NR 507 Week 5: Alterations in Neurobiological Functions Exam Review
2026 |Chamberlain
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in the pathophysiology of
Parkinson’s disease?
A. Serotonin
B. Dopamine
C. Acetylcholine
D. GABA
Answer: B
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the degeneration of dopamine-
producing neurons in the substantia nigra of the basal ganglia.
2. A patient exhibits a sudden ‘worst headache of my life’ accompanied by neck
stiffness. Which condition is most likely?
A. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
B. Ischemic stroke
C. Epidural hematoma
D. Transient ischemic attack
Answer: A
Rationale: A subarachnoid hemorrhage, often due to a ruptured aneurysm, typically
presents with a sudden, severe headache and signs of meningeal irritation.
,3. In the Gate Control Theory of pain, which fibers are responsible for ‘closing’
the gate to inhibit pain transmission?
A. C fibers
B. A-delta fibers
C. A-beta fibers
D. Beta-endorphins
Answer: C
Rationale: Large-diameter A-beta fibers carry non-nociceptive stimuli and can inhibit the
transmission of pain signals through the spinal gate.
4. Which type of cerebral edema is caused by the breakdown of the blood-brain
barrier after a stroke or tumor?
A. Cytotoxic edema
B. Vasogenic edema
C. Interstitial edema
D. Osmotic edema
Answer: B
Rationale: Vasogenic edema is the most common form and results from increased
permeability of the capillary endothelium after injury to the blood-brain barrier.
5. What is the hallmark clinical manifestation of Alzheimer’s disease
pathophysiology regarding proteins?
A. Dopaminergic depletion
B. Demyelination of central axons
C. Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
D. Prion protein accumulation
Answer: C
Rationale: Alzheimer’s is characterized by the accumulation of extracellular amyloid-beta
plaques and intracellular tau protein neurofibrillary tangles.
, 6. A patient with a T6 spinal cord injury develops a sudden BP of 200/110,
bradycardia, and a severe headache. What is the priority concern?
A. Spinal shock
B. Neurogenic shock
C. Autonomic dysreflexia
D. Cerebral concussion
Answer: C
Rationale: Autonomic dysreflexia is a life-threatening emergency in patients with spinal
injuries at T6 or above, triggered by noxious stimuli below the lesion.
7. Multiple Sclerosis is characterized by which of the following?
A. Loss of lower motor neurons in the spinal cord
B. Depletion of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction
C. Excessive production of cerebrospinal fluid
D. Demyelination of the central nervous system axons
Answer: D
Rationale: MS is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the myelin
sheath of neurons in the brain and spinal cord.
8. Which phase of a seizure is characterized by a state of muscle contraction
with excessive muscle tone?
A. Clonic phase
B. Tonic phase
C. Postictal phase
D. Aura phase
Answer: B
Rationale: The tonic phase is the period of rigid muscle contraction; the clonic phase
involves alternating contraction and relaxation.
2026 |Chamberlain
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in the pathophysiology of
Parkinson’s disease?
A. Serotonin
B. Dopamine
C. Acetylcholine
D. GABA
Answer: B
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the degeneration of dopamine-
producing neurons in the substantia nigra of the basal ganglia.
2. A patient exhibits a sudden ‘worst headache of my life’ accompanied by neck
stiffness. Which condition is most likely?
A. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
B. Ischemic stroke
C. Epidural hematoma
D. Transient ischemic attack
Answer: A
Rationale: A subarachnoid hemorrhage, often due to a ruptured aneurysm, typically
presents with a sudden, severe headache and signs of meningeal irritation.
,3. In the Gate Control Theory of pain, which fibers are responsible for ‘closing’
the gate to inhibit pain transmission?
A. C fibers
B. A-delta fibers
C. A-beta fibers
D. Beta-endorphins
Answer: C
Rationale: Large-diameter A-beta fibers carry non-nociceptive stimuli and can inhibit the
transmission of pain signals through the spinal gate.
4. Which type of cerebral edema is caused by the breakdown of the blood-brain
barrier after a stroke or tumor?
A. Cytotoxic edema
B. Vasogenic edema
C. Interstitial edema
D. Osmotic edema
Answer: B
Rationale: Vasogenic edema is the most common form and results from increased
permeability of the capillary endothelium after injury to the blood-brain barrier.
5. What is the hallmark clinical manifestation of Alzheimer’s disease
pathophysiology regarding proteins?
A. Dopaminergic depletion
B. Demyelination of central axons
C. Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
D. Prion protein accumulation
Answer: C
Rationale: Alzheimer’s is characterized by the accumulation of extracellular amyloid-beta
plaques and intracellular tau protein neurofibrillary tangles.
, 6. A patient with a T6 spinal cord injury develops a sudden BP of 200/110,
bradycardia, and a severe headache. What is the priority concern?
A. Spinal shock
B. Neurogenic shock
C. Autonomic dysreflexia
D. Cerebral concussion
Answer: C
Rationale: Autonomic dysreflexia is a life-threatening emergency in patients with spinal
injuries at T6 or above, triggered by noxious stimuli below the lesion.
7. Multiple Sclerosis is characterized by which of the following?
A. Loss of lower motor neurons in the spinal cord
B. Depletion of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction
C. Excessive production of cerebrospinal fluid
D. Demyelination of the central nervous system axons
Answer: D
Rationale: MS is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the myelin
sheath of neurons in the brain and spinal cord.
8. Which phase of a seizure is characterized by a state of muscle contraction
with excessive muscle tone?
A. Clonic phase
B. Tonic phase
C. Postictal phase
D. Aura phase
Answer: B
Rationale: The tonic phase is the period of rigid muscle contraction; the clonic phase
involves alternating contraction and relaxation.
