NCS Exam Question with Complete
Solutions Verified Answers
Parametric tests - ANSWER-Assume a normal distribution, uses a mean
Non-Parametric tests - ANSWER-Data does not follow a normal distribution, uses a
median (can be used with smaller sample sizes)
T-Test - ANSWER-Parametric 2 sample test
Mann-Whitney Test - ANSWER-Non-parametric 2 sample test
ANOVA - ANSWER-More than 2 samples, parametric
Kruskal-Willis test - ANSWER-More than 2 samples, non parametric
Sensitivity - ANSWER-The proportion of people with a disease who get a positive
finding (TRUE positive)
Specificity - ANSWER-The proportion of people without a disease who get a
negative finding (TRUE negative)
Excitotoxicity - ANSWER-increased glutamate activity
Apoptosis - ANSWER-programmed cell death
Glia - ANSWER-Oligodendrocytes in the CNS - myelin cells
Schwann cells in the PNS - myelin cells
SOD1 - ANSWER-ALS - targets the brainstem
Amyloid Beta - ANSWER-AD
Alpha Synuclein - ANSWER-PD
Dorsal root ganglion - ANSWER-Sensory, afferent
SNS neurotransmitter - ANSWER-Epinephrine
Parasympathetic nervous system neurotransmitter - ANSWER-Acetylcholine
Glutamate - ANSWER-Excitatory in CNS
GABA - ANSWER-Inhibitory in CNS
,Where is the reticular formation and what is it? - ANSWER-In the brainstem,
supports basic life functions
Where do the CNs originate? - ANSWER-All from the brainstem except 1, 2, 11
Dysprosody - ANSWER-Disruption in the smooth production of speech
Cerebellar vermis - ANSWER-midline portion, controls trunk and proximal limbs
Cerebellar hemispheres - ANSWER-controls extremities
Hyperkinetic disorder of BG - ANSWER-Huntington's Disease
PD is damage to what structure? - ANSWER-The substantia nigra in the BG - this is
where DA is produced
Limbic system - ANSWER-Olfaction (CN 1); memory (hippocampus); amygdala
(emotions); homeostasis (hypothalamus, pituitary)
Prosopagnosia - ANSWER-Inability to recognize faces
Astereognosis - ANSWER-failure to identify objects by touch
Anosognosia - ANSWER-unawareness or denial of illness
apraxia - ANSWER-impaired ability to carry out skills or movements in the absence
of motor impairment
Ideomotor apraxia - ANSWER-Unable to perform a familiar skill on command (can't
use a key to unlock a door)
Ideational apraxia - ANSWER-unable to correctly sequence movements to complete
a goal (doesn't put on toothpaste before using toothbrush)
Broca's area - ANSWER-Speech production (expressive aphasia)
Pharmacokinetics - ANSWER-what the body does to a drug
Pharmacodynamics - ANSWER-what a drug does to the body
What role does DA have in the CNS? - ANSWER-Excitatory
What role does Acetylcholine have in the CNS? - ANSWER-Inhibitory
What do meds for PD have to do? - ANSWER-Increase DA levels or decrease
Acetylcholine levels in the CNS
Sinemet - what is it and how does it work? - ANSWER-Carbidopa/Levodopa
,DA does not cross the BBB. Levodopa can cross the BBB and then be converted
into DA. Carbidopa inactivates Dopa Decarboxylase that is found in the bloodstream,
so that Levodopa is not converted into DA before it crosses the BBB. Then once
across the BBB, Dopa Decarboxylase converts Levodopa into DA. 1 hour after
taking it is when it's most effective. Long term it can lead to dyskinesias. This is
considered DA replacement therapy
MAOB Inhibitors - ANSWER-MAOB is found in the brain and it breaks down DA, so
this drug slows that process down making DA more available in the CNS
COMT Inhibitors - ANSWER-COMT breaks down Levodopa, so this drug is often
used in conjunction with patients on Sinemet
Anticholinergics - ANSWER-Decreases acetylcholine levels int he brain, reduces PD
symptoms. Often used early in disease with people who only have mild symptoms
like only a tremor
What drugs can be used for AD? - ANSWER-Cholinesterase Inhibitors = makes
Acetylcholine more available which slows the destruction of neurons in the cortex
and hippocampus
How do Benzodiazepines work? - ANSWER-GABA receptor drugs
How do seizure meds work? - ANSWER-Block calcium or sodium channels and
enhances GABA receptors
Status epilepticus - ANSWER-30 minutes of continuous seizure, this is a medical
emergency
Spasticity meds - ANSWER-Baclofen - works centrally, GABA drug
Botox = blocks acetylcholine release at the NMJ, so activation and muscle
contraction can't occur
What is grey matter? - ANSWER-Nuclei
What is white matter? - ANSWER-Axons
Lateralization and stroke - ANSWER-fMRI has shown that there is a lack of
lateralization after stroke. If a healthy person moves their R arm, only the L
hemisphere lights up. If a person after stroke moves their R arm, entire brain lights
up. Decreased lateralization after stroke is also a result of a lack of inhibition to the
intact side of the brain.
What does DTI imaging look at? - ANSWER-White matter pathways on imaging
BMI Scores - ANSWER-< 18.5 is underweight
18.5-25 is normal
25-30 is overweight
30-35 is obese
, Precede-Proceed Model - ANSWER--Comprehensive 9 step model for doing health
promotion in the community
-Assess for need, plan, implement, evaluate the program
Reflex grading - ANSWER-Grading is 0 to 4+
2+ is average
Reflex C5 - ANSWER-Biceps
Reflex C6 - ANSWER-Brachioradialis
Reflex C7 - ANSWER-Triceps
Reflex L4 - ANSWER-Patella
Reflex S1 - ANSWER-Achilles
Hoffman's - ANSWER-Quick extension to distal phalanx of middle finger
Positive is flexion of thumb and all fingers
Sign of UMN lesion
Pronator Drift Test - ANSWER-hold arms up, eyes closed, positive is unilateral
downward drift, pronation, elbow flexion
Sign of UMN lesion
C5 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Biceps
C6 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Wrist extensors
C7 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Triceps
C8 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Finger flexors
T1 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Finger abduction
L2 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Hip flexor
L3 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Knee extension
L4 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Dorsiflexion
L5 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Big toe extension
S1 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Ankle plantarflexion
True PF MMT - ANSWER-Full score is 5 full heel raises
Grade 4 is 2-3 reps
Solutions Verified Answers
Parametric tests - ANSWER-Assume a normal distribution, uses a mean
Non-Parametric tests - ANSWER-Data does not follow a normal distribution, uses a
median (can be used with smaller sample sizes)
T-Test - ANSWER-Parametric 2 sample test
Mann-Whitney Test - ANSWER-Non-parametric 2 sample test
ANOVA - ANSWER-More than 2 samples, parametric
Kruskal-Willis test - ANSWER-More than 2 samples, non parametric
Sensitivity - ANSWER-The proportion of people with a disease who get a positive
finding (TRUE positive)
Specificity - ANSWER-The proportion of people without a disease who get a
negative finding (TRUE negative)
Excitotoxicity - ANSWER-increased glutamate activity
Apoptosis - ANSWER-programmed cell death
Glia - ANSWER-Oligodendrocytes in the CNS - myelin cells
Schwann cells in the PNS - myelin cells
SOD1 - ANSWER-ALS - targets the brainstem
Amyloid Beta - ANSWER-AD
Alpha Synuclein - ANSWER-PD
Dorsal root ganglion - ANSWER-Sensory, afferent
SNS neurotransmitter - ANSWER-Epinephrine
Parasympathetic nervous system neurotransmitter - ANSWER-Acetylcholine
Glutamate - ANSWER-Excitatory in CNS
GABA - ANSWER-Inhibitory in CNS
,Where is the reticular formation and what is it? - ANSWER-In the brainstem,
supports basic life functions
Where do the CNs originate? - ANSWER-All from the brainstem except 1, 2, 11
Dysprosody - ANSWER-Disruption in the smooth production of speech
Cerebellar vermis - ANSWER-midline portion, controls trunk and proximal limbs
Cerebellar hemispheres - ANSWER-controls extremities
Hyperkinetic disorder of BG - ANSWER-Huntington's Disease
PD is damage to what structure? - ANSWER-The substantia nigra in the BG - this is
where DA is produced
Limbic system - ANSWER-Olfaction (CN 1); memory (hippocampus); amygdala
(emotions); homeostasis (hypothalamus, pituitary)
Prosopagnosia - ANSWER-Inability to recognize faces
Astereognosis - ANSWER-failure to identify objects by touch
Anosognosia - ANSWER-unawareness or denial of illness
apraxia - ANSWER-impaired ability to carry out skills or movements in the absence
of motor impairment
Ideomotor apraxia - ANSWER-Unable to perform a familiar skill on command (can't
use a key to unlock a door)
Ideational apraxia - ANSWER-unable to correctly sequence movements to complete
a goal (doesn't put on toothpaste before using toothbrush)
Broca's area - ANSWER-Speech production (expressive aphasia)
Pharmacokinetics - ANSWER-what the body does to a drug
Pharmacodynamics - ANSWER-what a drug does to the body
What role does DA have in the CNS? - ANSWER-Excitatory
What role does Acetylcholine have in the CNS? - ANSWER-Inhibitory
What do meds for PD have to do? - ANSWER-Increase DA levels or decrease
Acetylcholine levels in the CNS
Sinemet - what is it and how does it work? - ANSWER-Carbidopa/Levodopa
,DA does not cross the BBB. Levodopa can cross the BBB and then be converted
into DA. Carbidopa inactivates Dopa Decarboxylase that is found in the bloodstream,
so that Levodopa is not converted into DA before it crosses the BBB. Then once
across the BBB, Dopa Decarboxylase converts Levodopa into DA. 1 hour after
taking it is when it's most effective. Long term it can lead to dyskinesias. This is
considered DA replacement therapy
MAOB Inhibitors - ANSWER-MAOB is found in the brain and it breaks down DA, so
this drug slows that process down making DA more available in the CNS
COMT Inhibitors - ANSWER-COMT breaks down Levodopa, so this drug is often
used in conjunction with patients on Sinemet
Anticholinergics - ANSWER-Decreases acetylcholine levels int he brain, reduces PD
symptoms. Often used early in disease with people who only have mild symptoms
like only a tremor
What drugs can be used for AD? - ANSWER-Cholinesterase Inhibitors = makes
Acetylcholine more available which slows the destruction of neurons in the cortex
and hippocampus
How do Benzodiazepines work? - ANSWER-GABA receptor drugs
How do seizure meds work? - ANSWER-Block calcium or sodium channels and
enhances GABA receptors
Status epilepticus - ANSWER-30 minutes of continuous seizure, this is a medical
emergency
Spasticity meds - ANSWER-Baclofen - works centrally, GABA drug
Botox = blocks acetylcholine release at the NMJ, so activation and muscle
contraction can't occur
What is grey matter? - ANSWER-Nuclei
What is white matter? - ANSWER-Axons
Lateralization and stroke - ANSWER-fMRI has shown that there is a lack of
lateralization after stroke. If a healthy person moves their R arm, only the L
hemisphere lights up. If a person after stroke moves their R arm, entire brain lights
up. Decreased lateralization after stroke is also a result of a lack of inhibition to the
intact side of the brain.
What does DTI imaging look at? - ANSWER-White matter pathways on imaging
BMI Scores - ANSWER-< 18.5 is underweight
18.5-25 is normal
25-30 is overweight
30-35 is obese
, Precede-Proceed Model - ANSWER--Comprehensive 9 step model for doing health
promotion in the community
-Assess for need, plan, implement, evaluate the program
Reflex grading - ANSWER-Grading is 0 to 4+
2+ is average
Reflex C5 - ANSWER-Biceps
Reflex C6 - ANSWER-Brachioradialis
Reflex C7 - ANSWER-Triceps
Reflex L4 - ANSWER-Patella
Reflex S1 - ANSWER-Achilles
Hoffman's - ANSWER-Quick extension to distal phalanx of middle finger
Positive is flexion of thumb and all fingers
Sign of UMN lesion
Pronator Drift Test - ANSWER-hold arms up, eyes closed, positive is unilateral
downward drift, pronation, elbow flexion
Sign of UMN lesion
C5 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Biceps
C6 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Wrist extensors
C7 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Triceps
C8 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Finger flexors
T1 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Finger abduction
L2 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Hip flexor
L3 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Knee extension
L4 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Dorsiflexion
L5 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Big toe extension
S1 MMT/Myotome - ANSWER-Ankle plantarflexion
True PF MMT - ANSWER-Full score is 5 full heel raises
Grade 4 is 2-3 reps
