FAU Advanced Health Assessment Practice Test

What type of neurological impairment is seen in patients with Cauda Equina Syndrome?

1. Upper motor neuron impairment

2. Lower motor neuron impairment

3. Cranial nerve impairment

4. Peripheral nerve impairment

The correct answer is: Lower motor neuron impairment

Cauda Equina Syndrome is characterized by lower motor neuron impairment. This condition occurs due to compression of the cauda equina, which consists of a bundle of spinal nerves located at the lower end of the spinal cord. When these nerves are compromised, patients typically exhibit signs of lower motor neuron damage, which include weakness, atrophy, and hypotonia in the affected muscles. This is in contrast to upper motor neuron impairment, which is associated with damage to the descending pathways in the central nervous system and presents with spasticity and hyperreflexia. Cranial nerve impairment typically involves dysfunction linked to the cranial nerves arising directly from the brain, which would not directly relate to the lower spinal cord where the cauda equina is located. Peripheral nerve impairment often refers to issues affecting individual peripheral nerves rather than the collective nerve roots in the cauda equina. In summary, the presence of lower motor neuron impairment in Cauda Equina Syndrome reflects the nature of the injury to the nerve roots involved, leading to distinct clinical manifestations associated with this type of neurological impairment.