Medical Mnemonics: Features of Horner’s Syndrome

 

Medical Mnemonics for Internal Medicine Board Review / USMLE Prep - "SAMPLE"

Medical Mnemonics: Features of Horner’s Syndrome – “SAMPLE”

 

Medical Mnemonics

Horner’s Syndrome (Oculosympathetic paresis) is a rare neurologic condition whose symptoms and signs include:

  • Ptosis (drooping eyelid)
  • Anhidrosis (inability to sweat).
  • Miosis (pupil constriction)
Horner’s syndrome can be caused by any set of sympathetic nerve fiber injuries. Horner’s syndrome is generally classified into Central and Peripheral.
  • Central: Sympathetic nerves start in the brain and then travel down to the spinal cord and into the chest.
  • Peripheral: Sympathetic nerves start from the chest to the neck, arteries, head, and into the eyes.
Another feature of Horner’s syndrome is loss of ciliospinal reflex (pupil dilates when pressure / pain applied to neck or face. Patients with Horner’s syndrome also experience Enophthalmos (posterior displacement of the eyeball). These features can all be remembered by the mnemonic “SAMPLE”
  • S: Sympathetic Nerve Fiber Injury
  • A: Anhidrosis
  • M: Miosis
  • P: Ptosis
  • L: Loss of ciliospinal reflex
  • E: Enophthalmos




Got something to add?

Please log In or register for a free account to write a comment.