MORE VIDEOS
Explore more

Neurological Signs

Signs of the brain, spinal cord and nerves: reflexes, meningeal signs, pupil findings, vestibular tests and the classic signs of nerve compression at the wrist and in the neck.

This page lists all 45 of them in the guide. Open any sign for how it is elicited, what it suggests, and its eponym story where it has one.

SignSystemA positive finding is associated with
Abdominal reflexesNeurologyLoss of the reflexes is associated with corticospinal lesions, but also commonly with obesity, pregnancy and previous abdominal surgery.
Argyll Robertson pupilNeurologyClassically associated with neurosyphilis, although other midbrain lesions can produce it.
Babinski signNeurologyAssociated with damage to the corticospinal (upper motor neuron) pathway in adults; it is a normal finding in infants up to about 12 months.
Battle's signNeurologyAssociated with a fracture of the base of the skull.
Beevor's signNeurologyAssociated with spinal cord lesions around the T10 level and with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.
Brisk jaw jerkNeurologyAssociated with bilateral upper motor neuron lesions above the level of the pons, as in pseudobulbar palsy.
Brudzinski's neck signNeurologyAssociated with meningeal irritation, classically in meningitis.
Bulbocavernosus reflexNeurologyIts return after a spinal cord injury is associated with the end of the spinal shock phase.
Chaddock signNeurologyAssociated with corticospinal tract lesions; useful when the sole of the foot is tender or very ticklish.
ClonusNeurologySustained clonus is associated with upper motor neuron lesions.
Cushing's triadNeurologyAssociated with critically raised pressure inside the skull (intracranial pressure).
Decorticate posturingNeurologyAssociated with severe brain injury at a level above the midbrain.
Dix–Hallpike manoeuvreNeurologyAssociated with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, caused by displaced crystals in a semicircular canal.
Finger escape signNeurologyAssociated with cervical myelopathy affecting the intrinsic muscles of the hand.
Froment's signNeurologyAssociated with ulnar nerve palsy.
Gordon's signNeurologyAssociated with corticospinal tract lesions.
Grasp reflexNeurologyAn infantile reflex whose return in adults is associated with frontal lobe dysfunction.
Head impulse testNeurologyAssociated with loss of peripheral vestibular function on that side; in acute continuous vertigo, a normal head impulse can point toward a central cause.
Hoffmann signNeurologyAssociated with upper motor neuron lesions, especially cervical cord disease, particularly when other reflexes are brisk.
Hoover's signNeurologyUsed to help distinguish functional (non-organic) leg weakness from weakness caused by structural disease.
Horner's syndromeNeurologyAssociated with disruption of the sympathetic nerve pathway to the eye, anywhere from the brainstem through the neck and upper chest.
Inverted supinator reflexNeurologyAssociated with a cervical spinal cord lesion around C5–C6, combining root and cord signs at that level.
Jolt accentuationNeurologyStudied as a bedside aid in suspected meningitis and associated with meningeal inflammation, although its diagnostic accuracy is debated.
Kernig's signNeurologyAssociated with irritation of the meninges, as in meningitis or subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Lasègue's signNeurologyAssociated with irritation of the sciatic nerve roots, most often from a prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc.
Lhermitte's signNeurologyAssociated with cervical cord lesions, classically multiple sclerosis; also reported with vitamin B12 deficiency and cord compression.
Macewen's signNeurologyAssociated with raised intracranial pressure and separated skull sutures, classically in children with hydrocephalus.
Marcus Gunn pupilNeurologyAssociated with optic nerve disease or extensive retinal damage on that side.
Myerson's signNeurologyAssociated with Parkinson's disease and other frontal–subcortical disorders.
Nuchal rigidityNeurologyAssociated with irritation of the meninges, as in meningitis or subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Oppenheim signNeurologyAssociated with corticospinal tract lesions; one of several Babinski-equivalent responses.
Palmomental reflexNeurologyA frontal release sign, associated with frontal lobe or diffuse cerebral dysfunction; it can also be seen in some healthy older adults.
Phalen's testNeurologyAssociated with carpal tunnel syndrome (compression of the median nerve at the wrist).
Pronator driftNeurologyAssociated with mild corticospinal (upper motor neuron) weakness of that arm.
PseudoathetosisNeurologyAssociated with severe loss of proprioception (position sense) from dorsal column or parietal lobe lesions.
Raccoon eyesNeurologyAssociated with a fracture of the base of the skull.
Romberg testNeurologyAssociated with loss of proprioception (dorsal column disease) or vestibular dysfunction, rather than cerebellar disease.
Setting-sun signNeurologyAssociated with hydrocephalus and raised intracranial pressure in infancy.
Snout reflexNeurologyA primitive (frontal release) reflex associated with frontal cerebral dysfunction in adults.
Sucking reflexNeurologyA primitive reflex; its re-emergence in adults is associated with frontal lobe dysfunction.
Tinel's signNeurologyAssociated with irritated or regenerating peripheral nerves — classically carpal tunnel syndrome when tapped at the wrist.
Trömner signNeurologyAssociated with corticospinal tract dysfunction.
Uhthoff's phenomenonNeurologyAssociated with demyelinating disease, especially multiple sclerosis.
Unterberger stepping testNeurologyAssociated with a one-sided vestibular lesion, on the side toward which the patient turns.
Wartenberg's signNeurologyAssociated with ulnar nerve dysfunction.
Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.