NSG 530 EXAM 3 REVIEW |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
2026/2027 UPDATE | WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS - WILKES.
SECTION 1: NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEM PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Question 1
What is the most common cause of ischemic stroke?
A) Atherosclerosis with thromboembolism
B) Atrial fibrillation
C) Carotid artery dissection
D) Small vessel disease (lacunar stroke)
Rationale: Atherosclerosis with thromboembolism is the most common cause of
ischemic stroke (approximately 60-70%). Atrial fibrillation is the most common cause of
cardioembolic stroke. Large artery atherosclerosis and small vessel disease are also
significant contributors.
Question 2
A patient presents with sudden onset of right-sided weakness, facial droop, and
aphasia. What is the most likely location of the stroke?
,A) Right middle cerebral artery (MCA)
B) Left middle cerebral artery (MCA)
C) Left anterior cerebral artery (ACA)
D) Right posterior cerebral artery (PCA)
Rationale: The left MCA supplies the dominant (usually left) hemisphere's language
areas (Broca's and Wernicke's). A left MCA stroke causes right-sided weakness and
aphasia. Right MCA stroke causes left-sided weakness and neglect.
Question 3
What is the most common type of hemorrhagic stroke?
A) Subarachnoid hemorrhage
B) Intracerebral hemorrhage
C) Subdural hematoma
D) Epidural hematoma
Rationale: Intracerebral hemorrhage is the most common type of hemorrhagic stroke,
most often caused by hypertension. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is most commonly
caused by a ruptured cerebral aneurysm.
Question 4
What is the most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage?
A) Hypertension
B) Ruptured saccular (berry) aneurysm
C) Arteriovenous malformation
D) Trauma
Rationale: Ruptured saccular (berry) aneurysm is the most common cause of
subarachnoid hemorrhage (approximately 85%), typically occurring at the Circle of
Willis.
,Question 5
What is the hallmark symptom of subarachnoid hemorrhage?
A) Sudden-onset "thunderclap" headache
B) Gradual onset of headache
C) Focal neurological deficits
D) Seizures
Rationale: Subarachnoid hemorrhage classically presents with a sudden-onset
"thunderclap" headache, described as the "worst headache of my life." Meningismus
and photophobia are also common.
Question 6
What is the most common cause of transient ischemic attack (TIA)?
A) Embolism
B) Thrombosis
C) Vasospasm
D) Hypotension
Rationale: Embolism is the most common cause of TIA. Symptoms resolve within 24
hours (most within 1 hour). TIA is a strong predictor of future stroke.
Question 7
What is the most common type of dementia?
A) Alzheimer's disease
B) Vascular dementia
C) Lewy body dementia
D) Frontotemporal dementia
, Rationale: Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia (approximately
60-80% of cases), characterized by amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
Question 8
What is the most common risk factor for Alzheimer's disease?
A) Advanced age
B) Family history
C) APOE ε4 allele
D) Head trauma
Rationale: Advanced age is the most significant risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. The
APOE ε4 allele is the strongest genetic risk factor.
Question 9
What is the hallmark of Parkinson's disease?
A) Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra
B) Degeneration of cholinergic neurons
C) Amyloid plaques
D) Lewy bodies in the cortex
Rationale: Parkinson's disease is characterized by degeneration of dopaminergic
neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to dopamine deficiency. Lewy
bodies are present in surviving neurons.
Question 10
What are the cardinal features of Parkinson's disease?
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
2026/2027 UPDATE | WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS - WILKES.
SECTION 1: NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEM PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Question 1
What is the most common cause of ischemic stroke?
A) Atherosclerosis with thromboembolism
B) Atrial fibrillation
C) Carotid artery dissection
D) Small vessel disease (lacunar stroke)
Rationale: Atherosclerosis with thromboembolism is the most common cause of
ischemic stroke (approximately 60-70%). Atrial fibrillation is the most common cause of
cardioembolic stroke. Large artery atherosclerosis and small vessel disease are also
significant contributors.
Question 2
A patient presents with sudden onset of right-sided weakness, facial droop, and
aphasia. What is the most likely location of the stroke?
,A) Right middle cerebral artery (MCA)
B) Left middle cerebral artery (MCA)
C) Left anterior cerebral artery (ACA)
D) Right posterior cerebral artery (PCA)
Rationale: The left MCA supplies the dominant (usually left) hemisphere's language
areas (Broca's and Wernicke's). A left MCA stroke causes right-sided weakness and
aphasia. Right MCA stroke causes left-sided weakness and neglect.
Question 3
What is the most common type of hemorrhagic stroke?
A) Subarachnoid hemorrhage
B) Intracerebral hemorrhage
C) Subdural hematoma
D) Epidural hematoma
Rationale: Intracerebral hemorrhage is the most common type of hemorrhagic stroke,
most often caused by hypertension. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is most commonly
caused by a ruptured cerebral aneurysm.
Question 4
What is the most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage?
A) Hypertension
B) Ruptured saccular (berry) aneurysm
C) Arteriovenous malformation
D) Trauma
Rationale: Ruptured saccular (berry) aneurysm is the most common cause of
subarachnoid hemorrhage (approximately 85%), typically occurring at the Circle of
Willis.
,Question 5
What is the hallmark symptom of subarachnoid hemorrhage?
A) Sudden-onset "thunderclap" headache
B) Gradual onset of headache
C) Focal neurological deficits
D) Seizures
Rationale: Subarachnoid hemorrhage classically presents with a sudden-onset
"thunderclap" headache, described as the "worst headache of my life." Meningismus
and photophobia are also common.
Question 6
What is the most common cause of transient ischemic attack (TIA)?
A) Embolism
B) Thrombosis
C) Vasospasm
D) Hypotension
Rationale: Embolism is the most common cause of TIA. Symptoms resolve within 24
hours (most within 1 hour). TIA is a strong predictor of future stroke.
Question 7
What is the most common type of dementia?
A) Alzheimer's disease
B) Vascular dementia
C) Lewy body dementia
D) Frontotemporal dementia
, Rationale: Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia (approximately
60-80% of cases), characterized by amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
Question 8
What is the most common risk factor for Alzheimer's disease?
A) Advanced age
B) Family history
C) APOE ε4 allele
D) Head trauma
Rationale: Advanced age is the most significant risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. The
APOE ε4 allele is the strongest genetic risk factor.
Question 9
What is the hallmark of Parkinson's disease?
A) Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra
B) Degeneration of cholinergic neurons
C) Amyloid plaques
D) Lewy bodies in the cortex
Rationale: Parkinson's disease is characterized by degeneration of dopaminergic
neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to dopamine deficiency. Lewy
bodies are present in surviving neurons.
Question 10
What are the cardinal features of Parkinson's disease?
