Registered Nurse RN

Registered Nurse, Free Care Plans, Free NCLEX Review, Nurse Salary, and much more. Join the nursing revolution.

  • RN
    • Nursing Clinical Skills
  • Nursing Videos
  • Blog
  • Nursing School
  • Nursing Care Plans
  • Nursing Quizzes
  • Nursing
  • Nursing Jobs
  • NCLEX Review
  • Store

Decerebrate vs. Decorticate Mnemonic and Review

This is a quick NCLEX review about decerebrate vs. decorticate posturing. In this review, I will give you a mnemonic I learned in nursing school on how to tell the difference between these two types of rigidity, along with pictures of these two conditions.

Since the names of these two conditions are similar, some students have problems differentiating between them.  Therefore, if you are covering neuro in class right now, I highly recommend you know the difference decorticate and decerebrate……it will most likely be on your exam.

Video on Decerebrate and Decorticate

Decorticate vs. Decerebrate Posturing

These two types of posturing are ABNORMAL and are associated with a brain injury.

Let’s look at the differences between the two:

Decorticate

This is a type of flexed posturing and can indicate damage to the cerebral hemispheres.

There will be adduction and flexion of the arms and the hands will be closed shut (flexed). The legs will be rotated internally and feet flexed.

decorticate posturing nclex nursing

Mnemonic for decorticate posturing: Remember the letters COR in the word decorticate for the word “core”. The patient will bring their ARMS to the core of the body (middle).

Decerebrate

This is a type of extended posturing and can indicate damage to the brain stem. This is the worst type of posturing between the two.

There will be adduction and extension of the arms and pronation of the hands and the fingers will be flexed along with extended legs and plantar flexion of the feet.

decerebrate posturing nursing nclex

Mnemonic for decerebrate posturing: Look at all the E’s in the word. There are a lot of them, so remember the word EXTENDED. The arms are going to be extended rather than flexed.

More Neuro Nursing Reviews

Please Share:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
Nursing Gear

RSS Latest YouTube Videos

  • Weight-Based Dosage Calculation #shorts for Nursing School & NCLEX
  • Alzheimer's Disease (Dementia) Nursing: Symptoms, Treatment, Stages, Pathophysiology NCLEX
  • PPE Donning Order Sequence Nursing Tutorial #shorts
  • Depolarization and Repolarization of Heart: Action Potential (Atrial & Ventricular) Animation

Recent Posts

  • Depolarization vs Repolarization of Heart Action Potential Explained
  • Alzheimer’s Disease (Dementia) NCLEX Nursing Review
  • Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia NCLEX Quiz
  • The Great Saphenous Vein
  • NCLEX Study Plan

Disclosure and Privacy Policy

This website provides entertainment value only, not medical advice or nursing protocols. We strive for 100% accuracy, but nursing procedures and state laws are constantly changing. By accessing any content on this site or its related media channels, you agree never to hold us liable for damages, harm, loss, or misinformation. See our full disclosure and privacy policy. Copyright Notice: Do not copy this site, articles, images, or its contents without permission.

Important Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Follow Us on Social Media

  • Facebook Nursing
  • Instagram Nursing
  • TikTok Nurse
  • Twitter Nursing
  • YouTube Nursing

Get Free Email Updates:

Enter your email address below and hit "Submit" to receive free email updates and nursing tips.

Copyright © 2022 RegisteredNurseRN.com. All Rights Reserved.