NSG 3280 Exam 4 Pathophysiology Tested
Questions (2026/2027) PDF | Nursing | Galen
College
1. A patient with increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
exhibits hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular
respirations. This triad is known as:
A) Kernig’s sign
B) Brudzinski’s sign
C) Cushing’s triad
D) Decerebrate posturing
Answer: C
Rationale: Cushing’s triad (hypertension, bradycardia,
irregular breathing) is a late, life-threatening sign of
increased ICP due to brainstem compression.
2. Which type of cerebral edema results from disruption
of the blood-brain barrier?
A) Cytotoxic
1
,B) Vasogenic
C) Interstitial
D) Ischemic
Answer: B
Rationale: Vasogenic edema occurs when BBB breakdown
allows fluid to leak into extracellular space (e.g., tumor,
abscess, trauma).
3. In ischemic stroke, the ischemic penumbra is:
A) Necrotic core
B) Reversibly injured tissue surrounding the core
C) Area of hemorrhagic transformation
D) Zone of vasospasm
Answer: B
Rationale: Penumbra is hypoperfused but salvageable if
reperfusion occurs quickly.
4. Which neurotransmitter imbalance is primarily
responsible for Parkinson’s disease motor symptoms?
A) Excess serotonin
2
,B) Dopamine deficiency with relative acetylcholine excess
C) Norepinephrine excess
D) GABA deficiency
Answer: B
Rationale: Loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia
nigra leads to dopamine deficiency and imbalance with
acetylcholine.
5. A patient with multiple sclerosis has an acute relapse.
The pathophysiology is:
A) Bacterial infection of oligodendrocytes
B) Autoimmune T-cell mediated demyelination
C) Ischemic white matter damage
D) Accumulation of beta-amyloid
Answer: B
Rationale: MS is autoimmune demyelination of CNS
myelin, with inflammation and axonal injury.
6. Guillain-Barré syndrome most often follows:
A) Head trauma
3
, B) Recent infection (e.g., Campylobacter jejuni)
C) Vaccination
D) Spinal cord injury
Answer: B
Rationale: Molecular mimicry between pathogen and
peripheral nerve myelin triggers autoimmune attack.
7. A child has brief staring spells without postictal
confusion. This is most likely:
A) Tonic-clonic seizure
B) Complex partial seizure
C) Absence seizure
D) Myoclonic seizure
Answer: C
Rationale: Absence seizures (generalized non-motor) are
brief, with unresponsiveness and no postictal confusion.
8. CSF findings in bacterial meningitis typically include:
A) Normal glucose, low protein, lymphocytes
B) Low glucose, high protein, neutrophils
4
Questions (2026/2027) PDF | Nursing | Galen
College
1. A patient with increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
exhibits hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular
respirations. This triad is known as:
A) Kernig’s sign
B) Brudzinski’s sign
C) Cushing’s triad
D) Decerebrate posturing
Answer: C
Rationale: Cushing’s triad (hypertension, bradycardia,
irregular breathing) is a late, life-threatening sign of
increased ICP due to brainstem compression.
2. Which type of cerebral edema results from disruption
of the blood-brain barrier?
A) Cytotoxic
1
,B) Vasogenic
C) Interstitial
D) Ischemic
Answer: B
Rationale: Vasogenic edema occurs when BBB breakdown
allows fluid to leak into extracellular space (e.g., tumor,
abscess, trauma).
3. In ischemic stroke, the ischemic penumbra is:
A) Necrotic core
B) Reversibly injured tissue surrounding the core
C) Area of hemorrhagic transformation
D) Zone of vasospasm
Answer: B
Rationale: Penumbra is hypoperfused but salvageable if
reperfusion occurs quickly.
4. Which neurotransmitter imbalance is primarily
responsible for Parkinson’s disease motor symptoms?
A) Excess serotonin
2
,B) Dopamine deficiency with relative acetylcholine excess
C) Norepinephrine excess
D) GABA deficiency
Answer: B
Rationale: Loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia
nigra leads to dopamine deficiency and imbalance with
acetylcholine.
5. A patient with multiple sclerosis has an acute relapse.
The pathophysiology is:
A) Bacterial infection of oligodendrocytes
B) Autoimmune T-cell mediated demyelination
C) Ischemic white matter damage
D) Accumulation of beta-amyloid
Answer: B
Rationale: MS is autoimmune demyelination of CNS
myelin, with inflammation and axonal injury.
6. Guillain-Barré syndrome most often follows:
A) Head trauma
3
, B) Recent infection (e.g., Campylobacter jejuni)
C) Vaccination
D) Spinal cord injury
Answer: B
Rationale: Molecular mimicry between pathogen and
peripheral nerve myelin triggers autoimmune attack.
7. A child has brief staring spells without postictal
confusion. This is most likely:
A) Tonic-clonic seizure
B) Complex partial seizure
C) Absence seizure
D) Myoclonic seizure
Answer: C
Rationale: Absence seizures (generalized non-motor) are
brief, with unresponsiveness and no postictal confusion.
8. CSF findings in bacterial meningitis typically include:
A) Normal glucose, low protein, lymphocytes
B) Low glucose, high protein, neutrophils
4
