The purpose of the examination of the patient without neurologic complaints is to look for evidence of unrecognized neurologic disease or the presence of unrecognized neurologic complications in a patient with a chronic systemic illness.

A screening neurologic examination (in contrast to the thorough neurologic examination, as described in Chapter 40, Performing a Complete Neurologic Examination) should be performed as part of any comprehensive general medical examination.

The basic relevant neuroanatomy underlying each examination element is briefly described in the chapters of Section 2, Neurologic Examination.

Implementing the elements below, in the order shown, is one practical method of performing a screening neurologic examination in a typical patient without neurologic symptoms. If any abnormal findings are seen, then more detail should be included and more examination elements should be added, as indicated.