Neurological examination can discover diseases of brain, nerves, muscles and spinal cord. Four main parts of examination are anamnesis evaluation of psychic condition, physical examination and other diagnostic examination and procedures if necessary.

Neurological symptoms can include headaches, pain, weakness and poor movement coordination, sudden faints and confusion. When doctor performs physical examination as a part of neurological examination he investigates all body systems, but nervous system is in main focus. Brain nerves are examined, motor nerves, sensory nerves and reflex action as well as persons coordination, posture, walk, autonomic nervous system function and brain circulation (blood flow).

Brain circulation (blood flow)

Narrowing of arteries bringing blood to the brain increases the risk of stroke. The risk is greater in older people, the ones having high blood pressure, diabetes or arterial and heart diseases.

In order to examine arteries doctor places his stethoscope over the neck arteries and listens to the sounds (murmurs) made by blood flow passing through narrowing. For precise evaluation more sophisticated examinations are made by Doppler ultrasound and brain angiography.