VASCULAR ARDMS BOARDS DAVIES
ARDMS VASCULAR REVIEW 2026
ACTUAL EXAM SCRIPT COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS GRADE A+
◉ The vertebral artery usually arises from the: Answer: Subclavian
Artery
◉ The incidence of new strokes per year is: Answer: from 500,000 to
700,000
◉ The abbreviation TIA stands for: Answer: Transient Ischemic Attack
◉ A TIA of the right anterior hemisphere of the brain will likely affect:
Answer: The left side of the body - affects the side of the body opposite
that of the ischemic hemisphere
◉ Amaurosis Fugax related to an internal carotid lesion will cause:
Answer: Temporary blindness or shadowing of the ipsilateral eye.
affects same side since thromboembolic activity from ulcerated
ipsilateral carotid atheroma is suspected
◉ A transient ischemic attack: Answer: Resolves within 24 hours. TIA
often last just a few minutes
,◉ Simultaneous bilateral ocular symptoms in the patient with suspected
cerebrovascular disease generally originate form: Answer: The
vertebrobasilar arteries . usually originate in the posterior circulation , as
the visual cortex is in the occipital lobe. The specific binocular symptom
of homonymous hemianopia results from obstruction of a middle
cerebral artery branch, not the vertebrobasilar system
◉ What are symptoms when vertebrobasilar circulation is effected?
Answer: Vertigo, dizziness, ataxia, or other bilateral or global symptoms
.
◉ What are symptoms when anterior circulation is effected? Answer:
Facial Asymmetry, unilateral
◉ What accurately defines RIND also called stroke with recovery?
Answer: A neurologic ischemic deficit that resolves completely after 24
hours. Describes an intracranial ischemic event that does not resolve
within 24 hours but thereafter completely resolves.
◉ A 56- year old patient reports loss of vision in her left eye two days
ago, with total resolution in 10 minutes. Yesterday morning she
developed weakness and numbness in her right hand and was unable to
hold her coffee cup. This afternoon her hand strength is about 90%
normal, with normal sensation. Clinically she has: Answer: Stroke
because it has persisted longer than 24 hours and has not resolved
completely
,◉ The infraorbital artery is a terminal branch of the: Answer: Maxillary
Artery . It creates one of the potential anastomoses with orbital branches
that can provide collateral pathways in the even of carotid obstruction
◉ Amaurosis Fugax can be interpreted as a: Answer: Transient Ischemic
Attack of the eye.
◉ Dysphagia is : Answer: Difficulty swallowing. Symptom associated
with vertebrobasilar insufficiency.
◉ A binocular disturbance that disrupts vision in half the visual field of
both eyes is called: Answer: Homonymous Hemianopia
◉ Paresthesia refers to: Answer: tingling sensation
◉ A patient describes a 30-minute episode of garbled speech. This is
called: Answer: Dysphasia . Aphasia is widely used as well but
technically this is incorrect, since it means "absence of speech."
◉ A right-handed patient experiences a 30-minute episode of dysphasia.
Which area of circulation is suspect? Answer: Left hemisphere . The
speech area of the cortex is in the temporal lobe of the dominant
hemisphere
◉ What is true regarding subclavian steal? Answer: It is usually a
harmless hemodynamic phenomenon. It is caused by arterial obstruction
, proximal to the origin of the vertebral artery. This creates an abnormal
pressure gradient that pulls or "steals" flow from the vertebral artery to
perfuse the ipsilateral upper extremity.
◉ Subclavian steal occurs: Answer: more often on left side .
◉ A hemispheric stroke usually affects: Answer: The middle cerebral
artery distribution and the contralateral side of the body
◉ Stenosis of the following vessel presents the highest risk for a TIA:
Answer: Internal Carotid Artery
◉ The vertebral arteries branch from the subclavian arteries to unite and
form the: Answer: Basilar Artery . This system is called the
vertebrobasilar system and is responsible for the circulation to the
posterior portion of the brain .
◉ A decreased pulse at mid neck is suggestive of: Answer: Common
Carotid stenosis if the contralateral pulse is normal. Sometimes the right
neck pulse can feel reduced because of the larger muscles overlying the
carotid. Occasionally the right neck feels stronger due to tortuosity of
the common carotid Artery.
◉ What is NOT true regarding carotid bruit? Answer: The absence of a
bruit rules out significant stenosis.
ARDMS VASCULAR REVIEW 2026
ACTUAL EXAM SCRIPT COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS GRADE A+
◉ The vertebral artery usually arises from the: Answer: Subclavian
Artery
◉ The incidence of new strokes per year is: Answer: from 500,000 to
700,000
◉ The abbreviation TIA stands for: Answer: Transient Ischemic Attack
◉ A TIA of the right anterior hemisphere of the brain will likely affect:
Answer: The left side of the body - affects the side of the body opposite
that of the ischemic hemisphere
◉ Amaurosis Fugax related to an internal carotid lesion will cause:
Answer: Temporary blindness or shadowing of the ipsilateral eye.
affects same side since thromboembolic activity from ulcerated
ipsilateral carotid atheroma is suspected
◉ A transient ischemic attack: Answer: Resolves within 24 hours. TIA
often last just a few minutes
,◉ Simultaneous bilateral ocular symptoms in the patient with suspected
cerebrovascular disease generally originate form: Answer: The
vertebrobasilar arteries . usually originate in the posterior circulation , as
the visual cortex is in the occipital lobe. The specific binocular symptom
of homonymous hemianopia results from obstruction of a middle
cerebral artery branch, not the vertebrobasilar system
◉ What are symptoms when vertebrobasilar circulation is effected?
Answer: Vertigo, dizziness, ataxia, or other bilateral or global symptoms
.
◉ What are symptoms when anterior circulation is effected? Answer:
Facial Asymmetry, unilateral
◉ What accurately defines RIND also called stroke with recovery?
Answer: A neurologic ischemic deficit that resolves completely after 24
hours. Describes an intracranial ischemic event that does not resolve
within 24 hours but thereafter completely resolves.
◉ A 56- year old patient reports loss of vision in her left eye two days
ago, with total resolution in 10 minutes. Yesterday morning she
developed weakness and numbness in her right hand and was unable to
hold her coffee cup. This afternoon her hand strength is about 90%
normal, with normal sensation. Clinically she has: Answer: Stroke
because it has persisted longer than 24 hours and has not resolved
completely
,◉ The infraorbital artery is a terminal branch of the: Answer: Maxillary
Artery . It creates one of the potential anastomoses with orbital branches
that can provide collateral pathways in the even of carotid obstruction
◉ Amaurosis Fugax can be interpreted as a: Answer: Transient Ischemic
Attack of the eye.
◉ Dysphagia is : Answer: Difficulty swallowing. Symptom associated
with vertebrobasilar insufficiency.
◉ A binocular disturbance that disrupts vision in half the visual field of
both eyes is called: Answer: Homonymous Hemianopia
◉ Paresthesia refers to: Answer: tingling sensation
◉ A patient describes a 30-minute episode of garbled speech. This is
called: Answer: Dysphasia . Aphasia is widely used as well but
technically this is incorrect, since it means "absence of speech."
◉ A right-handed patient experiences a 30-minute episode of dysphasia.
Which area of circulation is suspect? Answer: Left hemisphere . The
speech area of the cortex is in the temporal lobe of the dominant
hemisphere
◉ What is true regarding subclavian steal? Answer: It is usually a
harmless hemodynamic phenomenon. It is caused by arterial obstruction
, proximal to the origin of the vertebral artery. This creates an abnormal
pressure gradient that pulls or "steals" flow from the vertebral artery to
perfuse the ipsilateral upper extremity.
◉ Subclavian steal occurs: Answer: more often on left side .
◉ A hemispheric stroke usually affects: Answer: The middle cerebral
artery distribution and the contralateral side of the body
◉ Stenosis of the following vessel presents the highest risk for a TIA:
Answer: Internal Carotid Artery
◉ The vertebral arteries branch from the subclavian arteries to unite and
form the: Answer: Basilar Artery . This system is called the
vertebrobasilar system and is responsible for the circulation to the
posterior portion of the brain .
◉ A decreased pulse at mid neck is suggestive of: Answer: Common
Carotid stenosis if the contralateral pulse is normal. Sometimes the right
neck pulse can feel reduced because of the larger muscles overlying the
carotid. Occasionally the right neck feels stronger due to tortuosity of
the common carotid Artery.
◉ What is NOT true regarding carotid bruit? Answer: The absence of a
bruit rules out significant stenosis.
