temperature
B)Kinesthesia
C)Stereognosis
D)Light touch

Question 8

What is a change in the sensory system that occurs with aging?

A)Increased myelin around the peripheral nerves
B)Lower sensory nerve conduction velocities.
C)Increased rate of response to sensory input.
D)Decreased postural sway in standing.

Question 9

Asking a patient to interpret the phrase "A rolling stone gathers no moss" would be an example of what cognitive process?

A)Proverb interpretation
B)Calculation ability
C)Fund of knowledge
D)Ability to attend

Question 10

The patient appears drowsy and falls asleep without constant stimulation from the therapist.Even when the patient is awake,difficulty is experienced on focusing and paying attention to questions posed by the therapist.What would be the best description of the patient's level of arousal?

A)Alert
B)Lethargic
C)Obtunded
D)Stupor

Question 11

What would be an indicator of normal memory function when examining a patient's short-term memory?

A)The patient should be able to recall date and place of birth,parents' names,and the number of siblings.
B)After reading it out loud twice to the therapist,the patient should be able to repeat back a 100-word passage with only 5 errors.
C)The patient should be able to recall a list of 7 numbers 5 minutes later and at least 2 from the list 30 minutes later.
D)The patient should be able to recall a list of 20 words 5 minutes later and at least 10 from the list 30 minutes later.

Question 12

Why might a physical therapist want to examine sensory function prior to motor function?

A)The sensory exam takes less time and therefore it is the most time-efficient way to perform the exam.
B)The sensory exam does not cause any discomfort and therefore the patient can stay alert for the motor exam.
C)The sensory system is more sensitive to fatigue and should be examined before the patient becomes fatigued.
D)The sensory system influences movement and therefore examination first may direct the examination of motor function.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of the type of sensation typically perceived by the exteroceptors?

A)Temperature
B)Kinesthesia
C)Stereognosis
D)Localization

Question 14

Which of the following cutaneous receptors is found in high density in the fingertips and respond to low-intensity touch?

A)Free nerve endings
B)Merkel's discs
C)Ruffini endings
D)Pacinian corpuscles

Question 15

What structures stimulate the proprioceptors?

A)Skin and mucous membranes
B)Muscles and ligaments
C)Organs and mucous membranes
D)Skin and muscles

Question 16

The patient is difficult to arouse from sleep and is often confused when awake.The therapist must constantly tap the arm to get the patient's attention,but even then the patient is unable to participate in the therapy session.What would be the best description of the patient's level of arousal?

A)Alert
B)Lethargic
C)Obtunded
D)Stupor

Question 17

Which of the following describes the characteristics of the anterolateral spinothalamic system?

A)Fast-conducting large-diameter fibers,sensations of discriminative touch and position sense
B)Slow-conducting small-diameter fibers,sensations of discriminative touch and position sense
C)Myelinated large-diameter fibers,sensations of thermal and nociceptive information
D)Unmyelinated small-diameter fibers,sensations of thermal and nociceptive information

Question 18

Which type of receptor responds to the mechanical deformation of the receptor or the surrounding area?

A)Mechanoreceptors
B)Chemoreceptors
C)Nociceptors
D)Thermoreceptors

Question 19

What is one of the most important reasons for performing a sensory examination?

A)To determine the pattern of sensory involvement.
B)To decide what motor exams are required.
C)To examine the integrity of the central nervous system.
D)To make decisions about the accuracy of the history.

Question 20

What question could you ask a patient to determine fund of knowledge?

A)Will you please calculate the following problem 3 + 4 + 2 + 5 =?
B)Can you please spell "garden" backwards?
C)Who is the current vice president of the United States?
D)What is the name of this hospital and how long have you been here?

Question 21

What should the therapist examine first during a sensory examination,superficial (exteroceptive),deep (proprioceptive),or combined (cortical)sensations?

A)Superficial sensations because these must be sufficiently intact in order to allow for testing of combined (cortical)sensations.
B)Deep sensations because these indicate most significantly a patient's ability to participate in motor activities.
C)Combined (cortical)sensations to allow for the most efficient examination and determine immediately areas of deficiency.
D)There is no specific order for examination,so the therapist can choose based on time,equipment,and patient awareness.

Question 22

Which of the following would be considered a compensatory approach to interventions for a patient with sensory impairments?

A)Guided practice with augmented feedback to supplement sensation.
B)Having the patient walk at home without shoes to increase sensory input.
C)Regular skin checks of areas where there is impaired sensation.
D)Thermal stimulation of the impaired extremity in a whirlpool bath.

Question 23

Examination of stereognosis perception determines the patient's ability to do what?

A)Localize a touch sensation on the skin.
B)Perceive two points of touch applied simultaneously.
C)Recognize familiar objects by touch.
D)Duplicate the position of a joint while in motion.

Question 24

Which of the following are important in signaling continuous skin deformation such as that experienced during tension or a stretch?

A)Free nerve endings
B)Merkel discs
C)Ruffini endings
D)Pacinian corpuscles

Question 25

How do the Golgi tendon organs help to prevent structural damage to muscles in cases of extreme stretch?

A)They stimulate the nociceptors which cause severe pain for the individual.
B)They inhibit contraction of the agonist and facilitate the antagonist.
C)They facilitate contraction of the agonist to prohibit further stretch.
D)They stimulate the free nerve endings which cause cocontraction around the area.

Question 26

When might examination using graphesthesia be an appropriate procedure?

A)The patient has speech impairments.
B)The patient is unable to grasp an object.
C)The patient prefers a test using numbers.
D)The patient is visually impaired.

Question 27

How would a therapist examine proprioceptive awareness?

A)The therapist will place the patient's joint in a position and ask the patient to duplicate the position with the opposite joint.
B)The therapist will randomly touch the patient's skin with a tool and ask the patient to differentiate sharp and dull touch.
C)The therapist will lightly touch the patient with a piece of cotton or soft brush and ask the patient to indicate when something is felt.
D)The therapist will move the patient's joint within a small range and ask the patient to describe the direction and range of movement.

Question 28

What types of changes do the muscle spindles sense in order to assist in discrimination of position and movement?

A)Changes in velocity and tension
B)Changes in tension and muscle length
C)Changes in pressure and muscle length
D)Changes in muscle length and velocity

Question 29

During a sensory screening examination what should the therapist do?

A)Examine the patient's visual acuity,hearing acuity,and light touch.
B)Examine very small areas of the body,especially on the extremities.
C)Use the most highly sensitive types of examinations for the trunk.
D)Select modalities from each of the general categories of sensation.

Question 30

How would a therapist examine kinesthesia?

A)The therapist will place the patient's joint in a position and ask the patient to duplicate the position with the opposite joint.
B)The therapist will randomly touch the patient's skin with a tool and ask the patient to differentiate sharp and dull touch.
C)The therapist will lightly touch the patient with a piece of cotton or soft brush and ask the patient to indicate when something is felt.
D)The therapist will move the patient's joint within a small range and ask the patient to describe the direction and range of movement.

Question 31

What progression should the therapist make when performing a sensory examination?

A)Complete the examination by allowing the patient to indicate verbally the location of the most sensory loss.
B)Examine each of the dermatomes completely for each modality before moving on to the next dermatome.
C)Begin the examination distally because patients typically present with the most significant deficits distally.
D)Perform the examination on the posterior aspect of the trunk first followed by the anterior portion and the extremities.