Health Assessment Exam 2025
Neurological Health Assessment – CNS, PNS, Brain Function, and Early
Neuro Changes (Q&A)
LATEST UPDATED 2025
Major Study Keywords: Neurological assessment nursing questions, early signs of increased ICP, change in level of consciousness, central nervous system,
peripheral nervous system, Romberg test interpretation, cerebellum function, brain stem and thalamus roles, cerebral cortex functions, NCLEX neuro
questions, nursing brain anatomy.
Which assessment finding would be the earliest and most sensitive indicator that there is an alteration in
intracranial regulation?
A. Change in level of consciousness
B. Inability to focus visually
C. Loss of primitive reflexes
D. Unequal pupil size
A. Change in level of consciousness
What is the CNS comprised of?
the brain and spinal cord
What is the peripheral nervous system?
all the nerve fibers (outside of the brain and spinal cord) including 12 pairs of cranial nerves, 31 pairs of spinal
nerves and all of their branches
What does the thalamus do?
relays information for the cerebral cortex
What does the brain stem do?
controls breathing, heart rate, function
The nurse observes that a patient's gait is unsteady and assesses a positive Romberg sign. Which area of
the brain is most likely affected?
A. Hypothalamus
B. Medulla oblongata
C. Cerebellum
D. Left hemisphere
C. Cerebellum
What is the cerebral cortex involved in?
thoughts, memory, reasoning, sensation and voluntary movement
What are the four lobes of the cerebrum?
, frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal
Where is Wernicke's area and what does it do?
temporal lobe, language comprehension
Where is Broca's area and what does it do?
frontal lobe, motor speech
Damage to the cerebral cortex occurs when highly specialized neurologic cells are what? What is an
example?
deprived of blood supply, such as when a cerebral artery becomes occluded
What occurs in Wernicke's aphasia?
trouble associating words to situations
What occurs in Broca's aphasia?
know what they want to say but they cant get the words out
On most people speech is located on the _______ side of the brain
left
What is global aphasia?
when both wernicke's and broca's aphasia occurs
Left cerebral cortex receives sensory information from and controls motor function to __________ side of
the body
right
The nurse is performing a mental status examination on a patient diagnosed with subdural hematoma.
This test assesses which of the following?
A. Cerebellar function
B. Intellectual function
C. Cerebral function
D. Sensory function
C. Cerebral function
What are the four main parts of the peripheral nervous system?
reflexes, cranial nerves, spinal nerves, autonomic nervous system
What are reflexes?
basic defense mechanisms of nervous system
What are the four types of reflexes?
deep tendon, superficial, visceral, pathologic
Neurological Health Assessment – CNS, PNS, Brain Function, and Early
Neuro Changes (Q&A)
LATEST UPDATED 2025
Major Study Keywords: Neurological assessment nursing questions, early signs of increased ICP, change in level of consciousness, central nervous system,
peripheral nervous system, Romberg test interpretation, cerebellum function, brain stem and thalamus roles, cerebral cortex functions, NCLEX neuro
questions, nursing brain anatomy.
Which assessment finding would be the earliest and most sensitive indicator that there is an alteration in
intracranial regulation?
A. Change in level of consciousness
B. Inability to focus visually
C. Loss of primitive reflexes
D. Unequal pupil size
A. Change in level of consciousness
What is the CNS comprised of?
the brain and spinal cord
What is the peripheral nervous system?
all the nerve fibers (outside of the brain and spinal cord) including 12 pairs of cranial nerves, 31 pairs of spinal
nerves and all of their branches
What does the thalamus do?
relays information for the cerebral cortex
What does the brain stem do?
controls breathing, heart rate, function
The nurse observes that a patient's gait is unsteady and assesses a positive Romberg sign. Which area of
the brain is most likely affected?
A. Hypothalamus
B. Medulla oblongata
C. Cerebellum
D. Left hemisphere
C. Cerebellum
What is the cerebral cortex involved in?
thoughts, memory, reasoning, sensation and voluntary movement
What are the four lobes of the cerebrum?
, frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal
Where is Wernicke's area and what does it do?
temporal lobe, language comprehension
Where is Broca's area and what does it do?
frontal lobe, motor speech
Damage to the cerebral cortex occurs when highly specialized neurologic cells are what? What is an
example?
deprived of blood supply, such as when a cerebral artery becomes occluded
What occurs in Wernicke's aphasia?
trouble associating words to situations
What occurs in Broca's aphasia?
know what they want to say but they cant get the words out
On most people speech is located on the _______ side of the brain
left
What is global aphasia?
when both wernicke's and broca's aphasia occurs
Left cerebral cortex receives sensory information from and controls motor function to __________ side of
the body
right
The nurse is performing a mental status examination on a patient diagnosed with subdural hematoma.
This test assesses which of the following?
A. Cerebellar function
B. Intellectual function
C. Cerebral function
D. Sensory function
C. Cerebral function
What are the four main parts of the peripheral nervous system?
reflexes, cranial nerves, spinal nerves, autonomic nervous system
What are reflexes?
basic defense mechanisms of nervous system
What are the four types of reflexes?
deep tendon, superficial, visceral, pathologic
