OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 26: Nervous System Infections
Chapter 26: Nervous System Infections
* = Correct answer
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is the innermost membrane surrounding the brain?
A. arachnoid mater
B. dura mater
C. pia mater*
D. ventricle mater
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
2. Which term describes tingling or numbness in peripheral nerves?
A. neuralgia
B. neurological deficit
C. neuropathy*
D. neurotaxis
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
3. Which part of a neuron releases neurotransmitters?
A. the dendrites
B. the myelin sheath
C. the synapse
D. the synaptic terminals*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
4. Which of the following terms describes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the
brain?
A. cephalic tetanus
B. encephalitis
C. meningitis*
D. neuritis
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
5. Before enrolling in college, students are encouraged to undergo vaccination for which of the
following diseases?
A. botulism
B. candidiasis
Page 1 of 17
,OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 26: Nervous System Infections
C. listeriosis
D. meningococcal meningitis*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
6. Hansen’s disease is more commonly known as which of the following?
A. leprosy*
B. pneumococcal meningitis
C. poliomyelitis
D. tetanus
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
7. Which of the following is an example of a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy?
A. chronic wasting disease*
B. St. Louis encephalitis
C. tetanus
D. Zika virus
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
8. Which term describes a nervous system infection caused by a fungus?
A. bacillary infection
B. dermatomycosis
C. neuromycosis*
D. transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
9. Human African trypanosomiasis is transmitted by which of the following?
A. contaminated water
B. mosquitoes
C. ticks
D. tsetse flies*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
10. Schwann cells serve a function similar to that of oligodendrites, but, unlike oligodendrites,
they are located in which part of the nervous system?
A. brain
B. central nervous system
Page 2 of 17
, OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 26: Nervous System Infections
C. peripheral nervous system*
D. spinal cord
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: N/A
11. Which of the following describes the difference between a glial cell and a neuron?
A. Neurons are white matter and glial cells are gray matter.
B. Neurons conduct impulses and glial cells have supportive roles.*
C. Only neurons are technically nervous tissue.
D. Only neurons can contribute to myelination.
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: N/A
12. A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) reveals the presence of leukocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid.
This finding most likely indicates which of the following?
A. an adverse medication reaction
B. head trauma
C. infectious meningitis or encephalitis*
D. leukemia
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23
13. Which of the following is not a common cause of bacterial meningitis?
A. Haemophilus influenzae
B. Neisseria meningitidis
C. Staphylococcus aureus*
D. Streptococcus pneumoniae
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23
14. Which fungal pathogen causes brain abscesses, rather than meningitis?
A. Aspergillus fumigatus
B. Candida albicans
C. Coccidioides immitis
D. Rhizopus arrhizus*
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23
15. Which of the following is the most common outcome of Cryptococcus neoformans infection?
A. granuloma formation
B. meningitis
Page 3 of 17
Chapter 26: Nervous System Infections
Chapter 26: Nervous System Infections
* = Correct answer
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is the innermost membrane surrounding the brain?
A. arachnoid mater
B. dura mater
C. pia mater*
D. ventricle mater
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
2. Which term describes tingling or numbness in peripheral nerves?
A. neuralgia
B. neurological deficit
C. neuropathy*
D. neurotaxis
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
3. Which part of a neuron releases neurotransmitters?
A. the dendrites
B. the myelin sheath
C. the synapse
D. the synaptic terminals*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
4. Which of the following terms describes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the
brain?
A. cephalic tetanus
B. encephalitis
C. meningitis*
D. neuritis
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
5. Before enrolling in college, students are encouraged to undergo vaccination for which of the
following diseases?
A. botulism
B. candidiasis
Page 1 of 17
,OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 26: Nervous System Infections
C. listeriosis
D. meningococcal meningitis*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
6. Hansen’s disease is more commonly known as which of the following?
A. leprosy*
B. pneumococcal meningitis
C. poliomyelitis
D. tetanus
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
7. Which of the following is an example of a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy?
A. chronic wasting disease*
B. St. Louis encephalitis
C. tetanus
D. Zika virus
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
8. Which term describes a nervous system infection caused by a fungus?
A. bacillary infection
B. dermatomycosis
C. neuromycosis*
D. transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
9. Human African trypanosomiasis is transmitted by which of the following?
A. contaminated water
B. mosquitoes
C. ticks
D. tsetse flies*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
10. Schwann cells serve a function similar to that of oligodendrites, but, unlike oligodendrites,
they are located in which part of the nervous system?
A. brain
B. central nervous system
Page 2 of 17
, OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 26: Nervous System Infections
C. peripheral nervous system*
D. spinal cord
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: N/A
11. Which of the following describes the difference between a glial cell and a neuron?
A. Neurons are white matter and glial cells are gray matter.
B. Neurons conduct impulses and glial cells have supportive roles.*
C. Only neurons are technically nervous tissue.
D. Only neurons can contribute to myelination.
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: N/A
12. A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) reveals the presence of leukocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid.
This finding most likely indicates which of the following?
A. an adverse medication reaction
B. head trauma
C. infectious meningitis or encephalitis*
D. leukemia
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23
13. Which of the following is not a common cause of bacterial meningitis?
A. Haemophilus influenzae
B. Neisseria meningitidis
C. Staphylococcus aureus*
D. Streptococcus pneumoniae
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23
14. Which fungal pathogen causes brain abscesses, rather than meningitis?
A. Aspergillus fumigatus
B. Candida albicans
C. Coccidioides immitis
D. Rhizopus arrhizus*
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23
15. Which of the following is the most common outcome of Cryptococcus neoformans infection?
A. granuloma formation
B. meningitis
Page 3 of 17
