CLINICAL-FRONTAL LOBE FUNCTION

SUMMARY

A. History:
Dysfunction leads to disinhibition, poor judgment and insight.

B. Reflexes:
1. Grasp reflex - localizes to the contralateral abnormal hemisphere.
2. Palmomental reflex - causes protrusion of the lower lip.
3. Pout and snout reflex - elicited by scratching above the upper lip.

C. Other tests:
1. Foster-Kennedy syndrome – optic atrophy ipsilateral to the frontal lesion + papilloedema contralateral to the frontal lesion.
2. Interpret proverbs - patient with dysfunction will give concrete explanation.
3. Anosmia.
4. Gait apraxia – similar to shuffling.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].