NU 545 CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ What is the function of the CSF? Where is it produced? Where is it
absorbed? CH 15 pg 450.
Answer: Is a clear colorless fluid. the intracranial and spinal cord structures
float in CSF and are thus protected by this fluid from jolts and blows. The
buoyant properties of CSF also prevent the brain from tugging on the
meninges , nerve roots, and blood vessels. Aprox 600 ml of CSF is produced
daily. The choroid plexus in the lateral, third and fourth ventricles produce
the major portion of CSF. The CSF exerts pressure within the brain and
spinal cord. CSF flor results from the pressure gradient between the arterial
system and the CSF filled cavities. Beginning in the lateral ventricles the
CSF flows through the intraventricular foramen into the third ventricle and
then pass through the cerebral aqueduct into the fourth ventricle. From the
ventricle , the CSF may pass through either the paired lateral apertures or
the median aperture before communicating with the subarachnoid spaces of
the brain and spinal cord. CSF is produced continually but does not
accumulate. Instead it is reabsorbed in the venous circulation through a
pressure gradient between the arachnoid villi and the cerebral venous
sinuses. Thus the CSF is formed from the blood and, after circulating
throughout the CNS it returns to the blood.
◍ 78. After sexual transmission of HIV, how long can someone be
seronegative?.
Answer: A person can remain seronegative for 3-12 weeks (window period)
after HIV infection, as it takes time for the immune system to produce
detectable antibodies. During this time, they can still transmit HIV.
◍ 88. How are stress, cortisol, the adrenal cortex, and hyperglycemia related?.
Answer: Stress activates the hypothalamus, prompting the adrenal cortex to
, release cortisol, which raises blood sugar through gluconeogenesis and
reduces insulin sensitivity, leading to hyperglycemia.
◍ 22. Effects of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) on infants:.
Answer: FAS causes growth retardation, facial abnormalities, and
neurodevelopmental deficits (e.g., cognitive and behavioral issues). Alcohol
disrupts brain development, with effects worsened by folic acid deficiency.
◍ 95. What is stress-age syndrome?.
Answer: Chronic stress causes:Increased cortisol and
catecholamines.Decreased testosterone and thyroxine.Immune dysfunction,
chronic inflammation, and metabolic changes, accelerating aging and
disease.
◍ Which part of the brain controls movement of the eye? CH 17 pg 488.
Answer: The optic nerve is composed of retinal cell axons. Nerve impulses
pass through the optic never after leaving the retinas. The optic chasm the
fibers from the inner halves of the retinas cross the opposite side, where they
join fibers from the outer (temporal) halves of the retinas to form the optic
tracts. The fibers of the optic tracts synapse in the dorsal lateral geniculate
nucleus, and form the geniculocalcarine fibers pass by way of the optic
radiation to the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe of the brain. to
understand vision.The brainstem:Pons. A deep part of the brain, located in
the brainstem, the pons contains many of the control areas for eye and face
movements.
◍ 16. Do all cells continue to replicate and divide?.
Answer: No. Some cells (e.g., neurons, cardiac muscle cells) lose the ability
to divide after maturation, while others (e.g., skin, blood, intestinal epithelial
cells) continuously divide to replace damaged or aged cells.
◍ 83. Which hormone causes anxiety and arousal during stress?.
Answer: Epinephrine (adrenaline) causes anxiety and arousal during stress,
increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and alertness.
◍ 21. Lead poisoning and its effects on cells:.
, Answer: Lead disrupts calcium signaling, enzyme function, and DNA repair.
It causes oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, developmental delays, and anemia.
Chelation therapy can help remove lead.
◍ 28. During cell injury caused by hypoxia, what happens to osmotic
pressure?.
Answer: Hypoxia impairs ATP production, leading to sodium retention in
the cell due to a malfunctioning sodium-potassium pump. The accumulation
of sodium increases intracellular osmotic pressure, drawing water into the
cell and causing swelling. This disrupts normal cellular homeostasis and can
lead to further damage.
◍ 7. How is the cell protected from injury?.
Answer: Cells are protected by:Plasma membrane: Barrier against harmful
substances.Glycocalyx: Cushions and protects against damage.Cytoskeleton:
Maintains structure and absorbs mechanical stress.Antioxidants: Neutralize
free radicals.Repair mechanisms: Fix DNA and maintain membrane
integrity.
◍ 91. Does estrogen affect lymphocytes?.
Answer: Yes, estrogen stimulates T and B lymphocyte activity, enhancing
immune response but also increasing susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.
◍ 35. With low plasma albumin, you have edema, why?.
Answer: Low plasma albumin reduces oncotic pressure in blood vessels,
leading to fluid leakage into the interstitial space and causing edema.
Conditions like liver disease, malnutrition, or kidney dysfunction often
result in hypoalbuminemia and subsequent swelling.
◍ Know the characteristics of closed head injury. CH 18 pg 552.
Answer: Are specific, grossly observable skull and brain lesions that occur
in a precise location. Injury to the cranial vault , vessels and supporting
structures can produce more severe damage, including contusions and
epidural, subdural, subarachnoid and intracerbral hematomas. . The Dura
mater remains intact, and brain tissues are not exposed to the environment.
Compression of the skull at the point of impact produces contusions or brain
, bruising from blood leaking from an injured vessel. injury may be coup
(injury at site of impact) or countercoup ( injury from brain rebounding) or
both.•The smaller the area of impact, the more sever the injury because of
the concentration of force.•brain edema from around and in damaged neural
tissues, con tributing to increased ICP.•multiple hemorrhages, edema,
infarction and necrosis can occur within the contused areas. •contusions are
found most commonly in the frontal lobes • they cause changes in
attentions, memory, executive function, affect, emotions and behavior. A
closed brain injury may be evidenced by immediate (generally accepted to
last no longer than 5 minutes) loss of consciousness, loss of reflexes
(individual falls to the ground), transient cessation of respiration, brief
period of bradycardia and decrease in blood pressure (lasting 30 sec to few
minutes) Increased CSF pressure and ECG and EEG changes occur. on
impact. Vital signs may stabilize to normal in a few seconds reflexes then
return and the person regains consciousness over minutes to days. Residual
deficits may persist, some may never regain a full level of consciousness.
◍ Define concussion. Know the different grades of concussion. CH 18 pg 556.
Answer: Concussion: a type of diffuse brain injury caused by damage to
delicate axonal fibers and white matter tracts that project to cerebral cortex.
Damage is caused by movements of high levels of acceleration to
deceleration along with rotational and twisting movements. The severity of
diffuse injury correlates with how much shearing force was applied to the
brain.Mild concussion (mild traumatic brain injury): Characterized by
immediate but transitory clinical manifestations without loss of
consciousness, or loss of consciousness what is momentary to less than 30
minutes. Most blunt injuries cause mild TBI. The GCS is 13 to 15. • Grade
I: Transient confusion and disorientation accompanied by amnesia
(momentary); no loss of consciousness; symptoms resolve within 15 min.•
Grade II: Transient confusion and retrograde amnesia that develops after
5-10 min (memory loss only of events occurring several minutes before
injury); symptoms > 15 min. • Grade III: Any loss of consciousness
(seconds or minutes); confusion and retrograde and anterograde amnesia
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ What is the function of the CSF? Where is it produced? Where is it
absorbed? CH 15 pg 450.
Answer: Is a clear colorless fluid. the intracranial and spinal cord structures
float in CSF and are thus protected by this fluid from jolts and blows. The
buoyant properties of CSF also prevent the brain from tugging on the
meninges , nerve roots, and blood vessels. Aprox 600 ml of CSF is produced
daily. The choroid plexus in the lateral, third and fourth ventricles produce
the major portion of CSF. The CSF exerts pressure within the brain and
spinal cord. CSF flor results from the pressure gradient between the arterial
system and the CSF filled cavities. Beginning in the lateral ventricles the
CSF flows through the intraventricular foramen into the third ventricle and
then pass through the cerebral aqueduct into the fourth ventricle. From the
ventricle , the CSF may pass through either the paired lateral apertures or
the median aperture before communicating with the subarachnoid spaces of
the brain and spinal cord. CSF is produced continually but does not
accumulate. Instead it is reabsorbed in the venous circulation through a
pressure gradient between the arachnoid villi and the cerebral venous
sinuses. Thus the CSF is formed from the blood and, after circulating
throughout the CNS it returns to the blood.
◍ 78. After sexual transmission of HIV, how long can someone be
seronegative?.
Answer: A person can remain seronegative for 3-12 weeks (window period)
after HIV infection, as it takes time for the immune system to produce
detectable antibodies. During this time, they can still transmit HIV.
◍ 88. How are stress, cortisol, the adrenal cortex, and hyperglycemia related?.
Answer: Stress activates the hypothalamus, prompting the adrenal cortex to
, release cortisol, which raises blood sugar through gluconeogenesis and
reduces insulin sensitivity, leading to hyperglycemia.
◍ 22. Effects of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) on infants:.
Answer: FAS causes growth retardation, facial abnormalities, and
neurodevelopmental deficits (e.g., cognitive and behavioral issues). Alcohol
disrupts brain development, with effects worsened by folic acid deficiency.
◍ 95. What is stress-age syndrome?.
Answer: Chronic stress causes:Increased cortisol and
catecholamines.Decreased testosterone and thyroxine.Immune dysfunction,
chronic inflammation, and metabolic changes, accelerating aging and
disease.
◍ Which part of the brain controls movement of the eye? CH 17 pg 488.
Answer: The optic nerve is composed of retinal cell axons. Nerve impulses
pass through the optic never after leaving the retinas. The optic chasm the
fibers from the inner halves of the retinas cross the opposite side, where they
join fibers from the outer (temporal) halves of the retinas to form the optic
tracts. The fibers of the optic tracts synapse in the dorsal lateral geniculate
nucleus, and form the geniculocalcarine fibers pass by way of the optic
radiation to the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe of the brain. to
understand vision.The brainstem:Pons. A deep part of the brain, located in
the brainstem, the pons contains many of the control areas for eye and face
movements.
◍ 16. Do all cells continue to replicate and divide?.
Answer: No. Some cells (e.g., neurons, cardiac muscle cells) lose the ability
to divide after maturation, while others (e.g., skin, blood, intestinal epithelial
cells) continuously divide to replace damaged or aged cells.
◍ 83. Which hormone causes anxiety and arousal during stress?.
Answer: Epinephrine (adrenaline) causes anxiety and arousal during stress,
increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and alertness.
◍ 21. Lead poisoning and its effects on cells:.
, Answer: Lead disrupts calcium signaling, enzyme function, and DNA repair.
It causes oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, developmental delays, and anemia.
Chelation therapy can help remove lead.
◍ 28. During cell injury caused by hypoxia, what happens to osmotic
pressure?.
Answer: Hypoxia impairs ATP production, leading to sodium retention in
the cell due to a malfunctioning sodium-potassium pump. The accumulation
of sodium increases intracellular osmotic pressure, drawing water into the
cell and causing swelling. This disrupts normal cellular homeostasis and can
lead to further damage.
◍ 7. How is the cell protected from injury?.
Answer: Cells are protected by:Plasma membrane: Barrier against harmful
substances.Glycocalyx: Cushions and protects against damage.Cytoskeleton:
Maintains structure and absorbs mechanical stress.Antioxidants: Neutralize
free radicals.Repair mechanisms: Fix DNA and maintain membrane
integrity.
◍ 91. Does estrogen affect lymphocytes?.
Answer: Yes, estrogen stimulates T and B lymphocyte activity, enhancing
immune response but also increasing susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.
◍ 35. With low plasma albumin, you have edema, why?.
Answer: Low plasma albumin reduces oncotic pressure in blood vessels,
leading to fluid leakage into the interstitial space and causing edema.
Conditions like liver disease, malnutrition, or kidney dysfunction often
result in hypoalbuminemia and subsequent swelling.
◍ Know the characteristics of closed head injury. CH 18 pg 552.
Answer: Are specific, grossly observable skull and brain lesions that occur
in a precise location. Injury to the cranial vault , vessels and supporting
structures can produce more severe damage, including contusions and
epidural, subdural, subarachnoid and intracerbral hematomas. . The Dura
mater remains intact, and brain tissues are not exposed to the environment.
Compression of the skull at the point of impact produces contusions or brain
, bruising from blood leaking from an injured vessel. injury may be coup
(injury at site of impact) or countercoup ( injury from brain rebounding) or
both.•The smaller the area of impact, the more sever the injury because of
the concentration of force.•brain edema from around and in damaged neural
tissues, con tributing to increased ICP.•multiple hemorrhages, edema,
infarction and necrosis can occur within the contused areas. •contusions are
found most commonly in the frontal lobes • they cause changes in
attentions, memory, executive function, affect, emotions and behavior. A
closed brain injury may be evidenced by immediate (generally accepted to
last no longer than 5 minutes) loss of consciousness, loss of reflexes
(individual falls to the ground), transient cessation of respiration, brief
period of bradycardia and decrease in blood pressure (lasting 30 sec to few
minutes) Increased CSF pressure and ECG and EEG changes occur. on
impact. Vital signs may stabilize to normal in a few seconds reflexes then
return and the person regains consciousness over minutes to days. Residual
deficits may persist, some may never regain a full level of consciousness.
◍ Define concussion. Know the different grades of concussion. CH 18 pg 556.
Answer: Concussion: a type of diffuse brain injury caused by damage to
delicate axonal fibers and white matter tracts that project to cerebral cortex.
Damage is caused by movements of high levels of acceleration to
deceleration along with rotational and twisting movements. The severity of
diffuse injury correlates with how much shearing force was applied to the
brain.Mild concussion (mild traumatic brain injury): Characterized by
immediate but transitory clinical manifestations without loss of
consciousness, or loss of consciousness what is momentary to less than 30
minutes. Most blunt injuries cause mild TBI. The GCS is 13 to 15. • Grade
I: Transient confusion and disorientation accompanied by amnesia
(momentary); no loss of consciousness; symptoms resolve within 15 min.•
Grade II: Transient confusion and retrograde amnesia that develops after
5-10 min (memory loss only of events occurring several minutes before
injury); symptoms > 15 min. • Grade III: Any loss of consciousness
(seconds or minutes); confusion and retrograde and anterograde amnesia
