HCB NEUROLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+
Bell's palsy
temporary acute paralysis or weakness of one side of the face
clonic/clonus
rapid succession of alternating contractions and partial relaxations of a muscle
occurring in some nervous system diseases
decerebrate posturing
rigid extension of all four extremities with hyperpronation of forearms and plantar flexion
of the feet
decorticate posturing
posturing manifested by the obtunded patient pulling arms and hands medially toward
the center of the body in response to harmful stimuli
dermatome
the lateral wall of a somite from which the dermis is produced
encephalitis
acute inflammation of the brain and spinal cord involving the meninges, often due to a
virus
Epilepsy
chronic disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures secondary to any
underlying brain abnormality
hemiparesis
muscular weakness or partial paralysis restricted to one side of the body
hemiplegia
total or partial paralysis of one side of the body that results from disease of or injury to
the motor centers of the brain
intracranial pressure
pressure that occurs inside the skull, usually between 5 and 15 mmHg, contained within
the brain tissue and CSF
,glasgow coma scale
a clinical assessment tool used to evaluate a patient's level of consciousness. Verbal
response, eye opening, and best motor response are the three criteria tested, and are
based on a best possible score of 15
Guillain-barre syndrome
post infectious disorder following a nonspecific gastrointestinal or respiratory infection
that causes an acute neuromuscular paralysis
lethargy
the quality or state of being lazy, sluggish, or different; abnormal drowsiness
meninges
any of the three membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord and include the
arachnoid, dura mater, and Pia mater
meningitis
a disease marked by the inflammation of the meninges that is either a relatively mild
illness causes by a virus, or a more severe life-threatening illness causes by a
bacterium
parasthesia
a sensation of pricking, tingling, or creeping on the skin having no objective cause and
usually associated with injury or irritation of a sensory nerve or nerve root
reflex
a reflected action, particularly an involuntary action or movement. superficial and deep
tendon reflexes are used to evaluate the function of specific spine segmental levels
seizure
A sudden change in sensation, behavior, or movement. The most severe form of
seizure produces violent muscle contractions called convulsions.
status epilepticus
repeated seizure or a seizure prolonged for at least 30 mins; may be convulsive, non-
convulsive, partial, or subclinical
stroke
a sudden interruption of blood supply to a part of the brain or the rupture of a blood
vessel, spilling blood into the spaces around the brain cells
, syncope
loss of consciousness resulting from arrest of the blood supply to the brain; fainting
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
sudden focal loss of neurologic function with complete recovery usually within 24 hours.
patients occurs to look as if they are having a stroke. small clots may temporarily block
circulation to part of the brain. if clot resolves, circulation is resolved and symptoms may
resolve
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
and acquired brain injury caused by external force
vertigo
sensation of dizziness, either of spinning oneself or of external objects whirling around
oneself
AOC
alternation of consciousness
A&O x 3
alert and oriented to person, place, and time
ANS
autonomic nervous system
CNS
central nervous system
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid
cerebrospinal fluid
circulates between an interconnecting system of ventricles in the brain and around the
brain and spinal cord, serving as a shock absorber
EEG
electroencephalogram
electroencephalogram
a diagnostic test utilized to measure and record the activity of brain waves
ICP
intracranial pressure
ANSWERS GRADED A+
Bell's palsy
temporary acute paralysis or weakness of one side of the face
clonic/clonus
rapid succession of alternating contractions and partial relaxations of a muscle
occurring in some nervous system diseases
decerebrate posturing
rigid extension of all four extremities with hyperpronation of forearms and plantar flexion
of the feet
decorticate posturing
posturing manifested by the obtunded patient pulling arms and hands medially toward
the center of the body in response to harmful stimuli
dermatome
the lateral wall of a somite from which the dermis is produced
encephalitis
acute inflammation of the brain and spinal cord involving the meninges, often due to a
virus
Epilepsy
chronic disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures secondary to any
underlying brain abnormality
hemiparesis
muscular weakness or partial paralysis restricted to one side of the body
hemiplegia
total or partial paralysis of one side of the body that results from disease of or injury to
the motor centers of the brain
intracranial pressure
pressure that occurs inside the skull, usually between 5 and 15 mmHg, contained within
the brain tissue and CSF
,glasgow coma scale
a clinical assessment tool used to evaluate a patient's level of consciousness. Verbal
response, eye opening, and best motor response are the three criteria tested, and are
based on a best possible score of 15
Guillain-barre syndrome
post infectious disorder following a nonspecific gastrointestinal or respiratory infection
that causes an acute neuromuscular paralysis
lethargy
the quality or state of being lazy, sluggish, or different; abnormal drowsiness
meninges
any of the three membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord and include the
arachnoid, dura mater, and Pia mater
meningitis
a disease marked by the inflammation of the meninges that is either a relatively mild
illness causes by a virus, or a more severe life-threatening illness causes by a
bacterium
parasthesia
a sensation of pricking, tingling, or creeping on the skin having no objective cause and
usually associated with injury or irritation of a sensory nerve or nerve root
reflex
a reflected action, particularly an involuntary action or movement. superficial and deep
tendon reflexes are used to evaluate the function of specific spine segmental levels
seizure
A sudden change in sensation, behavior, or movement. The most severe form of
seizure produces violent muscle contractions called convulsions.
status epilepticus
repeated seizure or a seizure prolonged for at least 30 mins; may be convulsive, non-
convulsive, partial, or subclinical
stroke
a sudden interruption of blood supply to a part of the brain or the rupture of a blood
vessel, spilling blood into the spaces around the brain cells
, syncope
loss of consciousness resulting from arrest of the blood supply to the brain; fainting
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
sudden focal loss of neurologic function with complete recovery usually within 24 hours.
patients occurs to look as if they are having a stroke. small clots may temporarily block
circulation to part of the brain. if clot resolves, circulation is resolved and symptoms may
resolve
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
and acquired brain injury caused by external force
vertigo
sensation of dizziness, either of spinning oneself or of external objects whirling around
oneself
AOC
alternation of consciousness
A&O x 3
alert and oriented to person, place, and time
ANS
autonomic nervous system
CNS
central nervous system
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid
cerebrospinal fluid
circulates between an interconnecting system of ventricles in the brain and around the
brain and spinal cord, serving as a shock absorber
EEG
electroencephalogram
electroencephalogram
a diagnostic test utilized to measure and record the activity of brain waves
ICP
intracranial pressure
