Final answer:
The mental status exam assesses higher cognitive functions and includes components such as level of consciousness, memory, language, visuospatial abilities, and emotional state.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mental status exam (MSE) is a critical component of the neurological exam, which assesses higher cognitive functions linked to the cerebrum. The cerebral cortex houses various regions responsible for these functions, categorized as primary sensory or motor areas, association areas, or multimodal integration areas. The exam looks at orientation, memory, language, speech, sensorium, judgment, and abstract reasoning.