Neuro screen and special tests
The root screen
| Root | Sensory landmark | Key motor action | Reflex |
|---|---|---|---|
| C4 | Top of the shoulder | No standard limb key muscle | None routinely tested |
| C5 | Lateral upper arm and elbow | Elbow flexion, shoulder abduction | Biceps (C5-C6) |
| C6 | Thumb and radial forearm | Wrist extension | Brachioradialis (C5-C6) |
| C7 | Middle finger | Elbow extension | Triceps (mainly C7) |
| C8 | Little finger and ulnar hand | Finger flexion | None routinely tested |
| T1 | Medial forearm and elbow | Finger abduction and adduction | None routinely tested |
| L2 | Front of the thigh | Hip flexion | None routinely tested |
| L3 | Medial knee, lower front thigh | Knee extension | Patellar (L3-L4) |
| L4 | Medial leg and medial malleolus | Ankle dorsiflexion | Patellar (mainly L4) |
| L5 | Top of the foot and big toe | Big toe extension, hip abduction | No routine standard reflex |
| S1 | Lateral foot and heel | Plantarflexion | Achilles |
Dermatomes overlap and maps differ; the standard key sensory points are test sites, not whole dermatomes. Screen C8 with finger flexion rather than wrist flexion, and remember that big toe extension and sensation are mainly L5.
The rest of this guide is for founders
Founders get every guide, endless cases with an AI tutor, and Anki export of their misses. Here is what is inside:
- The root screen
- Neck and upper limb nerves
- Shoulder and elbow
- Spine and hip
- Knee
- Ankle
Read next
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- Lower extremity: hip, knee, fibula, ankle and footFoundersPsoas and piriformis, knee mechanics, fibular head rules, talus and arches, and ankle sprains.
- The cervical spine: OA, AA and C2-C7FoundersOA, AA and C2-C7 mechanics, how to test them, and the safety rules around the neck.