NURS 5315/ NURS5315 Exam 4 – Advanced Pathophysiology Guide | UTA (Latest 2026/2027 Update) Verified Questions & Answers|100 out of 100

NURS 5315/ NURS5315 Exam 4 – Advanced Pathophysiology Guide | UTA (Latest 2026/2027 Update) Verified Questions & Answers|100 out of 100 2026/2027 | GRADED A+ | 100% VERIFIED Question: Which pathway carries sensory information toward the central nervous system? Answer Ascending Question: Which type of axon transmits a nerve impulse at the highest rate? Answer Large myelinated Question: Which nerves are capable of regeneration? Answer Myelinated nerves in the peripheral nervous system Question: The neurotransmitter norepinephrine is secreted in the: Answer Sympathetic postganglion Question: Both oligodenroglia and Schwann cells share the ability to: Answer Form a myelin sheath Question: During a synapse, what change occurs after the neurotransmitter binds to the receptor? Answer The permeability of the postsynaptic neuron changes; consequently its membrane potential is changed as well. Question: What name is given to a large network of neurons within the brainstem that is essential for maintaining wakefulness? Answer Reticular activating system Question: Thought and goal-oriented behaviors are functions of which area of the brain? Answer Prefrontal Lobe Question: The region responsible for the motor aspects of speech is located in the: Answer Broca area in the frontal lobe Question: Parkinson and Huntington disease are conditions associated with defects in which area of the brain? Answer Basal ganglia Question: Maintenance of a constant internal environment and the implementation of behavioral patterns are main functions of which area of the brain? Answer Hypothalamus Question: The ability of the eyes to track moving objects through a visual field is primarily a function of which colliculi? Answer Superior Question: What parts of the brain mediate the expression of affect, both emotional and behavioral states? Answer Limbic system and prefrontal cortex Question: Reflex activities concerned with heart rate, blood pressure, respirations, sneezing, swallowing, and coughing are controlled by which area of the brain? Answer Medulla oblongata Question: From which part of the midbrain do cranial nerves V to VIII emerge? Answer Pons Question: From which part of the midbrain do cranial nerves IX to XII emerge? Answer Medulla Oblongata Question: Which area of the brain assumes responsibility for conscious and unconscious muscle synergy and for maintaining balance and posture? Answer Cerebellum Question: Which statement is true regarding upper motor neurons? Answer The modify spinal reflex arcs Question: The membrane that separates the brain's cerebellum from it's cerebrum is the: Answer Tentorium cerebelli Question: The function of arachnoid villi is to: Answer Absorb cerebrospinal fluid into the cerebral venous sinuses Question: Where is the cerebrospinal fluid produced? Answer Choroid plexuses Question: Which of the meninges closely adheres to the surface of the brain and spinal cord and follows the sulci and fissures? Answer Pia mater Question: Norepinephrine produces what primary response? Answer Vasoconstriction Question: What is an effect of the sympathetic nervous system? Answer Increased blood sugar levels Question: The brain receives approximately what percentage of the cardiac output? Answer 20% Question: The collateral blood flow to the brain is provided by the: Answer Circle of Willis Question: The nurse recognizes that a patient's diagnosis of a viral infection of the brain's meningeal layer is supported by which diagnostic laboratory result? Answer Leukocytes 10/mm3 Question: Cognitive operations cannot occur without the effective functioning of the brain's: Answer Reticular activating system Question: Which intracerebral disease process is capable of producing diffuse dysfuntion? Answer Infarct emboli Question: What is the most common infratentorial brain disease process that results in the direct destruction of the reticulating activation system (RAS)? Answer Cerebrovascular disease Question: What stimulus causes posthyperventilation apnea (PHVA)? Answer Changes in PaCO2 levels Question: Posthyperventilation apnea (PHVA) ceases and rhythmic breathing is resumed when levels of arterial: Answer Carbon dioxide become normal Question: Cheyne-Stokes respirations are described as a: Answer Crescendo-decrescendo pattern of breathing, followed by a period of apnea Question: Vomiting is associated with central nervous system (CNS) injuries that compress which of the brain's anatomic locations? Answer Vestibular nuclei in the lower brainstem Question: Which midbrain dysfunction causes pupils to be pinpoint size and fixed in position? Answer Pontine dysfunction Question: What characteristic is a medical criterion of brain death? Answer Apnea Question: A clinical manifestation caused by damage to the lower pons includes an abnormal: Answer Extension response of the upper and lower extremities Which person is at the greatest risk for developing deliriuim? Answer An individual on the second day after hip replacement A sudden, explosive, disorderly discharge of cerebral neurons is termed: Answer Seizure A complex partial seizure is described as: Answer Impairment of both consciousness and the ability to react to exogenous stimuli Status epilepticus is considered a medial emergency because of the: Answer Development of cerebral hypoxia The most critical aspect in correctly diagnosing a seizure disorder and establishing it's cause is: Answer Health history What type of seizure starts in the fingers and progressively spreads up the arm and extends to the leg? Focial (partial) Jacksonian seizure What area of the brain mediates the executive attention functions? Prefrontal What term describes the loss of the comprehension or production of language? Aphasia With receptive dysphasia (fluent), the individual is able to: Produce verbal speech, but not comprehend language What is the normal intranial pressure (in mmHg)? 5 to 15 Cerebral edema is an increase in the fluid content of the brain's: Tissue What type of cerebral edema occurs when permeability of the capillary endothelium increases after injury to the vascular structure? Vasogenic Which edema is most often observed with noncommunicating hydrocephalus? Interstitial Which dyskinesia involves involuntary movements of the face, trunk, and extremities? Tardive Antipsychotic drugs cause tardive dyskinesia by mimicking the effects of increased: Dopamine The existence of regular, deep, and rapid respirations after a severe closed head injury is indicative of neurologic injury to the: Lower Midbrain What type of posturing exists when a person with a severe closed head injury has all four extremities in rigid extension with the forearms in hyperpronation and the legs in plantrar extension? Decerebrate Since his cerebrovascular accident, a man has been denying his left hemiplegia. What term is used to describe this finding? Anosognosia After a cerebrovvascular accident, a man is unable to either feel or identify a comb with his eyes closed. This is an example of: Tactile Agnosia Most dysphasias are associated with cerebrovascular accidents involving which artery? Middle Cerebral Tactile agnosia is related to innury of which area of the brain? Parietal Neurofibrillary tangles characterize which neurologic disorder? Alzheimer disease The body compensates for a rise in intracranial pressure by first displacing the: Cerebrospinal fluid Stage 1 intracranial hypertension is caused by the: Displacement of cerebrospinal fluid, followed by compression of the cerebral venous system Dilated and sluggish pupils, widening pulse pressure, and bradycardia are clinical findings evident of which state of intracranial hypertension? 3 Dilation of the ipsilateral pupil, following uncal herniation, is the result of pressure on which cranial nerve (CN)? Oculomotor (CN III) Which characteristic is the most critical index of nervous system dysfunction? Level of consciousness Diagnostic criteria for a persistent vegetative state include: Return of autonomic functions such as gastrointestinal function Uncal herniation occurs when: The hippocampal gyrus shifts from the middle fossa through the tentorial notch into the posterior fossa Which assessment finding marks the end of spinal shock? Gradual return of spinal reflexes Characteristics of primary motor neuron atrophy include: Fasciculations and muscle cramps The weakness resulting from the segmental paresis and paralysis characteristic of anterior horn cell injury is difficult to recognize because: Two or more nerve roots supply each muscle Parkinson disease is a degenerative disorder of the brain's: Basal ganglia Clinical manifestations of Parkinson disease are caused by a deficit in which of the brain's neurotransmitters? Dopamine Tremors at rest, rigidity, akinesia, and postural abnormalities are a resulte of the atrophy of neurons in the brain's: Substantia nigra that produces dopamine Diffuse axonal injuries (DAI's) of the brain often result in: Reduced levels of consciousness What event is most likely to occur to the brain in a classic (moderate) cerebral concussion? Brief period of vital sign instability Which disorder has clinical manifestations that include decreased consciousness for up to 6 hours, as well as retrograde and postraumatic amnesia? Classic (Moderate) Cerebral Concussion What group is most at risk of spinal cord injury from minor trauma? Older adults The edema of the upper cervical cord after spinal cord injury is considered life threatening because of which possible outcome? Breathing difficulties from an impairment to the diaphragm What indicates that spinal shock is terminating? Reflex emptying of the bladder What term is used to describe the complication that can result from a spinal cord injury above T6 that is producing paroxysmal hypertension, as well as piloerection and sweating above the spinal cord lesion? Autonomic hyperreflexia Why does a person who has a spinal cord injury experience faulty control of sweating? The hypothalamus is unable to regulate body heat as a result of damage to the sympathetic nervous system Autonomic hyperreflexia-induced bradycardia is a result of stimulation of the: Carotid sinus to the vagus nerve to the sinoatrial node A herniation of which disk will likely result in motor and sensory changes of the lateral lower legs and soles of the feet? L5-S1 Which condition poses the highest risk for a cerebrovascular accident (CVA)? Hypertension A right h emisphere embolic CVA has resulted in left-sided paralysis and reduced sensation of the left foot and leg. Which cerebral artery is most likely affected by the emboli? Anterior cerebral Atrial fibrillation, rheumatic heart disease, and valvular prosthetics are risk factors for which type of stroke? Embolic Microinfarcts resulting in pure motor or pure sensory deficits are the result of which type of stroke? Lacunar Which vascular malformation is characterized by arteries that feed directly into veins through vascular tangles of abnormal vessels? Arteriovenous malformation Which clinial finding is considered a diagnostic indicator for an arteriovenous malformation (AVM)? Systolic bruit over the carotid artery Which cerebral vascular hemorrhage causes meningeal irritation, photophobia, and positive Kernig and Brudzinski signs? Subarachnoid In adults, most intracranal tumors are located: Infratentorially In children, most intracranial tumors are located: Supratentiorially The most common primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor is the: Astrocytoma Meningiomas characteristically compress from: Outside the spinal cord What is the central component of the pathogenic model of multiple sclerosis? Demyelination of nerve fibers in the CNS A blunt force injury to the forehead would result in a coup injury to which region of the brain? Frontal A blunt force injury to the forehead would result in a contrecoup injury to which rebion of the brain? Occipital Apinal cord injuries most likely occur in which region? Cervical and thoracic-lumbar The most likelly rationale for body temperature fluctuations after cervical spinal cord injury is that the person has: Sustain sympathetic nervious system damage resulting in disturbed thermal control. A man who sustained a cervical spinal cord injury 2 days ago suddenly develops severe hypertension and bradycardia. He reports severe head pain and blurred vision. The most likely explanation for these clinical manifestations is that he is: Developing autonomic hyperreflexia The type of vascular malformation that most often results in hemorrhage is: Arteriovenous malformation Atheromatous plaques are most commonly found: At branches of arteries Multiple sclerosis is best described as a: Central nervous system demyelination, possible from an immunogenic virus What is the most common opportunistic infection associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)? Toxoplasmosis It is true that Guillain-Barre syndrom (GBS): Is preceded by a viral illness It is true that myasthenia gravis: causes muscle weakness In which disorder are acetylcholine receptor antibodies (IgG antibodies) produced against acetylcholine receptors? Myasthenia gravis Multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barre syndrom are similar in that they both: Result from demyelination by an immune reaction The neural groove closes dorsally during which week of gestational life? Fourth Which nutritional deficiency in a pregnant woman is associated with neural tube defect (NTD)? Folate Which defect of neural tube closure is most common? Posterior What is the anomaly in which the soft bony component of the skull and much of the brain is missing? Anencephaly The most common cause of obstructive hydrocephalus in infants is: Stenosis of the aqueduct of Sylvius What is the term for a herniation or protrusion of brain and meninges through a defect in the skull? Encephalocele What is the result of a Chiari type II malformation associated with myelomeningocele? Downward displacement of the cerebellum, brainstem, and fourth ventricle Prompt surgical repair of a myelomeningocele is critical to best prevent: Additional nervous system damage Which body system is the largest site for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) invection in infacts and children? Central nervous system An infant diagnosis with hydrocephalus is observed to demonstrate: Bulging fontanels Gait disturbances and instability are characteristic of which form of cerebral palsy? Ataxic Children with phenylketonuria (PKU) are unable to synthesize: Essential amino acid, phenylalanine, to tyrosine Benign febrile seizures are characterized by: Respiratory or ear infections What is the most common general symptom of a localized childhood brain tumor? Increased incranial pressure The tonic neck reflex observed in a newborn should no longer be obtainable by: 5 months What term is used to describe a hernial protrusion of a saclike cyst that contains meninges, spinal fluid, and a portion of the spinal cord through a deficit in a posterior arch of a vertebra? Myelomeningocele What test is performed on amniotic fluid and maternal blood to test for neural tube defect? Alpha-fetoprotein The clinical manifestations of dyskenitic cerebral palsy include: Jerky uncontrolled and abrupt fine musculoskeletal movements 12 Cranial nerves 1. Olfactory 2. Optic 3. Oculomotor 4. Trochlear 5. Trigeminal 6. Abducens 7. Facial 8. Vestibulocochlear 9. Glossopharyngeal 10. Vagus 11. Accessory 12. Hypoglossal Afferent nerves sensory nerves that carry impulses from the cells, tissues, and organs to the CNS system. Efferent nerves carry impulses from the CNS to cells, tissues, and organs, motor nerve Central Nervous System brain and spinal cord peripheral nervous system *12 cranial nerves and 31 spinal nerves *further subdivided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system * PNS has the afferent and efferent pathways Neuron * basic functional unit of the nervous system * fueled by glucose * 3 parts to a neuron - cell body - dendrite - axon * mostly in the CNS and called nuclei in a group * in the PNS the groups are called ganglia or plexus * dendrites- projections that collect information and direct it to the cell body * Axon- conducts impulses to the next neuron, axons are covered in myelin sheaths that are lipid material, the myelin sheaths are interrupted in certain spots by the nodes of Ranvier * Myelin sheath- allows impulses to flow between the nodes of Ranvier in an increased velocity called the salutatory conduction. * mature neurons do not replicate and injury to them is permanent * grey matter Sensory neurons afferent neurons that carry impulses to the CNS motor neurons efferent neurons that carry away from the CNS associational neurons transmit impulses form neuron to neuron and only found in the CNS axonal reaction process in which the peripheral nerves are capable of self repair neuroglia 4 different types - astrocytes - oligodendroglia - microglia - ependymal cells neuroglia- astrocytes * fill space between neurons and surround blood vessels * part of the blood brain barrier * provide rapid transport for nutrients * has a role in scar formation and seizures neuroglia- oligodendroglia * form the myelin sheath of the brain and spinal cord * white matter neuroglia- microglia * tissue macrophages specific to the CNS neuroglia- ependymal cells * line ventricles of brain and choroid plexuses * involved in the production of CSF Schwann cells * responsible for forming the myelin sheath in the PNS * provide metabolic support Synapses * where signals are transmitted from on neuron to another - has a presynaptic membrane and a post synaptic membrane separated by the synaptic cleft, impulses are transmitted across the synaptic cleft via chemical and electrical means Neurotransmitters * synthesized in the neuron * live in presynaptic terminal * neurons communicate chemically * stored on one side of the synaptic cleft and the receptors are on the other * chemical synapses only work in one direction Acetylcholine * type of neurotransmitter * excitatory for skeletal muscles, brain, and spinal cord * inhibitor for cardiac muscles deactivated by acetylcholinesterase monoamines * type of neurotransmitter * synthesized from amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan * includes neurotransmitters histamine, serotonin, dopamine, epi and norepi dopamine deficiency Parkinson's disease epi and norepi control sympathetic pathways amino acids *GABA- in neuron in the CNS * inhibitory of postsynaptic membrane * drugs that increase GABA treat seizures Glycine * inhibits effect of post synaptic membrane glutamate * excitatory effects * drugs that block glutamate treat ALS Central Nervous System * brain= 3lbs and receives 20% of CO * right and left hemispheres * hemispheres are separated by corpus callosum which is responsible for communication between the two hemispheres Frontal Lobe skeletal actions such as communication, emotions, intellect, reasoning, judgment, and behavior * brocas area for speech Parietal lobe 2pt tactile touch, pain, temperature occipital lobe ability to read, visual receptor center temporal lobe Werneck's area interprets the auditory stimuli Basal Ganglia Inhibitory effect on the thalamus Limbic system * between cerebrum and diencephalon * responsible for long term memory, primitive behavioral responses, visceral reactions to emotions, motivation, feeding, behaviors, biologic rhythms, and sense of smell Meninges * pia mater- covers cerebrum directly and contains some arterial supply * subarachnoid space- above pia mater and below arachnoid mater, has arteries and carries CSF * arachnoid space- middle meninge and is avascular * subdural space- venous circulation and located between the arachnoid and dura mater * dura mater- outer meninge and contains the venous system * epidural space- potential space between the dura and the skull, has some intracranial arteries Diencephalon contains the thalamus and hypothalamus thalamus * central relay point * screens and directs impulses to and from the cerebral cortex hypothalamus * regulates water, appetite, vital signs, sleep cycles, pain perception, emotional stress, and links the CNS to endocrine system Brain Stem contains the midbrain, pons, medulla, and reticular formation midbrain * relay center for ear and eye reflexes * relays signals between cerebrum and the pons, medulla oblongata, cerebellum, and spinal cord. pons * connects the cerebellum to the cerebrum and the midbrain to the medulla *reflex actions, balance, breathing regulation, and maintenance of posture medulla * controls the respiratory function, heart rate, blood pressure, coordinates swallowing, coughing, and vomiting reflexes reticular formation * collection of nerve cell bodies in brain stem * large network of collective tissue * connects brain stem to the cerebral cortex * controls cardio and respiratory and is known as the reticular activating system cerebellum * behind the brain stem * coordination, smoothing of voluntary movements, equilibrium, and maintenance of muscle tone