The Nervous System, Essay Example

The nervous system is a vital system of the human body that encompasses the brain, spinal cord and nerves. The nervous system also is made up of receptor organs that receive and transmit impulses throughout the body (Nervous System, n.d.).

According to the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, a healthy nervous system is essential for proper body functioning and any damage to the nervous system will cause problems with body functioning. To help ensure the health of a person’s nervous system, doctors perform neurological examinations as part of routine physical examinations. These neurological examinations check nervous system functioning and consists of a series of diagnostic tests that analyze mental status, motor functioning and balance, sensory functioning, reflex status, and additional evaluations of the brain’s nerves (Neurological Examination, n.d.).

While detailing one of the neurological diagnostic tests, sensory functioning, the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center notes that a sensory examination on a patient gives the doctor an overview of how well the patient’s senses are functioning, by testing his or her ability to feel. This type of testing involves the doctor touching the patient on various parts of the body such as the legs, arms or feet. The doctor uses various instruments for touching the patient including turning forks, dull needles or alcohol swabs, and the patient is asked to report any sensations felt when the instruments make contact with the body. For example, the patient may or may not feel a cool sensation when touched with an alcohol swab or the patient may or may not feel a prick when touched with a dull needle (Neurological Examination, n.d.).

Accordingly, the doctor will rule out or diagnose any neurological problems from observing the patient’s response and performance on the diagnostic tests.

References

Nervous System. (n.d.). The Merriam-Webster dictionary online. Retrieved November 26, 2012 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nervous%20system

Neurological Examination. (n.d.). The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center website. Retrieved November 26, 2012 from http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthcare_services/nervous_system/about/exams/Pages/index.aspx