Medical-Surgical Nursing_ Neurologic Disorders 2026‑2027 _ Questions & Study Guide PDF 2026-03-05
Medical-Surgical Nursing:
Neurologic Disorders
2026‑2027 | Questions &
Study Guide PDF
Page 1 Guidehttps://www.stuvia.com/dashboard!@_)#*)(@$)($@*($@)($@*_ Medical-Surgical Nursing_ Neurologic Disorders 2026‑2027 _ Questions & Study Guide PDF.pdf
,Medical-Surgical Nursing Neurologic Disorders 2026-03-05
Unitek College LVN Program - Med Surg Term 2 - 2020
Chapter 21-22 Neurologic System & Disorders
Anatomy and Physiology
● Nervous system is a control system that coordinates and regulates all bodily functions
● It receives and interprets information from the external environment and initiates responses to the
specific information internally
● Nervous system is divided into 2 parts:
1. Central Nervous System - Brain, & Spinal Cord
2. Peripheral Nervous System (all nerves) - Spinal & Cranial nerves
Central Nervous System
BRAIN
● Is one of the largest and most complex
organs, made up of more than 100
billion nerves.
● Located within the skull
● Made of soft tissue includes gray & white
matter
● It functions as a primary receiver,
organizer, and distributor of information
● Include cerebrum, cerebellum &
brainstem
● It has a right and left half each of which
is called HEMISPHERE (cerebrum)
CEREBRUM
● Each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex is divided into the parietal, frontal, temporal and occipital
lobes.
● Each lobes have different areas of function
● Other important structures:
○ Thalamus, hypothalamus, and basal ganglia
CEREBELLUM
● Located at the back of the brain beneath the occipital and temporal lobes
● Coordinates movement, balance, and posture
BRAINSTEM
● Consist midbrain, pons, medulla and part of the reticular activating system
● Controls vital basic functions, including respirations, heart rate, and consciousness
CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF)
● Composed of water, glucose, sodium chloride, and protein
● Acts as a shock absorber for the brain and spinal cord
● The fluid reabsorbed in the arachnoid villi
● If fluid is not reabsorbed pressure within the ventricular system increases
BRAIN CIRCULATION
● Rich with arterial circulation to satisfy its need for oxygen.
Page 2 Medical-Surgical Nursing Neurologic Disorders.pdf
, Medical-Surgical Nursing Neurologic Disorders 2026-03-05
Unitek College LVN Program - Med Surg Term 2 - 2020
● Consist of 2 major arterial system:
○ Carotid
■ External carotid - supply blood to the face
■ Internal carotid - supplies blood to the brain
○ Vertebral Arteries
■ originates from subclavian artery and travel up to the brainstem
SPINAL CORD
● Extends from the border of the first cervical vertebra (C1) to the level of the second lumbar
vertebra (L2)
● Thirty-one pairs of spinal nerve roots exit the spinal cord, each consisting of a posterior sensory
(afferent) root and anterior motor (efferent) root
● These roots, along with the 12 cranial nerves, make up the peripheral nervous system
Peripheral Nervous System
● Comprises all the nerves of the peripheral parts of the body, including spinal and cranial nerves
● Also known as autonomic nervous system
● Helps to maintain homeostasis of the body
● Controls the involuntary activities of the viscera including smooth muscles, cardiac muscle and
glands
● Divided into 2:
○ Sympathetic NS
○ Parasympathetic NS
SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
● Triggers stress which increase the secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine.
● Increase heart rate and constrict peripheral blood vessels causing BP to rise.
● The reaction to STRESS is called the FIGHT OR FLIGHT response.
● Also referred as the thoracolumbar system
PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
● Mediates a rest response; “rest and digest”
● Stimulation results in decreased HR and BP
● Also known as craniosacral system
NEURON (NERVE CELL)
● Functional unit of the nervous system that conducts electrical impulses from one area of the brain
to another
● Sensory neurons
○ Transmit information from distal parts of the body or environment toward the central
nervous system
● Motor neurons
○ Carry motor information from the CNS to the periphery
MYELIN
● Material that covers many axons and dendrites
● Enhances conduction along nerve fibers
● Gives the axons a white appearance; cell bodies without myelin are gray
Page 3 Medical-Surgical Nursing Neurologic Disorders.pdf
Medical-Surgical Nursing:
Neurologic Disorders
2026‑2027 | Questions &
Study Guide PDF
Page 1 Guidehttps://www.stuvia.com/dashboard!@_)#*)(@$)($@*($@)($@*_ Medical-Surgical Nursing_ Neurologic Disorders 2026‑2027 _ Questions & Study Guide PDF.pdf
,Medical-Surgical Nursing Neurologic Disorders 2026-03-05
Unitek College LVN Program - Med Surg Term 2 - 2020
Chapter 21-22 Neurologic System & Disorders
Anatomy and Physiology
● Nervous system is a control system that coordinates and regulates all bodily functions
● It receives and interprets information from the external environment and initiates responses to the
specific information internally
● Nervous system is divided into 2 parts:
1. Central Nervous System - Brain, & Spinal Cord
2. Peripheral Nervous System (all nerves) - Spinal & Cranial nerves
Central Nervous System
BRAIN
● Is one of the largest and most complex
organs, made up of more than 100
billion nerves.
● Located within the skull
● Made of soft tissue includes gray & white
matter
● It functions as a primary receiver,
organizer, and distributor of information
● Include cerebrum, cerebellum &
brainstem
● It has a right and left half each of which
is called HEMISPHERE (cerebrum)
CEREBRUM
● Each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex is divided into the parietal, frontal, temporal and occipital
lobes.
● Each lobes have different areas of function
● Other important structures:
○ Thalamus, hypothalamus, and basal ganglia
CEREBELLUM
● Located at the back of the brain beneath the occipital and temporal lobes
● Coordinates movement, balance, and posture
BRAINSTEM
● Consist midbrain, pons, medulla and part of the reticular activating system
● Controls vital basic functions, including respirations, heart rate, and consciousness
CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF)
● Composed of water, glucose, sodium chloride, and protein
● Acts as a shock absorber for the brain and spinal cord
● The fluid reabsorbed in the arachnoid villi
● If fluid is not reabsorbed pressure within the ventricular system increases
BRAIN CIRCULATION
● Rich with arterial circulation to satisfy its need for oxygen.
Page 2 Medical-Surgical Nursing Neurologic Disorders.pdf
, Medical-Surgical Nursing Neurologic Disorders 2026-03-05
Unitek College LVN Program - Med Surg Term 2 - 2020
● Consist of 2 major arterial system:
○ Carotid
■ External carotid - supply blood to the face
■ Internal carotid - supplies blood to the brain
○ Vertebral Arteries
■ originates from subclavian artery and travel up to the brainstem
SPINAL CORD
● Extends from the border of the first cervical vertebra (C1) to the level of the second lumbar
vertebra (L2)
● Thirty-one pairs of spinal nerve roots exit the spinal cord, each consisting of a posterior sensory
(afferent) root and anterior motor (efferent) root
● These roots, along with the 12 cranial nerves, make up the peripheral nervous system
Peripheral Nervous System
● Comprises all the nerves of the peripheral parts of the body, including spinal and cranial nerves
● Also known as autonomic nervous system
● Helps to maintain homeostasis of the body
● Controls the involuntary activities of the viscera including smooth muscles, cardiac muscle and
glands
● Divided into 2:
○ Sympathetic NS
○ Parasympathetic NS
SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
● Triggers stress which increase the secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine.
● Increase heart rate and constrict peripheral blood vessels causing BP to rise.
● The reaction to STRESS is called the FIGHT OR FLIGHT response.
● Also referred as the thoracolumbar system
PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
● Mediates a rest response; “rest and digest”
● Stimulation results in decreased HR and BP
● Also known as craniosacral system
NEURON (NERVE CELL)
● Functional unit of the nervous system that conducts electrical impulses from one area of the brain
to another
● Sensory neurons
○ Transmit information from distal parts of the body or environment toward the central
nervous system
● Motor neurons
○ Carry motor information from the CNS to the periphery
MYELIN
● Material that covers many axons and dendrites
● Enhances conduction along nerve fibers
● Gives the axons a white appearance; cell bodies without myelin are gray
Page 3 Medical-Surgical Nursing Neurologic Disorders.pdf
