ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY UTMB 5355
EXAM 2026 CLINICAL REASONING PRACTICE
SET ANSWERS FULL SOLUTION
◉ Tyrosine is needed.
Answer: to synthesize proteins, melanin and thyroxine, and break
down phenylalanine
◉ Tyrosine is found in.
Answer: all proteins, artificial sweeteners
◉ Failure to convert phenylalanine to tyrosine.
Answer: can cause cognitive disabilities, seizures
◉ Myasthenia gravis patho.
Answer: patho includes antibodies that attach to receptor sites and
block the binding of acetylcholine causing atrophy of muscles and
decrease use
◉ Attention defecit disorder.
Answer: excessive frontal lobe activity resulting in frontal lobe
dysfunction (hyperactivity)
,◉ Triad of symptoms for ADHD.
Answer: inattentiveness, impulsivity, hyperactivity, multimodal
regimen needs to be considered
◉ Dementia characteristics.
Answer: is an acquired impairment of intellectual function, memory
and language with alteration in behavior and can be caused by
trauma, vascular disease, infection and progressive
neurodegeneration. AD is most common chronic irreversible
dementia
◉ Delirium characteristics.
Answer: acute confusional state, transient disorders of awareness
that have sudden or gradual onset can be caused by alcohol or drugs,
withdrawal from, metabolic disorders, trauma, anesthesia,
fever/heatstroke, electrolyte imbalance, organ failure
◉ Migraine Headaches.
Answer: a common, multifactorial, disabling, recurrent and
hereditary neurovascular headache disorders. can begin with auras.
usually unilateral and pulsating
◉ auras.
, Answer: transient focal neurological symptoms whose origin is
though to involve the hypothalamus, brainstem and cortex
◉ Migraines are.
Answer: an inflammatory process. The MAIN POINTS are that there
are likely alterations in serotonin and other neurotransmitters,
neurologic, vascular (inflammation) and hormonal components
(estrogen).
◉ Neurovascular Hypothesis.
Answer: A trigger alters a specific area of the brain stem called the
locus ceruleus and triggers release of serotonin into the trigeminal
vascular tree. Not all patients are able to identify a trigger. Those
commonly identified include lack of sleep, stress, hormonal changes,
physical exertion, weather changes or certain foods (most
commonly wine caffeine, monosodium glutamate, nitrates, and
artificial sweeteners).
◉ Perivascular inflammatory process.
Answer: Pain sensors in the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal
nerve become active and release neuropeptides that cause dilation
of blood vessels. This produces even more nerve irritation. The
inflammatory response and distended blood vessels stimulate the
trigeminal nerve; producing pain long after the trigger is gone.
EXAM 2026 CLINICAL REASONING PRACTICE
SET ANSWERS FULL SOLUTION
◉ Tyrosine is needed.
Answer: to synthesize proteins, melanin and thyroxine, and break
down phenylalanine
◉ Tyrosine is found in.
Answer: all proteins, artificial sweeteners
◉ Failure to convert phenylalanine to tyrosine.
Answer: can cause cognitive disabilities, seizures
◉ Myasthenia gravis patho.
Answer: patho includes antibodies that attach to receptor sites and
block the binding of acetylcholine causing atrophy of muscles and
decrease use
◉ Attention defecit disorder.
Answer: excessive frontal lobe activity resulting in frontal lobe
dysfunction (hyperactivity)
,◉ Triad of symptoms for ADHD.
Answer: inattentiveness, impulsivity, hyperactivity, multimodal
regimen needs to be considered
◉ Dementia characteristics.
Answer: is an acquired impairment of intellectual function, memory
and language with alteration in behavior and can be caused by
trauma, vascular disease, infection and progressive
neurodegeneration. AD is most common chronic irreversible
dementia
◉ Delirium characteristics.
Answer: acute confusional state, transient disorders of awareness
that have sudden or gradual onset can be caused by alcohol or drugs,
withdrawal from, metabolic disorders, trauma, anesthesia,
fever/heatstroke, electrolyte imbalance, organ failure
◉ Migraine Headaches.
Answer: a common, multifactorial, disabling, recurrent and
hereditary neurovascular headache disorders. can begin with auras.
usually unilateral and pulsating
◉ auras.
, Answer: transient focal neurological symptoms whose origin is
though to involve the hypothalamus, brainstem and cortex
◉ Migraines are.
Answer: an inflammatory process. The MAIN POINTS are that there
are likely alterations in serotonin and other neurotransmitters,
neurologic, vascular (inflammation) and hormonal components
(estrogen).
◉ Neurovascular Hypothesis.
Answer: A trigger alters a specific area of the brain stem called the
locus ceruleus and triggers release of serotonin into the trigeminal
vascular tree. Not all patients are able to identify a trigger. Those
commonly identified include lack of sleep, stress, hormonal changes,
physical exertion, weather changes or certain foods (most
commonly wine caffeine, monosodium glutamate, nitrates, and
artificial sweeteners).
◉ Perivascular inflammatory process.
Answer: Pain sensors in the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal
nerve become active and release neuropeptides that cause dilation
of blood vessels. This produces even more nerve irritation. The
inflammatory response and distended blood vessels stimulate the
trigeminal nerve; producing pain long after the trigger is gone.
