NU 545 EXAM 2 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM
TEST BANK UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH
ALABAMA ACTUAL 2026/2027 HIGH YIELD
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE ACCURATE EXAM REAL
QUESTIONS WITH WELL ELABORATED
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES (100%
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS)
Question 1
A 32-year-old man suffers a knife wound that transects a peripheral nerve in
his forearm. Six weeks later, you note slow return of motor function in the
muscles supplied by that nerve. Which cellular process best explains this
recovery?
A. Proliferation of oligodendrocytes forming new myelin sheaths
B. Axonal sprouting guided by Schwann cell columns in the distal stump
C. Mitosis of mature motor neurons in the spinal cord ventral horn
1
,D. Retrograde degeneration of the entire neuron and replacement with glial
scar
Rationale: In the PNS, cut myelinated axons can regenerate by Wallerian
degeneration distally and axonal sprouting proximally; Schwann cells
proliferate to form tubes that guide regenerating axons back to their targets.
This slow regrowth (~1 mm/day) underlies the patient’s gradual motor
recovery.
Question 2
A 68-year-old woman with Parkinson disease presents with resting tremor
and bradykinesia. Which neuroanatomic change is primarily responsible for
these manifestations?
A. Demyelination of corticospinal tracts in the lateral columns
B. Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars
compacta
C. Atrophy of the caudate nucleus and putamen
D. Loss of lower motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord
Rationale: Parkinson disease is characterized by degeneration of dopamine-
producing neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The loss of
dopamine disrupts the direct and indirect pathways of the basal ganglia,
leading to the classic motor symptoms of resting tremor, rigidity,
bradykinesia, and postural instability. Demyelination of corticospinal tracts
would produce upper motor neuron signs (spasticity, hyperreflexia). Caudate
atrophy is seen in Huntington disease. Lower motor neuron loss would cause
flaccid paralysis and muscle atrophy.
2
,Question 3
Which term describes nerve fibers that carry sensory information toward the
spinal cord?
A. Efferent fibers
B. Afferent fibers
C. Interneurons
D. Motor neurons
Rationale: Afferent (sensory) neurons carry impulses toward the CNS,
specifically toward the spinal cord and brain. Efferent (motor) neurons carry
impulses away from the CNS to muscles and glands. Interneurons are
confined within the CNS and connect afferent and efferent pathways. This
afferent/efferent distinction is fundamental to understanding
neuroanatomical pathways and clinical assessment.
Question 4
Which type of nervous system injury has a better prognosis for recovery?
A. A severed (cut) nerve
B. A crushed nerve
C. A nerve affected by complete transection
D. All nerve injuries have identical outcomes
Rationale: A crushed nerve generally has a better prognosis because the
nerve’s connective tissue framework may remain intact, allowing axons to
regenerate along their original pathways. In a severe crush injury, Wallerian
3
, degeneration occurs distal to the injury, followed by axonal regeneration
supported by Schwann cells. In contrast, a completely severed or transected
nerve has disruption of the nerve’s continuity, making accurate axonal
regeneration difficult and often requiring surgical repair. Recovery in
peripheral nerves occurs slowly, typically around 1 mm/day.
Question 5
A patient develops difficulty planning, organizing, and inhibiting
inappropriate behavior following a frontal-lobe injury. Which region is most
directly responsible for these higher-order functions?
A. Occipital cortex
B. Cerebellar cortex
C. Prefrontal cortex
D. Primary auditory cortex
Rationale: The prefrontal cortex is involved in executive functions such as
planning, decision-making, judgment, organization, working memory, and
behavioral inhibition.
Question 6
A patient can hear spoken words but cannot understand their meaning after
an ischemic injury to the dominant temporal lobe. Which finding would
most likely accompany this lesion?
A. Fluent but meaningless speech
B. Complete loss of voluntary movement
4
TEST BANK UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH
ALABAMA ACTUAL 2026/2027 HIGH YIELD
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE ACCURATE EXAM REAL
QUESTIONS WITH WELL ELABORATED
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES (100%
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS)
Question 1
A 32-year-old man suffers a knife wound that transects a peripheral nerve in
his forearm. Six weeks later, you note slow return of motor function in the
muscles supplied by that nerve. Which cellular process best explains this
recovery?
A. Proliferation of oligodendrocytes forming new myelin sheaths
B. Axonal sprouting guided by Schwann cell columns in the distal stump
C. Mitosis of mature motor neurons in the spinal cord ventral horn
1
,D. Retrograde degeneration of the entire neuron and replacement with glial
scar
Rationale: In the PNS, cut myelinated axons can regenerate by Wallerian
degeneration distally and axonal sprouting proximally; Schwann cells
proliferate to form tubes that guide regenerating axons back to their targets.
This slow regrowth (~1 mm/day) underlies the patient’s gradual motor
recovery.
Question 2
A 68-year-old woman with Parkinson disease presents with resting tremor
and bradykinesia. Which neuroanatomic change is primarily responsible for
these manifestations?
A. Demyelination of corticospinal tracts in the lateral columns
B. Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars
compacta
C. Atrophy of the caudate nucleus and putamen
D. Loss of lower motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord
Rationale: Parkinson disease is characterized by degeneration of dopamine-
producing neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The loss of
dopamine disrupts the direct and indirect pathways of the basal ganglia,
leading to the classic motor symptoms of resting tremor, rigidity,
bradykinesia, and postural instability. Demyelination of corticospinal tracts
would produce upper motor neuron signs (spasticity, hyperreflexia). Caudate
atrophy is seen in Huntington disease. Lower motor neuron loss would cause
flaccid paralysis and muscle atrophy.
2
,Question 3
Which term describes nerve fibers that carry sensory information toward the
spinal cord?
A. Efferent fibers
B. Afferent fibers
C. Interneurons
D. Motor neurons
Rationale: Afferent (sensory) neurons carry impulses toward the CNS,
specifically toward the spinal cord and brain. Efferent (motor) neurons carry
impulses away from the CNS to muscles and glands. Interneurons are
confined within the CNS and connect afferent and efferent pathways. This
afferent/efferent distinction is fundamental to understanding
neuroanatomical pathways and clinical assessment.
Question 4
Which type of nervous system injury has a better prognosis for recovery?
A. A severed (cut) nerve
B. A crushed nerve
C. A nerve affected by complete transection
D. All nerve injuries have identical outcomes
Rationale: A crushed nerve generally has a better prognosis because the
nerve’s connective tissue framework may remain intact, allowing axons to
regenerate along their original pathways. In a severe crush injury, Wallerian
3
, degeneration occurs distal to the injury, followed by axonal regeneration
supported by Schwann cells. In contrast, a completely severed or transected
nerve has disruption of the nerve’s continuity, making accurate axonal
regeneration difficult and often requiring surgical repair. Recovery in
peripheral nerves occurs slowly, typically around 1 mm/day.
Question 5
A patient develops difficulty planning, organizing, and inhibiting
inappropriate behavior following a frontal-lobe injury. Which region is most
directly responsible for these higher-order functions?
A. Occipital cortex
B. Cerebellar cortex
C. Prefrontal cortex
D. Primary auditory cortex
Rationale: The prefrontal cortex is involved in executive functions such as
planning, decision-making, judgment, organization, working memory, and
behavioral inhibition.
Question 6
A patient can hear spoken words but cannot understand their meaning after
an ischemic injury to the dominant temporal lobe. Which finding would
most likely accompany this lesion?
A. Fluent but meaningless speech
B. Complete loss of voluntary movement
4
