Answer:
Option C, reflexes
Explanation:
Trosseau's sign occurs when a patient's wrist begins to curl as a blood pressure cuff (sphymomanometer) on their arm is inflated above their baseline systolic blood pressure value and this pressure is sustained over at least a three-minute period.
Chvostek's sign occurs when a patient's masseter muscle at the temporomandibular joint is tapped with some force by two fingers and the facial muscle reacts by causing a twitch, which may look like a momentary involuntary smirk.
Both of these signs occurs when a patient has either hypomagnesemia (low magnesium levels in the blood) or hypocalcemia (low calcium levels in the blood). Due to low levels of these electrolytes (along with brachial artery occlusion in the case of Trosseau's sign), the patient's muscles will exhibit hyperexcitability, inducing spasm or hyperreflexia.
Thus, with both signs what is being assessed is the patient's reflexes, option C, and particularly what these reflexes may be associated with.
