FAU Advanced Health Assessment Practice Test

Kernig's sign is a test for what type of irritation?

1. Peritoneal irritation

2. Carpal tunnel syndrome

3. Meningeal irritation

4. Developmental hip dysplasia

The correct answer is: Meningeal irritation

Kernig's sign is specifically used to assess meningeal irritation. This sign is evaluated by flexing the patient's hip and knee at 90 degrees, and then attempting to extend the knee. If the patient experiences pain or resistance, it is indicative of irritation of the meninges, often associated with conditions such as meningitis. This test is part of a neurological examination, focusing on the central nervous system and determining whether the protective layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord are inflamed or irritated. The other options relate to different medical conditions that do not involve meningeal irritation. For instance, peritoneal irritation pertains to abdominal issues, often assessed with other tests like the rebound tenderness or rigidity, carpal tunnel syndrome involves median nerve compression in the wrist and is evaluated through different clinical tests, and developmental hip dysplasia pertains to the hip joint's stability and development rather than the central nervous system. Thus, Kernig's sign being associated with meningeal irritation makes it distinct from the other options listed.