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Fundamentals of Neurosurgery pp 37–49Cite as

The Basic Neurological Examination

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Abstract

The central nervous system (CNS) differs from any other systemic system. The lungs, the pancreas, and the liver, for instance, repeat their basic morphology throughout their extensions; the brain is composed by numerous systems that are located in different brain areas. Each of those systems is responsible for a certain neurological function. The neurological examination consists of testing the patients’ neurological integrity or deficit by performing a neurological examination. Although the subject of extensive textbooks, this chapter presents the basic knowledge of the neurological examination that is feasible by any doctor or medical resident. Looking for different symptoms and signs, as well as executing certain tasks, one can identify a lesion of the central nervous system, as well as locate where the damage might be. This is of utmost importance for doctors who deal with neurological and neurosurgical residents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Radiology, University Hospital, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Mauro A. T. Ferreira

Authors
  1. Mauro A. T. Ferreira
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery Division, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Andrei Fernandes Joaquim

  2. Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery Division, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Enrico Ghizoni

  3. Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery Division, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Helder Tedeschi

  4. Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Mauro Augusto Tostes Ferreira

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Ferreira, M.A.T. (2019). The Basic Neurological Examination. In: Joaquim, A., Ghizoni, E., Tedeschi, H., Ferreira, M. (eds) Fundamentals of Neurosurgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17649-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17649-5_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-17648-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-17649-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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