1. Which of the following statements is TRUE about malignant brain tumors?
a. Most brain tumors arise from malignant neurons.
b. Primary brain tumors rarely metastasize outside the CNS.
c. The blood-brain barrier prevents secondary brain tumors.
d. Brainstem tumors do not manifest signs until they are quite large.
2. Which of the following dietary supplements has reduced the incidence of spina bifida in recent
years?
a. Vitamin B6
b. Folic acid
c. Vitamins A and D
d. Zinc and magnesium
3. With regard to meningitis, choose the correct combination of microbe and the age group
commonly affected.
a. E. coli: elderly
b. H. influenzae: neonate
c. N. meningitides: children and youth
d. S. pneumoniae: young children
4. Which statement is TRUE about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)?
a. Cognitive function remains normal.
b. ALS affects primarily young women.
c. Sensory neurons are damaged initially.
d. Cause of death is usually a cardiac arrhythmia.
5. What is an early indicator of increased intracranial pressure?
a. Papilledema
b. Bilateral fixed dilated pupils
c. Decreasing responsiveness
d. Rapid heart rate
6. Which of the following is used to confirm the diagnosis of, and classify, seizures?
a. Characteristics of the aura
b. Presence of precipitating factors
c. Electroencephalogram
d. Changes in the characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid
7. Which of the following statements applies to a lumbar puncture?
a. It is usually performed at L3-L4.
b. Fluid is withdrawn from the epidural space.
c. It can be used to confirm any diagnosis.
, d. The tissue seals up immediately after puncture.
8. What is the rationale for vomiting in a patient who has increased intracranial pressure?
a. Chemoreceptors responding to changes in the blood
b. Pressure extending to spinal nerves
c. Pressure on the emetic center in the medulla
d. Stimuli to the hypothalamic center for hunger and thirst
9. Communicating hydrocephalus causes increased intracranial pressure because of:
a. atresia at the foramen magnum.
b. failure of the subarachnoid to absorb CSF.
c. obstruction in the lumbar area of the spinal cord.
d. scar tissue from encephalitis blocking flow of CSF.
10. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is caused by:
a. inheritance of an autosomal dominant trait.
b. infection in the brain by HIV.
c. an autoimmune reaction that damages nerve receptors.
d. infection in the brain by a prion.
11. Which statement applies to Huntington’s disease?
a. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.
b. It is manifested in individuals by age 20 years.
c. It presents with choreiform movements in the upper body and decreased ability to
concentrate.
d. It causes decreased levels of all neurotransmitters in the CNS.
12. The rabies virus is usually transmitted by:
a. bites from infected animals.
b. respiratory droplets.
c. insects such as mosquitoes.
d. the fecal-oral route.
13. Which type of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) has the poorest prognosis?
a. CVA caused by thrombus
b. Hemorrhagic CVA
c. Embolic CVA
d. No difference among types
14. How is the presence of spina bifida diagnosed?
a. Prenatally by ultrasound or detection of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in maternal blood or amniotic
fluid
b. Only after birth by direct observation of the sac