NR 507 Week 7: CNS Disorders and Management Exam 2026
|Chamberlain College
1. A patient experiences a brief episode of neurological dysfunction caused by
focal brain ischemia without permanent infarction. This is best described as:
A. Ischemic stroke
B. Reversible ischemic neurological deficit
C. Hemorrhagic stroke
D. Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
Answer: D
Rationale: A TIA is a temporary block of blood flow to the brain where symptoms resolve
within 24 hours without evidence of permanent damage on imaging.
2. Which area of the brain is likely affected if a patient presents with expressive
aphasia (difficulty producing speech)?
A. Broca’s area
B. Occipital lobe
C. Wernicke’s area
D. Basal ganglia
Answer: A
Rationale: Broca’s area, located in the frontal lobe, is responsible for motor speech
production. Wernicke’s area is involved in speech comprehension.
,3. In the context of an ischemic stroke, what is the ‘penumbra’?
A. The core area of dead tissue
B. The zone of hypoperfused tissue surrounding the infarct that is potentially salvageable
C. The area of bleeding in the brain
D. The primary site of arterial rupture
Answer: B
Rationale: The penumbra is the ischemic tissue that has not yet infarcted and can be saved
if perfusion is restored quickly.
4. What is the most common cause of a subarachnoid hemorrhage?
A. Hypertension
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. Ruptured cerebral aneurysm
D. Venous thrombosis
Answer: C
Rationale: A subarachnoid hemorrhage most often occurs when an aneurysm on the
surface of the brain ruptures, releasing blood into the subarachnoid space.
5. A patient presents with a ‘thunderclap’ headache, often described as the
‘worst headache of my life.’ This is a classic symptom of:
A. Migraine
B. Cluster headache
C. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
D. Bacterial meningitis
Answer: C
Rationale: Sudden, severe ‘thunderclap’ headaches are hallmark clinical presentations of a
subarachnoid hemorrhage.
, 6. Epidural hematomas are most commonly associated with damage to which
vessel?
A. Basilar artery
B. Bridging veins
C. Middle meningeal artery
D. Circle of Willis
Answer: C
Rationale: Epidural hematomas usually result from arterial bleeding, most commonly the
middle meningeal artery, often following a temporal bone fracture.
7. Which type of intracranial hemorrhage is characterized by a ‘lucid interval’
followed by rapid deterioration?
A. Epidural hematoma
B. Intracerebral hemorrhage
C. Subdural hematoma
D. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Answer: A
Rationale: An epidural hematoma often presents with a brief loss of consciousness, a
period of alertness (lucid interval), and then rapid neurological decline as the hematoma
expands.
8. Subdural hematomas typically involve bleeding from:
A. Arterial ruptures
B. Capillary beds
C. Bridging veins
D. The dural sinus only
Answer: C
Rationale: Subdural hematomas usually occur when bridging veins between the dura and
the arachnoid membrane are torn, often from shearing forces.
|Chamberlain College
1. A patient experiences a brief episode of neurological dysfunction caused by
focal brain ischemia without permanent infarction. This is best described as:
A. Ischemic stroke
B. Reversible ischemic neurological deficit
C. Hemorrhagic stroke
D. Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
Answer: D
Rationale: A TIA is a temporary block of blood flow to the brain where symptoms resolve
within 24 hours without evidence of permanent damage on imaging.
2. Which area of the brain is likely affected if a patient presents with expressive
aphasia (difficulty producing speech)?
A. Broca’s area
B. Occipital lobe
C. Wernicke’s area
D. Basal ganglia
Answer: A
Rationale: Broca’s area, located in the frontal lobe, is responsible for motor speech
production. Wernicke’s area is involved in speech comprehension.
,3. In the context of an ischemic stroke, what is the ‘penumbra’?
A. The core area of dead tissue
B. The zone of hypoperfused tissue surrounding the infarct that is potentially salvageable
C. The area of bleeding in the brain
D. The primary site of arterial rupture
Answer: B
Rationale: The penumbra is the ischemic tissue that has not yet infarcted and can be saved
if perfusion is restored quickly.
4. What is the most common cause of a subarachnoid hemorrhage?
A. Hypertension
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. Ruptured cerebral aneurysm
D. Venous thrombosis
Answer: C
Rationale: A subarachnoid hemorrhage most often occurs when an aneurysm on the
surface of the brain ruptures, releasing blood into the subarachnoid space.
5. A patient presents with a ‘thunderclap’ headache, often described as the
‘worst headache of my life.’ This is a classic symptom of:
A. Migraine
B. Cluster headache
C. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
D. Bacterial meningitis
Answer: C
Rationale: Sudden, severe ‘thunderclap’ headaches are hallmark clinical presentations of a
subarachnoid hemorrhage.
, 6. Epidural hematomas are most commonly associated with damage to which
vessel?
A. Basilar artery
B. Bridging veins
C. Middle meningeal artery
D. Circle of Willis
Answer: C
Rationale: Epidural hematomas usually result from arterial bleeding, most commonly the
middle meningeal artery, often following a temporal bone fracture.
7. Which type of intracranial hemorrhage is characterized by a ‘lucid interval’
followed by rapid deterioration?
A. Epidural hematoma
B. Intracerebral hemorrhage
C. Subdural hematoma
D. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Answer: A
Rationale: An epidural hematoma often presents with a brief loss of consciousness, a
period of alertness (lucid interval), and then rapid neurological decline as the hematoma
expands.
8. Subdural hematomas typically involve bleeding from:
A. Arterial ruptures
B. Capillary beds
C. Bridging veins
D. The dural sinus only
Answer: C
Rationale: Subdural hematomas usually occur when bridging veins between the dura and
the arachnoid membrane are torn, often from shearing forces.
