Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) Practice Exam

What does the term "stereognosis" refer to in neurological examination?

1. Ability to perceive touch on one side

2. The ability to identify shapes through touch

3. Ability to recognize drawn numbers on the skin

4. Ability to locate points of touch on the body

The correct answer is: The ability to identify shapes through touch

The term "stereognosis" refers specifically to the ability to identify shapes and objects by touch alone, without the assistance of visual input. This neurological examination assesses an individual's sensory processing and tactile discrimination skills. During the assessment, a patient is typically asked to close their eyes while an object, such as a common item like a key or a coin, is placed in their hand. The patient should be able to manipulate the object and correctly name it based solely on the feel, demonstrating intact sensory pathways and cortical function related to tactile processing. In contrast, the other options pertain to different sensory abilities. The ability to perceive touch on one side assesses unilateral sensory perception, while recognizing drawn numbers on the skin involves a specific aspect of sensory integration. Additionally, the ability to locate points of touch on the body involves another sensory function, namely spatial awareness. Therefore, the focus of stereognosis is distinctively about shape and object recognition through tactile means, which is why it fits best with the provided answer.