STROKE NURSING CERTIFICATION VERIFIED EXAM SOLUTIONS -
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - CURRENT VERSION
2026/2027
1. True or False: The Joint Commission (TJC) is responsible for
creating standards for Primary Stroke Centers (PSC)?
ANSWER : False. The Brain Attack Coalition (BAC) developed those
standards.
2. What is gray matter in the central nervous system composed of?
ANSWER : It consists of neuron cell bodies (somas), dendrites, and
synaptic connections.
3. What is white matter in the central nervous system composed of?
ANSWER : It is made up primarily of axons covered with myelin
sheaths, giving it a whitish appearance.
4. True or False: The brain parenchyma is mostly gray matter.
ANSWER : False. It is mostly white matter, composed of axons and
myelin.
5. True or False: The brain cortex is primarily gray matter.
ANSWER : True.
6. What is the dura mater and what role does it play?
ANSWER : It is the thick, outermost protective layer of the meninges
surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
7. What is the arachnoid mater and how does it appear?
ANSWER : It is the middle layer of the meninges, appearing web-like,
similar to spider webs.
8. What is the pia mater and how does it fit the brain?
ANSWER : It is the delicate inner layer of the meninges, fitting tightly
like a latex glove.
9. True or False: The subarachnoid space is where most major cerebral
vessels lie.
, ANSWER : True. This is why 85% of subarachnoid hemorrhages occur
there.
10.True or False: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) occurs less often
than subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).
ANSWER : False. ICH occurs about twice as often as SAH.
11.What functions are associated with the frontal lobe of the brain?
ANSWER : Movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and
judgment.
12.What does the central sulcus separate?
ANSWER : The frontal and parietal lobes.
13.What is the precentral gyrus and what is its function?
ANSWER : It is the primary motor cortex, located just in front of the
central sulcus.
14.What is the postcentral gyrus and what is its function?
ANSWER : It is the primary sensory cortex.
15.What does the parieto-occipital sulcus separate?
ANSWER : The parietal and occipital lobes.
16.What is the function of the right parietal lobe?
ANSWER : It interprets the body’s position relative to surrounding
objects.
17.What is the function of the left parietal lobe?
ANSWER : It helps with understanding numbers and manipulating
objects.
18.What is the homunculus diagram and what does it show?
ANSWER : It depicts which parts of the body are controlled by the
motor and sensory strips. The top of the strip controls the lower body,
while the bottom controls the upper body.
19.What is the primary function of the occipital lobe?
ANSWER : Processing visual information.
20.What is the primary function of the temporal lobe?
ANSWER : Hearing and language comprehension.
21.Where is Broca’s area located and what does it control?
ANSWER : In the frontal lobe, controlling motor speech.
, 22.Where is Wernicke’s area located and what does it control?
ANSWER : In the temporal lobe, controlling receptive speech.
23.What structures make up the diencephalon?
ANSWER : The thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland.
24.What is the role of the thalamus?
ANSWER : It acts as a relay station for sensory signals and influences
arousal and consciousness.
25.What is the role of the hypothalamus?
ANSWER : It connects the nervous and endocrine systems, regulating
temperature, hunger, thirst, blood pressure, and sexual behavior.
26.What is the pituitary gland often referred to as?
ANSWER : The “master gland,” with anterior and posterior portions.
27.Which hormones are released by the posterior pituitary?
ANSWER : ADH and oxytocin.
28.Which hormones are released by the anterior pituitary?
ANSWER : TSH, ACTH, FSH, and LH.
29.What is the basal ganglia composed of and what does it control?
ANSWER : Gray matter, controlling voluntary movement and
coordination, heavily influenced by dopamine.
30.Which nuclei are contained in the basal ganglia?
ANSWER : The caudate and lenticular nuclei.
31.What makes up the lenticular nucleus?
ANSWER : The putamen and globus pallidus.
32.What structures are part of the brainstem?
ANSWER : Midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
33.What functions are associated with the midbrain?
ANSWER : Vision, hearing, motor control, sleep/wake cycles, arousal,
and temperature regulation.
34.What functions are associated with the pons?
ANSWER : Communication between cerebrum and cerebellum, and
origin of cranial nerves V–VIII.
35.True or False: A stroke in the pons can cause locked-in syndrome.
ANSWER : True.
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - CURRENT VERSION
2026/2027
1. True or False: The Joint Commission (TJC) is responsible for
creating standards for Primary Stroke Centers (PSC)?
ANSWER : False. The Brain Attack Coalition (BAC) developed those
standards.
2. What is gray matter in the central nervous system composed of?
ANSWER : It consists of neuron cell bodies (somas), dendrites, and
synaptic connections.
3. What is white matter in the central nervous system composed of?
ANSWER : It is made up primarily of axons covered with myelin
sheaths, giving it a whitish appearance.
4. True or False: The brain parenchyma is mostly gray matter.
ANSWER : False. It is mostly white matter, composed of axons and
myelin.
5. True or False: The brain cortex is primarily gray matter.
ANSWER : True.
6. What is the dura mater and what role does it play?
ANSWER : It is the thick, outermost protective layer of the meninges
surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
7. What is the arachnoid mater and how does it appear?
ANSWER : It is the middle layer of the meninges, appearing web-like,
similar to spider webs.
8. What is the pia mater and how does it fit the brain?
ANSWER : It is the delicate inner layer of the meninges, fitting tightly
like a latex glove.
9. True or False: The subarachnoid space is where most major cerebral
vessels lie.
, ANSWER : True. This is why 85% of subarachnoid hemorrhages occur
there.
10.True or False: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) occurs less often
than subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).
ANSWER : False. ICH occurs about twice as often as SAH.
11.What functions are associated with the frontal lobe of the brain?
ANSWER : Movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and
judgment.
12.What does the central sulcus separate?
ANSWER : The frontal and parietal lobes.
13.What is the precentral gyrus and what is its function?
ANSWER : It is the primary motor cortex, located just in front of the
central sulcus.
14.What is the postcentral gyrus and what is its function?
ANSWER : It is the primary sensory cortex.
15.What does the parieto-occipital sulcus separate?
ANSWER : The parietal and occipital lobes.
16.What is the function of the right parietal lobe?
ANSWER : It interprets the body’s position relative to surrounding
objects.
17.What is the function of the left parietal lobe?
ANSWER : It helps with understanding numbers and manipulating
objects.
18.What is the homunculus diagram and what does it show?
ANSWER : It depicts which parts of the body are controlled by the
motor and sensory strips. The top of the strip controls the lower body,
while the bottom controls the upper body.
19.What is the primary function of the occipital lobe?
ANSWER : Processing visual information.
20.What is the primary function of the temporal lobe?
ANSWER : Hearing and language comprehension.
21.Where is Broca’s area located and what does it control?
ANSWER : In the frontal lobe, controlling motor speech.
, 22.Where is Wernicke’s area located and what does it control?
ANSWER : In the temporal lobe, controlling receptive speech.
23.What structures make up the diencephalon?
ANSWER : The thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland.
24.What is the role of the thalamus?
ANSWER : It acts as a relay station for sensory signals and influences
arousal and consciousness.
25.What is the role of the hypothalamus?
ANSWER : It connects the nervous and endocrine systems, regulating
temperature, hunger, thirst, blood pressure, and sexual behavior.
26.What is the pituitary gland often referred to as?
ANSWER : The “master gland,” with anterior and posterior portions.
27.Which hormones are released by the posterior pituitary?
ANSWER : ADH and oxytocin.
28.Which hormones are released by the anterior pituitary?
ANSWER : TSH, ACTH, FSH, and LH.
29.What is the basal ganglia composed of and what does it control?
ANSWER : Gray matter, controlling voluntary movement and
coordination, heavily influenced by dopamine.
30.Which nuclei are contained in the basal ganglia?
ANSWER : The caudate and lenticular nuclei.
31.What makes up the lenticular nucleus?
ANSWER : The putamen and globus pallidus.
32.What structures are part of the brainstem?
ANSWER : Midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
33.What functions are associated with the midbrain?
ANSWER : Vision, hearing, motor control, sleep/wake cycles, arousal,
and temperature regulation.
34.What functions are associated with the pons?
ANSWER : Communication between cerebrum and cerebellum, and
origin of cranial nerves V–VIII.
35.True or False: A stroke in the pons can cause locked-in syndrome.
ANSWER : True.
