NSG 3280 - Exam 3 (Neuro) Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) 2026
What happens to nerve tissue during ischemia? - CORRECT ANSWER -Nerve tissue struggles
with anaerobic metabolism and is very sensitive to decreased oxygen.
What is ischemia? - CORRECT ANSWER -Cell death.
What is hypoxia? - CORRECT ANSWER -Decreased oxygen leading to mitochondrial failure
and cell damage.
What is the main CNS neurotransmitter? - CORRECT ANSWER -Glutamate.
What effect does ischemia have on glutamate? - CORRECT ANSWER -Ischemia increases
glutamate release.
What are the effects of too much glutamate? - CORRECT ANSWER -Increased calcium and
water enter the cell, causing calcium overload and cytotoxic edema.
What does excessive glutamate production lead to? - CORRECT ANSWER -Increased
production of nitrous oxide, free radical formation, and cell death.
What is the normal range for intracranial pressure (ICP)? - CORRECT ANSWER -0-15 mmHg
At what ICP level does brain impairment occur? - CORRECT ANSWER -> 22 mmHg for > 5
minutes
,What are the three main components of the cranial cavity according to the Monroe-Kellie
doctrine? - CORRECT ANSWER -Brain, Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF), Blood
What is intracranial compliance? - CORRECT ANSWER -The ability of the cranial components
to adjust to changes in volume to minimize impact on ICP.
Name an everyday activity that can cause slight changes in ICP. - CORRECT ANSWER -
Sneeze, cough, bending, laugh
What is interstitial edema? - CORRECT ANSWER -Swelling caused by fluid, electrolytes, and
proteins forced into the intercellular space due to vessel damage or increased pressure.
What causes intracellular edema? - CORRECT ANSWER -Global ischemia leading to cellular
energy failure and Na+ accumulation, attracting water into the cell.
What is the most sensitive clinical manifestation of increased ICP? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Change in level of consciousness (LOC), often increased drowsiness.
What are common symptoms of increased ICP? - CORRECT ANSWER -Headache,
nausea/vomiting, blurred vision, slow pupillary response.
What is Cushing's Triad? - CORRECT ANSWER -A late sign of increased ICP characterized by
↑BP, ↓HR, and respiratory changes.
What does a decrease in the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score indicate? - CORRECT ANSWER
-A potential decrease in consciousness or brain function.
What is the maximum score for eye opening on the Glasgow Coma Scale? - CORRECT
ANSWER -4 for spontaneous eye opening.
,What is the maximum score for verbal response on the Glasgow Coma Scale? - CORRECT
ANSWER -5 for oriented verbal response.
What is the maximum score for motor response on the Glasgow Coma Scale? - CORRECT
ANSWER -6 for following commands.
What does decreased pupil response indicate? - CORRECT ANSWER -Increased intracranial
pressure (ICP).
What is the normal response in the Doll's Eyes Test? - CORRECT ANSWER -Eyes move in the
opposite direction of head movement.
What does an absent response in the Cold Calorics test indicate? - CORRECT ANSWER -No
eye movement, suggesting potential brain dysfunction.
What is the normal response of the corneal reflex? - CORRECT ANSWER -Blinking when a
cotton swab touches the cornea.
What does fixed and dilated pupils indicate? - CORRECT ANSWER -Poor brain perfusion.
What does small (pinpoint) pupils suggest? - CORRECT ANSWER -Possible pons issue or drug
effects.
Focal (Coup) - CORRECT ANSWER -Injury localized to the site of impact
Polar (Coup-countercoup) - CORRECT ANSWER -Injury at site of impact and on opposite side
of the brain (due to brain's forward-backward movement within the skull)
Diffuse - CORRECT ANSWER -Widespread damage of the brain
, Multiple movements of brain within the skull - CORRECT ANSWER -Results in shifting and
rotational forces causes stretching and shearing of white matter
Primary vs secondary injury - CORRECT ANSWER -Primary - original injury; Secondary -
complications that form due to the bodies response to the primary injury
Examples of secondary injury - CORRECT ANSWER -Cerebral edema, vessel rebleed or spasm,
CSF blockage, seizures
Epidural Hematoma - CORRECT ANSWER -Location: between inner skull and dura mater
Subdural Hematoma - CORRECT ANSWER -Location: between dura and outer arachnoid
membrane
Subarachnoid hemorrhage - CORRECT ANSWER -Location: Between outer arachnoid
membrane and pia mater
Thrombotic Stroke - CORRECT ANSWER -Clot forms at the site of atherosclerotic plaque.
Embolic Stroke - CORRECT ANSWER -Clot or plaque travels to the brain.
Irreversible Damage - CORRECT ANSWER -Begins after just several minutes.
Symptoms Onset - CORRECT ANSWER -Start to show after about 1 minute.
Infarction and Necrosis - CORRECT ANSWER -Happen after a few hours.
Penumbra - CORRECT ANSWER -Area around necrosis that's still viable due to collateral
circulation.
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) 2026
What happens to nerve tissue during ischemia? - CORRECT ANSWER -Nerve tissue struggles
with anaerobic metabolism and is very sensitive to decreased oxygen.
What is ischemia? - CORRECT ANSWER -Cell death.
What is hypoxia? - CORRECT ANSWER -Decreased oxygen leading to mitochondrial failure
and cell damage.
What is the main CNS neurotransmitter? - CORRECT ANSWER -Glutamate.
What effect does ischemia have on glutamate? - CORRECT ANSWER -Ischemia increases
glutamate release.
What are the effects of too much glutamate? - CORRECT ANSWER -Increased calcium and
water enter the cell, causing calcium overload and cytotoxic edema.
What does excessive glutamate production lead to? - CORRECT ANSWER -Increased
production of nitrous oxide, free radical formation, and cell death.
What is the normal range for intracranial pressure (ICP)? - CORRECT ANSWER -0-15 mmHg
At what ICP level does brain impairment occur? - CORRECT ANSWER -> 22 mmHg for > 5
minutes
,What are the three main components of the cranial cavity according to the Monroe-Kellie
doctrine? - CORRECT ANSWER -Brain, Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF), Blood
What is intracranial compliance? - CORRECT ANSWER -The ability of the cranial components
to adjust to changes in volume to minimize impact on ICP.
Name an everyday activity that can cause slight changes in ICP. - CORRECT ANSWER -
Sneeze, cough, bending, laugh
What is interstitial edema? - CORRECT ANSWER -Swelling caused by fluid, electrolytes, and
proteins forced into the intercellular space due to vessel damage or increased pressure.
What causes intracellular edema? - CORRECT ANSWER -Global ischemia leading to cellular
energy failure and Na+ accumulation, attracting water into the cell.
What is the most sensitive clinical manifestation of increased ICP? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Change in level of consciousness (LOC), often increased drowsiness.
What are common symptoms of increased ICP? - CORRECT ANSWER -Headache,
nausea/vomiting, blurred vision, slow pupillary response.
What is Cushing's Triad? - CORRECT ANSWER -A late sign of increased ICP characterized by
↑BP, ↓HR, and respiratory changes.
What does a decrease in the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score indicate? - CORRECT ANSWER
-A potential decrease in consciousness or brain function.
What is the maximum score for eye opening on the Glasgow Coma Scale? - CORRECT
ANSWER -4 for spontaneous eye opening.
,What is the maximum score for verbal response on the Glasgow Coma Scale? - CORRECT
ANSWER -5 for oriented verbal response.
What is the maximum score for motor response on the Glasgow Coma Scale? - CORRECT
ANSWER -6 for following commands.
What does decreased pupil response indicate? - CORRECT ANSWER -Increased intracranial
pressure (ICP).
What is the normal response in the Doll's Eyes Test? - CORRECT ANSWER -Eyes move in the
opposite direction of head movement.
What does an absent response in the Cold Calorics test indicate? - CORRECT ANSWER -No
eye movement, suggesting potential brain dysfunction.
What is the normal response of the corneal reflex? - CORRECT ANSWER -Blinking when a
cotton swab touches the cornea.
What does fixed and dilated pupils indicate? - CORRECT ANSWER -Poor brain perfusion.
What does small (pinpoint) pupils suggest? - CORRECT ANSWER -Possible pons issue or drug
effects.
Focal (Coup) - CORRECT ANSWER -Injury localized to the site of impact
Polar (Coup-countercoup) - CORRECT ANSWER -Injury at site of impact and on opposite side
of the brain (due to brain's forward-backward movement within the skull)
Diffuse - CORRECT ANSWER -Widespread damage of the brain
, Multiple movements of brain within the skull - CORRECT ANSWER -Results in shifting and
rotational forces causes stretching and shearing of white matter
Primary vs secondary injury - CORRECT ANSWER -Primary - original injury; Secondary -
complications that form due to the bodies response to the primary injury
Examples of secondary injury - CORRECT ANSWER -Cerebral edema, vessel rebleed or spasm,
CSF blockage, seizures
Epidural Hematoma - CORRECT ANSWER -Location: between inner skull and dura mater
Subdural Hematoma - CORRECT ANSWER -Location: between dura and outer arachnoid
membrane
Subarachnoid hemorrhage - CORRECT ANSWER -Location: Between outer arachnoid
membrane and pia mater
Thrombotic Stroke - CORRECT ANSWER -Clot forms at the site of atherosclerotic plaque.
Embolic Stroke - CORRECT ANSWER -Clot or plaque travels to the brain.
Irreversible Damage - CORRECT ANSWER -Begins after just several minutes.
Symptoms Onset - CORRECT ANSWER -Start to show after about 1 minute.
Infarction and Necrosis - CORRECT ANSWER -Happen after a few hours.
Penumbra - CORRECT ANSWER -Area around necrosis that's still viable due to collateral
circulation.
