STROKE NURSING CERTIFICATION
REVIEW EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWER
T/F The Joint Commission (TJC) is responsible for coming up with the standards
for Primary Stroke Centers (PSC).
False. This was the Brain Attack Coalition (BAC)
Gray matter
a portion of the CNS consisting of somas/cytons (cell bodies), their dendrites and
synaptic connections
White matter
Whitish nervous tissue of the CNS consisting of mostly myelin sheaths.
T/F The brain parenchyma is made up of gray matter.
False. It is mostly made up of cell axons with their myelin sheaths, so it is mostly white
matter.
T/F The brain cortex is mostly gray matter.
True.
Dura mater
thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal
cord
Arachnoid mater
weblike middle layer of the three meninges, looks like spider webs.
Pia mater
thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges, "fits the brain like a latex glove"
T/F Subarachnoid space is where most major cerebral vessels lie.
True, this causes 85% of SAH.
T/F ICH happens less often than SAH.
False. ICH occurs two times more than SAH.
Frontal lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract
thinking, planning, memory, and judgement
Central sulcus
separates frontal and parietal lobes
Precentral gyrus
primary motor cortex. Located in front of the central sulcus
Post central gyrus
primary sensory cortex
parieto-occipital sulcus
separates parietal and occipital lobes
Right parietal lobe function
responsible for interpretation of the position of the body in accordance to other objects
in its surroundings
,Left pariatel lobe
ability to understand numbers and manipulation of objects
The _______ is a diagram that depicts which parts of the _____ are controlled by
the motor and ____ strips. The _____ of the motor/sensory strip controls the
lower portion of the body, whereas the bottom of the motor/sensory strip controls
the ____ portion of the body.
homunculus; body; sensory; top; upper.
Occipital lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information
Temporal lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.
Where is Broca's area located? And what does it control?
It is in the frontal lobe and it controls motor speech... broca=boca
Where is Wernicke's area located? And what does it control?
It is in the temporal lobe and it controls receptive speech
What is the diencephalon?
thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland
Thalamus
serves as a relay station between the cerebral cortex and the brainstem structures.
Relays auditory, somatosensory, visual, and gustatory signals, influences arousal and
consiousness.
Hypothalamus
located below the thalamus, connects the nervous system to the endocrine system by
releasing eight "releasing hormones" that cause the pituitary gland to release hormones
that control body temperature, blood pressure, hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior.
Pituitary gland
master gland, contains an anterior and a posterior portion
Posterior pituitary
ADH and oxytocin
Anterior pituitary
adenohypophysis. thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone
(ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormones (LH)
Basal ganglia
composed of gray matter, connects the primary motor cortex and the brainstem.
Controls voluntary movement and coordination of movement. DOPAMINE.
What nuclei are contained in the basal ganglia?
the caudate and the lenticular nuclei
What is the lenticular nucleus made up of?
The putamen and the globus palladus
What structures are in the brain stem?
midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata
Midbrain
motor and sensory tracts pass through this structure. Contains the red nuclei, the
substantia nigra, and the origin of cranial nerves III and IV. Works with other structures
to contribute to vision, hearing, motor control, sleep, and wake cycles, arousal, and
temperature regulation.
, Pons
Also contains motor and sensory tracts. Serves as a communication and coordination
center between the cerebrum and cerebellum. Cranial nerves V, VI, VII, and VIII
originate here.
T/F When the pons is affected by a stroke it can cause locked-in-syndrome.
True. This is when a person becomes quadriplegic but is neurologically intact. Known
as a pontine stroke.
T/F The pons controls sleep, respiratory drive, swallowing, hearing, balance,
bladder control, taste, eye movement, facial expression, and sensation.
True. The reticular formation which controls consciousness is also located here.
Medulla oblongata
connects the brain to the spinal cord at the foramen magnum. This structure controls
respiratory and heart rates, digestive processes as well as vomiting, coughing,
sneezing, swallowing, and balance. Cranial nerves IX, X, and XII originate here.
Cerebellum
Communicates with the pons and spinal cord to coordinate motor movement and
maintain balance. Contributes to language in ways that are currently unknown.
What is the name of the dural fold that separates the cerebrum from the
cerebellum?
tentorium
Circle of Willis
A circle of arteries at the base of the brain that supply blood to the brain
Anterior circulation
Common carotid
Internal carotid arteries (ICA)
Middle cerebral arteries (MCA)
Anterior cerebral arteries (ACA)
Anterior communicating arteries-- connects L and R cerebral arteries
Posterior circulation
Vertebral arteries
Basilar artery
Posterior cerebral arteries (PCA)
Posterior communicating arteries
Posterior communicating arteries
connect the posterior cerebral arteries to the middle cerebral arteries.
ACA territory/symptoms
urinary incontinence, contralateral hemiparesis, sensory loss in LE, apraxia
MCA territory/symptoms
BEFAST
Vertebral artery territory/symptoms
Wallenberg's syndrome
Cerebellar infarction
Locked-in syndrome
Wallenberg's Syndrome
n/v, vertigo, nystagmus, tachycardia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and crossed signals. Also
known as medullary syndrome.
REVIEW EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWER
T/F The Joint Commission (TJC) is responsible for coming up with the standards
for Primary Stroke Centers (PSC).
False. This was the Brain Attack Coalition (BAC)
Gray matter
a portion of the CNS consisting of somas/cytons (cell bodies), their dendrites and
synaptic connections
White matter
Whitish nervous tissue of the CNS consisting of mostly myelin sheaths.
T/F The brain parenchyma is made up of gray matter.
False. It is mostly made up of cell axons with their myelin sheaths, so it is mostly white
matter.
T/F The brain cortex is mostly gray matter.
True.
Dura mater
thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal
cord
Arachnoid mater
weblike middle layer of the three meninges, looks like spider webs.
Pia mater
thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges, "fits the brain like a latex glove"
T/F Subarachnoid space is where most major cerebral vessels lie.
True, this causes 85% of SAH.
T/F ICH happens less often than SAH.
False. ICH occurs two times more than SAH.
Frontal lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract
thinking, planning, memory, and judgement
Central sulcus
separates frontal and parietal lobes
Precentral gyrus
primary motor cortex. Located in front of the central sulcus
Post central gyrus
primary sensory cortex
parieto-occipital sulcus
separates parietal and occipital lobes
Right parietal lobe function
responsible for interpretation of the position of the body in accordance to other objects
in its surroundings
,Left pariatel lobe
ability to understand numbers and manipulation of objects
The _______ is a diagram that depicts which parts of the _____ are controlled by
the motor and ____ strips. The _____ of the motor/sensory strip controls the
lower portion of the body, whereas the bottom of the motor/sensory strip controls
the ____ portion of the body.
homunculus; body; sensory; top; upper.
Occipital lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information
Temporal lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.
Where is Broca's area located? And what does it control?
It is in the frontal lobe and it controls motor speech... broca=boca
Where is Wernicke's area located? And what does it control?
It is in the temporal lobe and it controls receptive speech
What is the diencephalon?
thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland
Thalamus
serves as a relay station between the cerebral cortex and the brainstem structures.
Relays auditory, somatosensory, visual, and gustatory signals, influences arousal and
consiousness.
Hypothalamus
located below the thalamus, connects the nervous system to the endocrine system by
releasing eight "releasing hormones" that cause the pituitary gland to release hormones
that control body temperature, blood pressure, hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior.
Pituitary gland
master gland, contains an anterior and a posterior portion
Posterior pituitary
ADH and oxytocin
Anterior pituitary
adenohypophysis. thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone
(ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormones (LH)
Basal ganglia
composed of gray matter, connects the primary motor cortex and the brainstem.
Controls voluntary movement and coordination of movement. DOPAMINE.
What nuclei are contained in the basal ganglia?
the caudate and the lenticular nuclei
What is the lenticular nucleus made up of?
The putamen and the globus palladus
What structures are in the brain stem?
midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata
Midbrain
motor and sensory tracts pass through this structure. Contains the red nuclei, the
substantia nigra, and the origin of cranial nerves III and IV. Works with other structures
to contribute to vision, hearing, motor control, sleep, and wake cycles, arousal, and
temperature regulation.
, Pons
Also contains motor and sensory tracts. Serves as a communication and coordination
center between the cerebrum and cerebellum. Cranial nerves V, VI, VII, and VIII
originate here.
T/F When the pons is affected by a stroke it can cause locked-in-syndrome.
True. This is when a person becomes quadriplegic but is neurologically intact. Known
as a pontine stroke.
T/F The pons controls sleep, respiratory drive, swallowing, hearing, balance,
bladder control, taste, eye movement, facial expression, and sensation.
True. The reticular formation which controls consciousness is also located here.
Medulla oblongata
connects the brain to the spinal cord at the foramen magnum. This structure controls
respiratory and heart rates, digestive processes as well as vomiting, coughing,
sneezing, swallowing, and balance. Cranial nerves IX, X, and XII originate here.
Cerebellum
Communicates with the pons and spinal cord to coordinate motor movement and
maintain balance. Contributes to language in ways that are currently unknown.
What is the name of the dural fold that separates the cerebrum from the
cerebellum?
tentorium
Circle of Willis
A circle of arteries at the base of the brain that supply blood to the brain
Anterior circulation
Common carotid
Internal carotid arteries (ICA)
Middle cerebral arteries (MCA)
Anterior cerebral arteries (ACA)
Anterior communicating arteries-- connects L and R cerebral arteries
Posterior circulation
Vertebral arteries
Basilar artery
Posterior cerebral arteries (PCA)
Posterior communicating arteries
Posterior communicating arteries
connect the posterior cerebral arteries to the middle cerebral arteries.
ACA territory/symptoms
urinary incontinence, contralateral hemiparesis, sensory loss in LE, apraxia
MCA territory/symptoms
BEFAST
Vertebral artery territory/symptoms
Wallenberg's syndrome
Cerebellar infarction
Locked-in syndrome
Wallenberg's Syndrome
n/v, vertigo, nystagmus, tachycardia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and crossed signals. Also
known as medullary syndrome.
