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TEST 3 - ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
UTA 5315 ACTUAL QUESTIONS 2026
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS.
Tonic Seizure - correct answer-Muscle contraction with
increased muscle tone
Associated with excitation of thalmus & brain stem
Clonic Seizure - correct answer-Quick, repetitive jerks
Tonic Clonic Seizure (Grand Mal) - correct answer--Alternating
stiffening (tonic) and jerking movements (clonic)
-Incontinence
-Disoriented/drowsy after seizure
Status Epilepticus - correct answer-*Medical Emergency* & can
lead to permanent neuro injury
*Continuous seizures lasting more than 5 minutes*
or
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*Back to back seizures occuring before patient reaches
baseline*
or
*One seizure lasting more than 30 minutes*
Non-convulsive Status Epilepticus - correct answer--No obvious
signs of seizure activity, only *altered mental status*
-Requires EEG for diagnosis
Acute Confusional State (Delirium) - correct answer-Sudden
cerebral dysfunction; patient may be normal one minute and
delirious the next.
Signs: Confusion, agitation, memory impairments, distractibility,
compulsive behavior, obsessions
Causes are usually correctable: ETOH withdrawal, drug
intoxication, siezures, electrolyte imbalances (sodium &
calcium), hypoglycemia, hypoxia, hypercapnia, infection, head
injury
Meningitis - correct answer-Infection of meninges, specifically
the pia mater
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Can be bacterial, viral, fungal, TB
Most common bacterial causes of meningitis - correct answer-
*Meningococcus* - transmitted via air droplets; must be isolated
24 hours after antibiotics are started; contacts should get
prophylactic antiobiotics to prevent infection
Pneumococcus
Aseptic Meningitis - correct answer-Causitive organism can't be
found or it's viral
Classic s/sx of Meningitis - correct answer-Photophobia - light
sensitivity
Kernig's Sign - Stiffness of hamstrings (Kan't Kick)
Brudzinski's Sign - Neck stiffness (Bruh, I can't move my neck)
Seizures
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Alzheimer's Disease - correct answer-Most common form of
dementia
Death occurs 5-10 years after onset
Alzheimer's Patho - correct answer-1. Accumulation of amyloid
(starch like protein) in brain
2. Accumulation causes neufibrillary tangles (distortion &
twisting of neurons)
3. Senile plaques form
4. Senile plaques lead to disrupted nerve impulse transmission
and neuron death
Parkinson's Disease - correct answer-Degenerative disorder of
the basal ganglia resulting in the *lack of neurotransmitter
dopamine*. Dopamine is an inhibitory neurotransmittor; without
enough dopamine, acetylcholine (an excitatory
neurotransmittor) becomes too abundant and results in
Parkinson's symptoms of resting tremor, rigidity, dysphagia,
hypertonia.
Basal ganglia works with extrapyramidal tracts responsible for
gross motor movements, facial expression, posture, muscle
tone, speech, swallowing.
TEST 3 - ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
UTA 5315 ACTUAL QUESTIONS 2026
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS.
Tonic Seizure - correct answer-Muscle contraction with
increased muscle tone
Associated with excitation of thalmus & brain stem
Clonic Seizure - correct answer-Quick, repetitive jerks
Tonic Clonic Seizure (Grand Mal) - correct answer--Alternating
stiffening (tonic) and jerking movements (clonic)
-Incontinence
-Disoriented/drowsy after seizure
Status Epilepticus - correct answer-*Medical Emergency* & can
lead to permanent neuro injury
*Continuous seizures lasting more than 5 minutes*
or
, Page | 2
*Back to back seizures occuring before patient reaches
baseline*
or
*One seizure lasting more than 30 minutes*
Non-convulsive Status Epilepticus - correct answer--No obvious
signs of seizure activity, only *altered mental status*
-Requires EEG for diagnosis
Acute Confusional State (Delirium) - correct answer-Sudden
cerebral dysfunction; patient may be normal one minute and
delirious the next.
Signs: Confusion, agitation, memory impairments, distractibility,
compulsive behavior, obsessions
Causes are usually correctable: ETOH withdrawal, drug
intoxication, siezures, electrolyte imbalances (sodium &
calcium), hypoglycemia, hypoxia, hypercapnia, infection, head
injury
Meningitis - correct answer-Infection of meninges, specifically
the pia mater
, Page | 3
Can be bacterial, viral, fungal, TB
Most common bacterial causes of meningitis - correct answer-
*Meningococcus* - transmitted via air droplets; must be isolated
24 hours after antibiotics are started; contacts should get
prophylactic antiobiotics to prevent infection
Pneumococcus
Aseptic Meningitis - correct answer-Causitive organism can't be
found or it's viral
Classic s/sx of Meningitis - correct answer-Photophobia - light
sensitivity
Kernig's Sign - Stiffness of hamstrings (Kan't Kick)
Brudzinski's Sign - Neck stiffness (Bruh, I can't move my neck)
Seizures
, Page | 4
Alzheimer's Disease - correct answer-Most common form of
dementia
Death occurs 5-10 years after onset
Alzheimer's Patho - correct answer-1. Accumulation of amyloid
(starch like protein) in brain
2. Accumulation causes neufibrillary tangles (distortion &
twisting of neurons)
3. Senile plaques form
4. Senile plaques lead to disrupted nerve impulse transmission
and neuron death
Parkinson's Disease - correct answer-Degenerative disorder of
the basal ganglia resulting in the *lack of neurotransmitter
dopamine*. Dopamine is an inhibitory neurotransmittor; without
enough dopamine, acetylcholine (an excitatory
neurotransmittor) becomes too abundant and results in
Parkinson's symptoms of resting tremor, rigidity, dysphagia,
hypertonia.
Basal ganglia works with extrapyramidal tracts responsible for
gross motor movements, facial expression, posture, muscle
tone, speech, swallowing.
