Neurology (from Greek Greek: , neuron' "nerve" and the suffix - -logia

"study of") is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. To be
specific, neurology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions
and disease involving the central and peripheral nervous system; or, the equivalent
meaning, the autonomic nervous systems and the somatic nervous systems, including
their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue, such as muscle.[1]
A neurologist is a physician specializing in neurology and trained to investigate, or
diagnose and treat neurological disorders.[2] Neurologists may also be involved in
clinical research, and clinical trials, as well as basic research and translational research.
While neurology is a non-surgical specialty, its corresponding surgical specialty is
neurosurgery.[2] Neurology, being a branch of medicine, differs from neuroscience,
which is the scientific study of the nervous system in all of its aspects.
In the United States and Canada, neurologists are physicians having completed
postgraduate training in neurology after graduation from medical school. Neurologists
complete, on average, at least 1013 years of college education and clinical training. This
training includes obtaining a four-year undergraduate degree, a medical degree (D.O. or
M.D.), which comprises an additional four years of study, and then completing a three- or
four-year residency in neurology. The four-year residency consists of one year of internal
medicine training followed by three years of training in neurology. Some neurologists
complete a one- or two-year fellowship after completing a neurology residency. Subspecialties include: brain injury medicine, clinical neurophysiology, epilepsy, hospice and
palliative medicine, neurodevelopmental disabilities, neuromuscular medicine, pain
medicine and sleep medicine, and vascular medicine.[5]
Many neurologists also have additional subspecialty training (fellowships) after
completing their residency in one area of neurology such as stroke or vascular neurology,
interventional neurology, neurosonology, epilepsy, neuromuscular, neurorehabilitation,
behavioral neurology, sleep medicine, pain management, neuro immunology, clinical
neurophysiology, or movement disorders.
In Germany, a compulsory year of psychiatry must be done to complete a residency of
neurology.
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, neurology is a subspecialty of general (internal)
medicine. After five to nine years of medical school and a year as a pre-registration house
officer (or two years on the Foundation Programme), a neurologist must pass the
examination for Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (or the Irish equivalent)
before completing two years of core medical training and then entering specialist training
in neurology. A generation ago, some neurologists would have also spent a couple of
years working in psychiatric units and obtain a Diploma in Psychological Medicine.
However, this requirement has become uncommon, and, now that a basic psychiatric
qualification takes three years to obtain, the requirement is no longer practical. A period
of research is essential, and obtaining a higher degree aids career progression: Many
found it was eased after an attachment to the Institute of Neurology at Queen Square in
London. Some neurologists enter the field of rehabilitation medicine (known as physiatry
in the US) to specialise in neurological rehabilitation, which may include stroke medicine
as well as brain injuries.

Physical examination[edit]
During a neurological examination, the neurologist reviews the patient's health history
with special attention to the current condition. The patient then takes a neurological
exam. Typically, the exam tests mental status, function of the cranial nerves (including
vision), strength, coordination, reflexes, and sensation. This information helps the
neurologist determine whether the problem exists in the nervous system and the clinical
localization. Localization of the pathology is the key process by which neurologists
develop their differential diagnosis. Further tests may be needed to confirm a diagnosis
and ultimately guide therapy and appropriate management.
Clinical tasks[edit]
Neurologists examine patients who have been referred to them by other physicians in
both the inpatient and outpatient settings. A neurologist will begin their interaction with a
patient by taking a comprehensive medical history, and then perform a physical
examination focusing on evaluating the nervous system. Components of the neurological
examination include assessment of the patient's cognitive function, cranial nerves, motor
strength, sensation, reflexes, coordination, and gait.
In some instances, neurologists may order additional diagnostic tests as part of the
evaluation. Commonly employed tests in neurology include imaging studies such as
computed axial tomography (CAT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and
ultrasound of major blood vessels of the head and neck. Neurophysiologic studies,
including electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), and evoked
potentials are also commonly ordered. Neurologists frequently perform lumbar punctures
in order to assess characteristics of a patient's cerebrospinal fluid.
Some of the commonly encountered conditions treated by neurologists include
headaches, radiculopathy, neuropathy, stroke, dementia, seizures and epilepsy,
Alzheimer's Disease, Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder,[6][7] Parkinson's Disease,
Tourette's syndrome, multiple sclerosis, head trauma, sleep disorders, neuromuscular
diseases, and various infections and tumors of the nervous system. Neurologists are also
asked to evaluate unresponsive patients on life support in order to confirm brain death.
Treatment options vary depending on the neurological problem. They can include
everything from referring the patient to a physiotherapist, to prescribing medications, to
recommending a surgical procedure.
Some neurologists specialize in certain parts of the nervous system or in specific
procedures. For example, clinical neurophysiologists specialize in the use of
electrodiagnostic techniques (EEG and EMG) in order to diagnose certain neurological
disorders. Neurosurgery is a distinct specialty that involves a different training path, and
emphasizes the surgical treatment of neurological disorders.
There are also many non-medical doctors, those with PhD degrees in subjects such as
biology and chemistry, who study and research the nervous system. Working in labs in
universities, hospitals, and private companies, these neuroscientists perform clinical and
laboratory experiments and tests in order to learn more about the nervous system and find
cures or new treatments for diseases and disorders.
There is a great deal of overlap between neuroscience and neurology. A large number of
neurologists work in academic training hospitals, where they conduct research as

neuroscientists in addition to treating patients and teaching neurology to medical

students.