PATHOPHYSIOLOGY – NEURO, STUDY REVISION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. EXAM GUIDE
PREPEARATION A+ GRADE 2024
1. A neurologists explains that arousal is mediated by the:
a. Cerebral cortex
b. Medulla oblongata
c. Reticular activating system
d. Cingulate gyrus: ANS: C
Arousal is mediated by the reticular activating system, which
regulates aspects of attention and information processing and
maintains consciousness.
2. A 20-year-old male suffers a severe closed head injury in a
motor vehicle accident. He remains in a vegetative state (VS) 1
month after the accident. Which of the following structures is
most likely keeping him in a vegetative state?
a. Cerebral cortex
b. Brainstem
c. Spinal cord
d. Cerebellum: ANS: B
When a person loses cerebral function, the reticular activating system
and brainstem can maintain a crude waking state known as a VS.
Cognitive cerebral functions, however, cannot occur without a
functioning reticular activating system.
3. A 16-year-old male took a recreational drug that altered his
level of arousal. Physical exam revealed a negative Babinski sign,
equal and reactive pupils, and roving eye movements. Which of
the following diagnosis will the nurse most likely see on the
chart?
,a. Psychogenic arousal alteration
b. Metabolically induced coma
c. Structurally induced coma
d. Structural arousal alteration: ANS: B
Persons with metabolically induced coma generally retain ocular
reflexes even when other signs of brainstem damage are present.
Psychogenic arousal activation demonstrates a general psychiatric
disorder.
Structurally induced coma is manifested by asymmetric responses.
1/
Structural arousal alteration does not have drug use as its etiology.
4. The breathing pattern that reflects respirations based
primarily on carbon dioxide (C02) levels in the blood is:
a. Cheyne-Stokes
b. Ataxic
c. Central neurogenic
d. Normal: ANS: A
Cheyne-Stokes respirations occur as a result of C02 levels in the
blood.
Ataxic breathing occurs as a result of dysfunction of the medullary
neurons.
Central neurogenic patterns occur as a result of uncial herniation.
Normal respirations are based on the levels of oxygen (02) in the
blood.
,5. A 45-year-old female presents to the emergency room (ER)
reporting excessive vomiting. A CT scan of the brain reveals a
mass in the:
a. Skull fractures
b. Thalamus
c. Medulla oblongata
d. Frontal lobe: ANS: C
Vomiting is due to disruptions in the medulla oblongata.
6. A teenage boy sustains a severe closed head injury following
an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accident. He is in a state of deep sleep
that requires vigorous stimulation to elicit eye opening. How
should the nurse document this in the chart?
a. Confusion
b. Coma
c. Obtundation
d. Stupor: ANS: D
Stupor is a condition of deep sleep or unresponsiveness from which
the person may be aroused or caused to open eyes only by vigorous
and repeated stimulation.
Confusion is the loss of the ability to think rapidly and clearly and is
characterized by impaired judgment and decision making.
Coma is a condition in which there is no verbal response to the external
environment or to any stimuli; noxious stimuli such as deep pain or
suctioning do not yield motor movement.
, Obtundation is a mild to moderate reduction in arousal (awakens) with
limited response to the environment.
7. A 50-year-old male suffers a severe head injury when his
motorcycle hits a tree. His breathing becomes deep and rapid
but with normal pattern. What term should the nurse use for
this condition?
a. Gasping
b. Ataxic breathing
c. Apneusis
d. Central neurogenic hyperventilation: ANS: D
Central neurogenic hyperventilation is a sustained, deep, rapid, but
regular, pattern (hyperpnea) of breathing.
Gasping is a pattern of deep "all-or-none" breaths accompanied by a
slow respiratory rate.
Ataxic breathing is completely irregular breathing that occurs with
random shallow and deep breaths and irregular pauses.
Apneusis is manifested by a prolonged inspiratory pause alternating with
an end-expiratory pause.
8. When a student asks what can cause dilated, fixed pupils,
what is the nurse's best response? Dilated fixed pupils can be
caused by:
a. Brainstem hypoxia
b. Cerebral contusions
c. Compression of the hypothalamus
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. EXAM GUIDE
PREPEARATION A+ GRADE 2024
1. A neurologists explains that arousal is mediated by the:
a. Cerebral cortex
b. Medulla oblongata
c. Reticular activating system
d. Cingulate gyrus: ANS: C
Arousal is mediated by the reticular activating system, which
regulates aspects of attention and information processing and
maintains consciousness.
2. A 20-year-old male suffers a severe closed head injury in a
motor vehicle accident. He remains in a vegetative state (VS) 1
month after the accident. Which of the following structures is
most likely keeping him in a vegetative state?
a. Cerebral cortex
b. Brainstem
c. Spinal cord
d. Cerebellum: ANS: B
When a person loses cerebral function, the reticular activating system
and brainstem can maintain a crude waking state known as a VS.
Cognitive cerebral functions, however, cannot occur without a
functioning reticular activating system.
3. A 16-year-old male took a recreational drug that altered his
level of arousal. Physical exam revealed a negative Babinski sign,
equal and reactive pupils, and roving eye movements. Which of
the following diagnosis will the nurse most likely see on the
chart?
,a. Psychogenic arousal alteration
b. Metabolically induced coma
c. Structurally induced coma
d. Structural arousal alteration: ANS: B
Persons with metabolically induced coma generally retain ocular
reflexes even when other signs of brainstem damage are present.
Psychogenic arousal activation demonstrates a general psychiatric
disorder.
Structurally induced coma is manifested by asymmetric responses.
1/
Structural arousal alteration does not have drug use as its etiology.
4. The breathing pattern that reflects respirations based
primarily on carbon dioxide (C02) levels in the blood is:
a. Cheyne-Stokes
b. Ataxic
c. Central neurogenic
d. Normal: ANS: A
Cheyne-Stokes respirations occur as a result of C02 levels in the
blood.
Ataxic breathing occurs as a result of dysfunction of the medullary
neurons.
Central neurogenic patterns occur as a result of uncial herniation.
Normal respirations are based on the levels of oxygen (02) in the
blood.
,5. A 45-year-old female presents to the emergency room (ER)
reporting excessive vomiting. A CT scan of the brain reveals a
mass in the:
a. Skull fractures
b. Thalamus
c. Medulla oblongata
d. Frontal lobe: ANS: C
Vomiting is due to disruptions in the medulla oblongata.
6. A teenage boy sustains a severe closed head injury following
an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accident. He is in a state of deep sleep
that requires vigorous stimulation to elicit eye opening. How
should the nurse document this in the chart?
a. Confusion
b. Coma
c. Obtundation
d. Stupor: ANS: D
Stupor is a condition of deep sleep or unresponsiveness from which
the person may be aroused or caused to open eyes only by vigorous
and repeated stimulation.
Confusion is the loss of the ability to think rapidly and clearly and is
characterized by impaired judgment and decision making.
Coma is a condition in which there is no verbal response to the external
environment or to any stimuli; noxious stimuli such as deep pain or
suctioning do not yield motor movement.
, Obtundation is a mild to moderate reduction in arousal (awakens) with
limited response to the environment.
7. A 50-year-old male suffers a severe head injury when his
motorcycle hits a tree. His breathing becomes deep and rapid
but with normal pattern. What term should the nurse use for
this condition?
a. Gasping
b. Ataxic breathing
c. Apneusis
d. Central neurogenic hyperventilation: ANS: D
Central neurogenic hyperventilation is a sustained, deep, rapid, but
regular, pattern (hyperpnea) of breathing.
Gasping is a pattern of deep "all-or-none" breaths accompanied by a
slow respiratory rate.
Ataxic breathing is completely irregular breathing that occurs with
random shallow and deep breaths and irregular pauses.
Apneusis is manifested by a prolonged inspiratory pause alternating with
an end-expiratory pause.
8. When a student asks what can cause dilated, fixed pupils,
what is the nurse's best response? Dilated fixed pupils can be
caused by:
a. Brainstem hypoxia
b. Cerebral contusions
c. Compression of the hypothalamus
