A Physiological Approach to Clinical Neurology

A Physiological Approach to Clinical Neurology deals with the mechanism of various neurological symptoms and signs in terms of disordered physiology. Topics covered by this book include pain and other sensations; weakness; the tendon jerk and the stretch reflex; and disordered control of motor neurons. The disorders of basal ganglia and cerebellum are also considered, along with consciousness and unconsciousness; the mechanism of epilepsy; and the relationship between brain and mind. This book is comprised of 11 chapters and begins by introducing the reader to the clinical analysis of sensory and motor disorders. The discussion then turns to the perception of pain and other kinds of sensation; the clinical approach to the problem of weakness; and the clinical significance of the tendon jerk. In the chapters that follow, appraisal of a neurophysiological thought is applied to common neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, hemiballismus, epilepsy, and developmental anomalies like platybasia. The last chapter explores the phenomena of mind and its connection to the brain as well as its influence on the body, paying particular attention to perception, memory, and emotion. This monograph is intended for those who are proceeding into the clinical years of a medical course, to those who are studying for senior qualifications in internal medicine or neurology, and to those who are merely curious about the cause of neurological phenomena that they observe daily in their patients.