NEUROLOGY USMLE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS |EXPERT STUDY GUIDE FOR
2026/2027
A 4 year old boy w difficulty walking. PMH shows frequent respiratory infections. Cultured cells
from the patient show a high rate of radiation induced genetic mutation. This patient is likely to
experience which of the following? Neurofibrillary tangles in neocortex
Cerebellar atrophy
Loss of neurons in substantia nigra
Atrophy of caudate nucleus
Posterior column degeneration
Presence of Lewy bodies - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Cerebellar atrophy in the first years of life
is ataxia telangectasia. These patients have recurrent sinopulmonary infections.
Ataxia telangiectasia patients have DNA hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation.
Higher risk of CA due to inefficient DNA repair.
(Oculocutaneous telangiectasia is another manifestation, usually delayed.)
Neurofibrillary tangles in the neocortex is seen in alzheimers dz
Loss of neurons in SubNigra is parkinsons
Atrophy of caudate N is Huntingtons
Posterior column involvement is B12 and syphilis
Presence of Lewy bodies is PArkinsonism
I am a genetic disease characterized by sensitivity to ionizing radiation. Difficulty walking or with
intentional movements, repeated sinopulmonary infections, increased incidence of CA -
✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Ataxia telangiectasia
virus infection is the MCC of aseptic meningitis - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Enterovirus infection. 90% of cases. ssRNA. Coxsackie, echoviruses,
polioviruses. They all replicate in GI but dont cause gastroenteritis.
,Fever, malaise, aseptic meningitis in an unvaccinated immigrant child, followed by severe
myalgias and asymetric leg weakness, w hyporeflexia. - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Polio.
Damage to anterior horn lower motor neuron cell bodies causes the hyporeflexia
3 Viruses spread by respiratory secretions capable of causing aseptic meningitis or encephalitis -
✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>varicella
Mumps
Adenovirus
Sexually transmitted viruses that may cause aseptic meningitis - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>HIV, HSV 1 and 2, EBV and CMV. But HIV and HSV 2 are MCC
Transmission route of Togaviride? - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Togaviridae such as Eastern, western
and Venezuelan equine encephalitis are transmitted by insect bites.
St. Louis encephalitis - family? - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Flaviviridae. Arbovirus therefore most
common in summer and fall
California encephalitis - family? - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Bunyaviridae. Arbovirus therefore Most
common in summer and fall
What are two viruses transmitted by blood transfusion that can cause aseptic meningitis? -
✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>HIV, CMV
A 24 year old male is evaluated for chronic headaches and visual changes. Intracranial calcified
mass is seen on MRI. Gross insp shows cystic spaces w thick brownish fluid rich in cholesterol.
The mass most likely shares a common origin w which:
A. Choroid plexus
B Pineal gland
C. Pituitary gland
D. Cerebellar vermis
E. Retina - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Pituitary gland. Calcified cystic mass in a young adult w no
other risks is likely a Craniopharyngioma. Suprasellar region. Cystic or partially cystic w solid
, areas. LM shows stratefied squamous epith and possibly Keratin pearls. Cysts are filled w
yeloow viscous fluid rich in cholesterol crystals.
Derived from Rathke's pouch remnants. Rathke's pouch is an evagination of the ectoderm that
lines the fetal oral cavity. It protrudes up to form the anterior pituitary gland. Posterior pit is
neuroectoderm.
are calcified cystic tumors that derive from Rathke's pouch, whcih is an embryonic
precursor to the anterior pituitary. Commonly cause HA, growth failure, bitemporal hemianopia.
- ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Craniopharyngiomas
Kinesins move (toward/away) cell body while Dyneins move (Toward/away) cell body of
neuron. - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Microtubular motor proteins. Kinesins move away from the cell
body toward the axon, carrying vesicles and organelles in anterograde transport. Dyneins move
toward cell body carrying things in retrograde transport. Dyneins also function in ciliary and
flagellar movement. Hydrolyze ATP to move.
What is Nissl substance? - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>The Rough ER of neuron which is in the cell
body. Does not extend to axons.
Which is larger microfilament, microtubule, intermediate filament? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Microtubule. Then intermediate filament. Then microfilament.
bias can occur with inappropriate (non random) methods or through selective attrition
of study participants. - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Selection bias. It creates a population that does not
accurately represent the real population. Can result in erroneous conclusions.
The odds ratio approximates the when disease prevalence is low. - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Relative risk.
can be defined as teh tiem between the initial detection of a disease and a specific
outcome or measured endpoint. - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Lead time. Lead time bias occurs
when comparing two different tests for the same disease when one of the tests can accurately
detect the disease at an earlier stage
bias occurs when comparing two different tests for the same disease when one
of the tests can accurately detect the disease at an earlier stage - CORRECT
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS |EXPERT STUDY GUIDE FOR
2026/2027
A 4 year old boy w difficulty walking. PMH shows frequent respiratory infections. Cultured cells
from the patient show a high rate of radiation induced genetic mutation. This patient is likely to
experience which of the following? Neurofibrillary tangles in neocortex
Cerebellar atrophy
Loss of neurons in substantia nigra
Atrophy of caudate nucleus
Posterior column degeneration
Presence of Lewy bodies - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Cerebellar atrophy in the first years of life
is ataxia telangectasia. These patients have recurrent sinopulmonary infections.
Ataxia telangiectasia patients have DNA hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation.
Higher risk of CA due to inefficient DNA repair.
(Oculocutaneous telangiectasia is another manifestation, usually delayed.)
Neurofibrillary tangles in the neocortex is seen in alzheimers dz
Loss of neurons in SubNigra is parkinsons
Atrophy of caudate N is Huntingtons
Posterior column involvement is B12 and syphilis
Presence of Lewy bodies is PArkinsonism
I am a genetic disease characterized by sensitivity to ionizing radiation. Difficulty walking or with
intentional movements, repeated sinopulmonary infections, increased incidence of CA -
✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Ataxia telangiectasia
virus infection is the MCC of aseptic meningitis - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Enterovirus infection. 90% of cases. ssRNA. Coxsackie, echoviruses,
polioviruses. They all replicate in GI but dont cause gastroenteritis.
,Fever, malaise, aseptic meningitis in an unvaccinated immigrant child, followed by severe
myalgias and asymetric leg weakness, w hyporeflexia. - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Polio.
Damage to anterior horn lower motor neuron cell bodies causes the hyporeflexia
3 Viruses spread by respiratory secretions capable of causing aseptic meningitis or encephalitis -
✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>varicella
Mumps
Adenovirus
Sexually transmitted viruses that may cause aseptic meningitis - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>HIV, HSV 1 and 2, EBV and CMV. But HIV and HSV 2 are MCC
Transmission route of Togaviride? - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Togaviridae such as Eastern, western
and Venezuelan equine encephalitis are transmitted by insect bites.
St. Louis encephalitis - family? - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Flaviviridae. Arbovirus therefore most
common in summer and fall
California encephalitis - family? - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Bunyaviridae. Arbovirus therefore Most
common in summer and fall
What are two viruses transmitted by blood transfusion that can cause aseptic meningitis? -
✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>HIV, CMV
A 24 year old male is evaluated for chronic headaches and visual changes. Intracranial calcified
mass is seen on MRI. Gross insp shows cystic spaces w thick brownish fluid rich in cholesterol.
The mass most likely shares a common origin w which:
A. Choroid plexus
B Pineal gland
C. Pituitary gland
D. Cerebellar vermis
E. Retina - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Pituitary gland. Calcified cystic mass in a young adult w no
other risks is likely a Craniopharyngioma. Suprasellar region. Cystic or partially cystic w solid
, areas. LM shows stratefied squamous epith and possibly Keratin pearls. Cysts are filled w
yeloow viscous fluid rich in cholesterol crystals.
Derived from Rathke's pouch remnants. Rathke's pouch is an evagination of the ectoderm that
lines the fetal oral cavity. It protrudes up to form the anterior pituitary gland. Posterior pit is
neuroectoderm.
are calcified cystic tumors that derive from Rathke's pouch, whcih is an embryonic
precursor to the anterior pituitary. Commonly cause HA, growth failure, bitemporal hemianopia.
- ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Craniopharyngiomas
Kinesins move (toward/away) cell body while Dyneins move (Toward/away) cell body of
neuron. - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Microtubular motor proteins. Kinesins move away from the cell
body toward the axon, carrying vesicles and organelles in anterograde transport. Dyneins move
toward cell body carrying things in retrograde transport. Dyneins also function in ciliary and
flagellar movement. Hydrolyze ATP to move.
What is Nissl substance? - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>The Rough ER of neuron which is in the cell
body. Does not extend to axons.
Which is larger microfilament, microtubule, intermediate filament? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Microtubule. Then intermediate filament. Then microfilament.
bias can occur with inappropriate (non random) methods or through selective attrition
of study participants. - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Selection bias. It creates a population that does not
accurately represent the real population. Can result in erroneous conclusions.
The odds ratio approximates the when disease prevalence is low. - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Relative risk.
can be defined as teh tiem between the initial detection of a disease and a specific
outcome or measured endpoint. - ✔✔✔ANSWER>>>>Lead time. Lead time bias occurs
when comparing two different tests for the same disease when one of the tests can accurately
detect the disease at an earlier stage
bias occurs when comparing two different tests for the same disease when one
of the tests can accurately detect the disease at an earlier stage - CORRECT
