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Fundamentals of Nursing

Introduction

Fundamentals of NursingIntroduction
A physical therapist is working with a patient in a clinical setting. The patient, a young man wearing glasses, a green t-shirt, blue shorts, and a striped face mask, is lying on an examination table with one leg raised. The therapist, a woman wearing a blue face mask, blue shirt, and black cardigan, is standing beside the patient with her hand extended, guiding him through an exercise. The background features medical equipment, shelves with supplies, and framed certificates on the wall.
Figure 23.1 The nurse assesses the patient’s ability to use his muscles to lift his leg in response to neurological impulses, demonstrating how the musculoskeletal and neurological systems work effectively together. (credit: Maria Christina Yager/DVIDS, Public Domain)

Chapter Outline

23.1 Foundations of Neuromuscular Functioning
23.2 Factors Affecting Neuromuscular Functioning
23.3 Considerations for Care of Neuromuscular Impairment

Imagine you are about to take a shower in the morning before going to school. You have turned on the faucet to start the water as you prepare to get in the shower. After a few minutes, you expect the water to be at a temperature that will be comfortable to enter. So, you put your hand into the spray of water to test it. What happens next depends on how your nervous system interacts with the stimulus of the water temperature and what your muscles do in response to that stimulus. To be able to respond to these kinds of stimuli, the neurological and musculoskeletal systems must both be functioning and working together efficiently. Impairments in either of these body systems can cause an inability to respond to external stimuli, which can result in bodily injury and poor health. This chapter discusses the foundations of the neurological system, factors that may affect function of the neurological system, and ultimately how care can be tailored based on that information.

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