NERVOUS SYSTEM
BASICS
BASICS
What is the primary functional unit of the nervous system?
A. Ventricular cavity
B. Neuron
C. Synapse
D. Ganglion
Correct: B. Neuron
Why: The slides identify the neuron as the primary functional unit.
Which structures make up the central nervous system?
A. Spinal nerves and ganglia
B. Autonomic nerves only
C. Brain and spinal cord
D. Cranial nerves III-XII only
Correct: C. Brain and spinal cord
Why: The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord. The slides also include cranial nerves I
and II in the CNS listing
Which three areas are included in a mental-status assessment?
A. Vision, smell, hearing
B. Temperature, pulse, respirations
C. Strength, tone, reflexes
D. Appearance/behavior, cognition, mood/affect
Correct: D. Appearance/behavior, cognition, mood/affect
Why: The slides list general appearance and behavior, cognition, and mood and affect
Hypotonia means:
A. Slow writhing movements
B. Increased muscle tone or spasticity
C. Flaccidity or decreased muscle tone
D. Rapid involuntary movements
Correct: C. Flaccidity or decreased muscle tone
Why: The slides define hypotonia as flaccidity and hypertonia as spasticity.
Which is listed as a diagnostic study of the nervous system?
A. MRI
B. Spirometry
C. Echocardiogram
D. Colonoscopy
Correct: A. MRI
Why: MRI is one of the diagnostic studies named in the slides.
Which structure insulates the axon and helps impulses travel?
A. Synaptic cleft
B. Myelin sheath
C. Cell body
D. Receptor site
Correct: B. Myelin sheath
Why: The myelin sheath is described as an insulating substance around the axon.
What do ascending spinal tracts carry?
A. Signals for muscle movement down from the brain
B. Sensory information toward higher CNS levels
C. Hormones from the pituitary
D. CSF into the ventricles
Correct: B. Sensory information toward higher CNS levels
Why: Ascending tracts carry sensory information to higher levels of the CNS
When taking the neurologic history, which detail helps determine how an illness developed?
A. Hair color
B. Preferred sleeping position
C. Hand dominance only
D. Mode of onset and course
Correct: D. Mode of onset and course
Why: The subjective assessment includes the illness onset and its course.
Finger-to-nose and heel-to-shin checks assess:
A. Visual acuity
B. Cerebellar function, balance, and coordination
C. Deep tendon reflexes only
D. Smell
Correct: B. Cerebellar function, balance, and coordination
Why: These tests appear under cerebellar function and assess coordination.
Cerebral angiography is used to visualize:
A. Muscle tone
B. CSF production
C. Spinal reflexes
D. Cerebral blood vessels
Correct: D. Cerebral blood vessels
Why: The slides describe cerebral angiography as visualization of cerebral blood vessels
Which cells support, nourish, and protect neurons?
A. Glial cells
B. Ganglia
C. Motor neurons
D. Receptors
Correct: A. Glial cells
Why: The slides list support, nourishment, and protection as glial cell functions.
Which brain structure helps regulate body temperature, water balance, appetite, and circadian rhythm?
A. Cerebellum
B. Hypothalamus
C. Thalamus
D. Medulla
Correct: B. Hypothalamus
Why: These regulatory functions are listed under the hypothalamus
Which cranial nerve assessment includes visual fields and visual acuity?
A. CN I, olfactory
B. CN VIII, vestibulocochlear
C. CN II, optic
D. CN III, oculomotor
Correct: C. CN II, optic
Why: The slides list visual field and visual acuity under assessment of the optic nerve, CN II.
A patient feels touch on one side but not the other when both sides are touched at the same time. This is called:
A. Ptosis
B. Extinction
C. Nystagmus
D. Anosmia
Correct: B. Extinction
Why: The slides define extinction as perceiving a stimulus on only one side during
simultaneous, symmetrical stimulation
Cerebral angiography may help identify:
A. Changes in smell
B. Loss of muscle tone
C. Aneurysms, narrowing, or blocked vessels
D. Abnormal gait only
Correct: C. Aneurysms, narrowing, or blocked vessels
Why: The slides list aneurysms, narrowing, and obstruction as reasons for cerebral
angiography
Which group contains excitatory neurotransmitters listed in the slides?
A. Serotonin, GABA, dopamine
B. Dopamine, epinephrine, GABA
C. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, glutamate
D. GABA, glutamate, serotonin
Correct: C. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, glutamate
Why: The slides classify epinephrine, norepinephrine, and glutamate as excitatory
The brainstem structure with vital respiratory, vasomotor, and heart centers is the:
A. Basal ganglia
B. Reticular formation
C. Limbic system
D. Occipital lobe
Correct: B. Reticular formation
Why: The slides associate the reticular formation with vital respiratory, vasomotor, and heart
functions.
For a pronator-drift check, what should the patient do?
A. Identify an object placed in each hand
B. Touch each heel to the opposite knee
C. Close eyes, extend arms with palms up, and hold for 30 seconds
D. Stand with eyes open and march in place
Correct: C. Close eyes, extend arms with palms up, and hold for 30 seconds
Why: The slide describes this position and 30-second hold for pronator drift.
Which pair is listed as cortical sensory-function testing?
A. Biceps and triceps
B. Graphesthesia and stereognosis
C. Pupillary constriction and accommodation
D. Finger-to-nose and gait
Correct: B. Graphesthesia and stereognosis
Why: The slides list graphesthesia and stereognosis as cortical sensory functions.
Which procedure is named in the slides for cerebrospinal fluid analysis?
A. Electromyography
B. Lumbar puncture
C. Carotid duplex scan
D. Cerebral angiography
Correct: B. Lumbar puncture
Why: The slides list lumbar puncture under cerebrospinal fluid analysis.
What is the name for the junction between two neurons?
A. Axon
B. Central canal
C. Synapse
D. Ganglion
Correct: C. Synapse
Why: A synapse is the junction between neurons; the synaptic cleft is the gap within that
junction.
Which structure coordinates voluntary movement and influences motor activity?
A. Ventricles
B. Cerebellum
C. Hypothalamus
D. Thalamus
Correct: B. Cerebellum
Why: The cerebellum receives information, coordinates voluntary movement, and influences
motor activity.
According to the slides, when is temperature assessed as part of sensory testing?
A. Only when response to deep pain is abnormal
B. Only when the patient has a headache
C. Only after a Romberg test
D. At every routine neurologic check
Correct: A. Only when response to deep pain is abnormal
Why: The slides state that temperature is assessed only when the response to deep pain is
abnormal
Which test is specifically listed in the sensory-function section?
A. PERRLA
B. Patellar reflex
C. Pronator drift
D. Romberg test
Correct: D. Romberg test
Why: Romberg testing appears in the sensory-function section of the slides
Which option is an electrographic study listed in the slides?
A. Carotid artery duplex scan
B. Myelogram
C. EEG
D. MRI
Correct: C. EEG
Why: Electroencephalography (EEG) is listed under electrographic studies