NR 507 Week 8 Edapt – CNS Brain Disorders, Convulsions, Headaches
& Cranial Nerves Exam 2026 |Chamberlain College
1. Which cranial nerve is responsible for the motor control of the muscles of
facial expression?
A. Trigeminal (CN V)
B. Facial (CN VII)
C. Glossopharyngeal (CN IX)
D. Abducens (CN VI)
Answer: B
Rationale: The Facial nerve (CN VII) provides motor innervation to the muscles of facial
expression, while the Trigeminal nerve (CN V) provides sensory innervation to the face and
motor control for mastication.
2. A patient presents with a ‘thunderclap’ headache, often described as the
‘worst headache of my life.’ This is most characteristic of:
A. Migraine with aura
B. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
C. Cluster headache
D. Tension-type headache
Answer: B
Rationale: A sudden, severe ‘thunderclap’ headache is a classic presentation of a
subarachnoid hemorrhage, often due to a ruptured aneurysm.
,3. Which type of seizure is characterized by a brief loss of consciousness, often
appearing as a ‘staring spell’ in children?
A. Tonic-clonic seizure
B. Myoclonic seizure
C. Absence seizure
D. Atonic seizure
Answer: C
Rationale: Absence seizures involve brief lapses in consciousness without loss of posture,
commonly seen in children and often mistaken for daydreaming.
4. Cushing’s triad, a sign of increased intracranial pressure (ICP), consists of:
A. Bradycardia, hypertension with widening pulse pressure, and irregular respirations
B. Tachycardia, hypertension, and tachypnea
C. Bradycardia, hypotension, and Cheyne-Stokes breathing
D. Tachycardia, hypotension, and bradypnea
Answer: A
Rationale: Cushing’s triad is a late sign of increased ICP and includes bradycardia,
hypertension (specifically a widening pulse pressure), and irregular respiratory patterns.
5. Which cranial nerve is tested by asking the patient to shrug their shoulders
against resistance?
A. Vagus (CN X)
B. Hypoglossal (CN XII)
C. Glossopharyngeal (CN IX)
D. Accessory (CN XI)
Answer: D
Rationale: The Accessory nerve (CN XI) innervates the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid
muscles; shrugging tests the trapezius.
, 6. The primary pathophysiology of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) involves:
A. Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra
B. Ischemic necrosis of cortical tissue
C. Destruction of the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction
D. Autoimmune-mediated demyelination of the central nervous system
Answer: D
Rationale: Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks
the myelin sheath of neurons specifically in the central nervous system (CNS).
7. A patient reports unilateral, severe periorbital pain that occurs daily for
several weeks, accompanied by ptosis and rhinorrhea. This is most likely:
A. A migraine
B. A tension headache
C. Trigeminal neuralgia
D. A cluster headache
Answer: D
Rationale: Cluster headaches are characterized by severe unilateral orbital/temporal pain
and autonomic symptoms like rhinorrhea or ptosis, occurring in ‘clusters’ of time.
8. Which neurotransmitter deficiency is primarily associated with Parkinson’s
disease?
A. Dopamine
B. Acetylcholine
C. Serotonin
D. GABA
Answer: A
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease is caused by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the
substantia nigra of the basal ganglia.
& Cranial Nerves Exam 2026 |Chamberlain College
1. Which cranial nerve is responsible for the motor control of the muscles of
facial expression?
A. Trigeminal (CN V)
B. Facial (CN VII)
C. Glossopharyngeal (CN IX)
D. Abducens (CN VI)
Answer: B
Rationale: The Facial nerve (CN VII) provides motor innervation to the muscles of facial
expression, while the Trigeminal nerve (CN V) provides sensory innervation to the face and
motor control for mastication.
2. A patient presents with a ‘thunderclap’ headache, often described as the
‘worst headache of my life.’ This is most characteristic of:
A. Migraine with aura
B. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
C. Cluster headache
D. Tension-type headache
Answer: B
Rationale: A sudden, severe ‘thunderclap’ headache is a classic presentation of a
subarachnoid hemorrhage, often due to a ruptured aneurysm.
,3. Which type of seizure is characterized by a brief loss of consciousness, often
appearing as a ‘staring spell’ in children?
A. Tonic-clonic seizure
B. Myoclonic seizure
C. Absence seizure
D. Atonic seizure
Answer: C
Rationale: Absence seizures involve brief lapses in consciousness without loss of posture,
commonly seen in children and often mistaken for daydreaming.
4. Cushing’s triad, a sign of increased intracranial pressure (ICP), consists of:
A. Bradycardia, hypertension with widening pulse pressure, and irregular respirations
B. Tachycardia, hypertension, and tachypnea
C. Bradycardia, hypotension, and Cheyne-Stokes breathing
D. Tachycardia, hypotension, and bradypnea
Answer: A
Rationale: Cushing’s triad is a late sign of increased ICP and includes bradycardia,
hypertension (specifically a widening pulse pressure), and irregular respiratory patterns.
5. Which cranial nerve is tested by asking the patient to shrug their shoulders
against resistance?
A. Vagus (CN X)
B. Hypoglossal (CN XII)
C. Glossopharyngeal (CN IX)
D. Accessory (CN XI)
Answer: D
Rationale: The Accessory nerve (CN XI) innervates the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid
muscles; shrugging tests the trapezius.
, 6. The primary pathophysiology of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) involves:
A. Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra
B. Ischemic necrosis of cortical tissue
C. Destruction of the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction
D. Autoimmune-mediated demyelination of the central nervous system
Answer: D
Rationale: Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks
the myelin sheath of neurons specifically in the central nervous system (CNS).
7. A patient reports unilateral, severe periorbital pain that occurs daily for
several weeks, accompanied by ptosis and rhinorrhea. This is most likely:
A. A migraine
B. A tension headache
C. Trigeminal neuralgia
D. A cluster headache
Answer: D
Rationale: Cluster headaches are characterized by severe unilateral orbital/temporal pain
and autonomic symptoms like rhinorrhea or ptosis, occurring in ‘clusters’ of time.
8. Which neurotransmitter deficiency is primarily associated with Parkinson’s
disease?
A. Dopamine
B. Acetylcholine
C. Serotonin
D. GABA
Answer: A
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease is caused by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the
substantia nigra of the basal ganglia.
