NURS 6501 Final Exam Review Guide
NURS 6501 Final Exam Review Guide
(Weeks 7-11)
• Structure and Function of the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems
• Pathophysiological changes related to Pain, Temperature Regulation, Sleep,
and Sensory Function
• How does patient characteristics such as racial and ethnic variables impact
altered physiology?
• How does the pathophysiology of spinal injuries impact patients?
• What is the impact of patient characteristics on disorders and altered
physiology.
Common Neurological and MS disorders and the pathophysiological nature of
these issues in adults and children:
Concepts of Neurological and Musculoskeletal Disorders
Stroke
• Cerebrovascular disease is the most frequently occurring neurologic
disorder. Any abnormality of the blood vessels of the brain is referred to as
cerebrovascular disease includes vessel wall abnormalities and vascular
malformations, thrombotic or embolic occlusion, and increased blood
viscosity or clotting.
• Cerebrovascular disease causes
o ischemia with or without infarction and hemorrhage.
o The common clinical manifestation is a cerebrovascular accident
(CVA) or stroke syndrome.
o Hypertension is the greatest risk factor followed by other
preventable risks.
• CVAs are classified according to the pathophysiology and include
ischemic (thrombotic, embolic, and hypoperfusion), lacunar (small vessel
disease), and hemorrhagic strokes.
• Ischemic strokes result from interruption in brain-blood flow with a core
of irreversible ischemia and necrosis or infarction that appears pale (white
infarct).
o The zone around the infarction has reversible ischemia, is called
the ischemic penumbra, and can regain neurologic function,
particularly with thrombolytic treatment.
o Leaking blood vessels can develop in the infarcted area, resulting
in a hemorrhagic transformation (a red infarct) that can be
exacerbated by thrombolytic therapy.
o Reperfusion injury can occur with ischemic stroke.
• Intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke is primarily associated with vessel
,NURS 6501 Final Exam Review Guide
disease related to hypertension.
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage is associated with ruptured aneurysms,
arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), or cavernous angioma.
, NURS 6501 Final Exam Review Guide
o Subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding into the subarachnoid space
commonly associated with intracranial aneurysms, AVM, and
hypertension. The expanding hematoma increases ICP,
compresses brain tissue, reduces cerebral perfusion, disrupts the
bloodbrain barrier, and causes inflammation and neuronal death.
Secondary brain injury follows. Seizures and hydrocephalus can
accompany neurologic deficits.
Multiple sclerosis
• MS is a chronic inflammatory disease involving degeneration of CNS
myelin in genetically susceptible individuals.
• The cause is unknown and autoreactive T and B cells recognize myelin
autoantigens and produce myelin-specific antibodies triggering
inflammatory demyelination with loss of oligodendrocytes and plaque
formation leading to disruption of nerve conduction.
• The clinical manifestations of MS involve different types: relapsing-
remitting, primary progressive, secondary progressive, and progressive-
relapsing.
Transient Ischemic Attack
• A transient ischemic attack is a transient episode of neurologic dysfunction
resulting from focal cerebral ischemia with risk for progressing to stroke.
Myasthenia gravis
• Myasthenia gravis results from a defect in nerve impulse transmission at
the neuromuscular junction with generalized, ocular, or neonatal subtypes.
Autoantibodies, complement deposits, and membrane attack complex
destroy the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) sites, causing decreased
transmission of nerve impulses, leading to muscle weakness, including
ocular and systemic muscles. There can be childhood and adult onset.
Headache
• Migraine is an episodic disorder whose marker is headache lasting 4 to
72 hours.
o Migraine is classified as a headache with and without aura and
chronic migraine (migraines 15 days in a month for more than 3
months).
o Migraine may be precipitated by a triggering event.
o The aura is associated with cortical spreading depression, which
initiates the release of neurotransmitters, particularly CGRP, that
stimulate vasodilation in the trigeminal vascular system,
inflammation, and sensitization of pain receptors. Glutamate is
increased and serotonin is decreased.
• Cluster headaches (trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia) occur in
episodes several times during a day for a period of days at different times
of the year, primarily in men.
NURS 6501 Final Exam Review Guide
(Weeks 7-11)
• Structure and Function of the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems
• Pathophysiological changes related to Pain, Temperature Regulation, Sleep,
and Sensory Function
• How does patient characteristics such as racial and ethnic variables impact
altered physiology?
• How does the pathophysiology of spinal injuries impact patients?
• What is the impact of patient characteristics on disorders and altered
physiology.
Common Neurological and MS disorders and the pathophysiological nature of
these issues in adults and children:
Concepts of Neurological and Musculoskeletal Disorders
Stroke
• Cerebrovascular disease is the most frequently occurring neurologic
disorder. Any abnormality of the blood vessels of the brain is referred to as
cerebrovascular disease includes vessel wall abnormalities and vascular
malformations, thrombotic or embolic occlusion, and increased blood
viscosity or clotting.
• Cerebrovascular disease causes
o ischemia with or without infarction and hemorrhage.
o The common clinical manifestation is a cerebrovascular accident
(CVA) or stroke syndrome.
o Hypertension is the greatest risk factor followed by other
preventable risks.
• CVAs are classified according to the pathophysiology and include
ischemic (thrombotic, embolic, and hypoperfusion), lacunar (small vessel
disease), and hemorrhagic strokes.
• Ischemic strokes result from interruption in brain-blood flow with a core
of irreversible ischemia and necrosis or infarction that appears pale (white
infarct).
o The zone around the infarction has reversible ischemia, is called
the ischemic penumbra, and can regain neurologic function,
particularly with thrombolytic treatment.
o Leaking blood vessels can develop in the infarcted area, resulting
in a hemorrhagic transformation (a red infarct) that can be
exacerbated by thrombolytic therapy.
o Reperfusion injury can occur with ischemic stroke.
• Intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke is primarily associated with vessel
,NURS 6501 Final Exam Review Guide
disease related to hypertension.
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage is associated with ruptured aneurysms,
arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), or cavernous angioma.
, NURS 6501 Final Exam Review Guide
o Subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding into the subarachnoid space
commonly associated with intracranial aneurysms, AVM, and
hypertension. The expanding hematoma increases ICP,
compresses brain tissue, reduces cerebral perfusion, disrupts the
bloodbrain barrier, and causes inflammation and neuronal death.
Secondary brain injury follows. Seizures and hydrocephalus can
accompany neurologic deficits.
Multiple sclerosis
• MS is a chronic inflammatory disease involving degeneration of CNS
myelin in genetically susceptible individuals.
• The cause is unknown and autoreactive T and B cells recognize myelin
autoantigens and produce myelin-specific antibodies triggering
inflammatory demyelination with loss of oligodendrocytes and plaque
formation leading to disruption of nerve conduction.
• The clinical manifestations of MS involve different types: relapsing-
remitting, primary progressive, secondary progressive, and progressive-
relapsing.
Transient Ischemic Attack
• A transient ischemic attack is a transient episode of neurologic dysfunction
resulting from focal cerebral ischemia with risk for progressing to stroke.
Myasthenia gravis
• Myasthenia gravis results from a defect in nerve impulse transmission at
the neuromuscular junction with generalized, ocular, or neonatal subtypes.
Autoantibodies, complement deposits, and membrane attack complex
destroy the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) sites, causing decreased
transmission of nerve impulses, leading to muscle weakness, including
ocular and systemic muscles. There can be childhood and adult onset.
Headache
• Migraine is an episodic disorder whose marker is headache lasting 4 to
72 hours.
o Migraine is classified as a headache with and without aura and
chronic migraine (migraines 15 days in a month for more than 3
months).
o Migraine may be precipitated by a triggering event.
o The aura is associated with cortical spreading depression, which
initiates the release of neurotransmitters, particularly CGRP, that
stimulate vasodilation in the trigeminal vascular system,
inflammation, and sensitization of pain receptors. Glutamate is
increased and serotonin is decreased.
• Cluster headaches (trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia) occur in
episodes several times during a day for a period of days at different times
of the year, primarily in men.
