Posturing

1. What is the position of the arms and legs in decerebrate posturing? What are the characteristics of the face?
2. What sort of lesions cause decerebrate posturing?
3. What is the position of the limbs in decorticate posturing?
4. What sort of lesions cause decorticate posturing?

Answers:
1. Arms and legs are in extension, with ankles in plantarflexion and internal rotation of arms. There is also a clenched jaw.
2. Midbrain, cerebellar, or posterior fossa lesions.
3. Flexion and adduction of upper limbs and extension of lower limbs.
4. Higher level lesions: cerebral hemisphere/white matter, internal capsule, thalamic.