GNRS 515 Patho Exam 3 ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
When a patient asks what the somatic nervous system controls, how should the nurse
respond? It controls:
1.The heart
2.The spinal cord
3.Skeletal muscle
4.Smooth muscle organs - CORRECT ANSWER 3.Skeletal muscle
The somatic nervous system consists of pathways that regulate voluntary motor control, the
skeletal muscle system.
A 19-year-old male college student reports to his primary care provider that he cannot stay
awake in class regardless of how much sleep he gets. A drug that stimulates which of the
following areas would best treat his problem?
1.Corpora quadrigemina
2.Reticular activating system
3.Cerebellum
4.Hypothalamus - CORRECT ANSWER 2.Reticular activating system
The reticular activating system is responsible for wakefulness.
A 32-year-old female suffers from severe brain damage following a motor vehicle accident.
After rehabilitation she notices that her thought processes and goal-oriented behavior are
impaired. Which area does the nurse suspect is damaged?
1.Thalamus
2.Limbic
,3.Prefrontal
4.Occipital - CORRECT ANSWER 3.Prefrontal
The prefrontal area is responsible for goal-oriented behavior (e.g., ability to concentrate),
short-term or recall memory, the elaboration of thought, and inhibition on the limbic areas of
the CNS.
A neurologist is teaching about the region responsible for motor aspects of speech. Which
area is the neurologist discussing?
1.Wernicke area
2.Broca area
3.Primary speech area
4.Insula - CORRECT ANSWER 2.Broca area
Broca's area is associated with speech production and articulation. Wernicke's area is a
critical language area that connects to Broca's area via a neural pathway. Wernicke's area is
primarily involved in comprehension.
A 45-year-old male was previously diagnosed with Parkinson disease. He has impaired fine
repetitive motor movements. Which of the following areas does the nurse suspect is most
likely damaged?
1.Basal ganglia
2.Prefrontal area
3.Hippocampus
4.Temporal lobe - CORRECT ANSWER 1.Basal ganglia
The basal ganglia system is believed to exert a stabilizing effect on motor movements.
Parkinson disease and Huntington disease are conditions associated with defects of the basal
ganglia. They are characterized by various involuntary or exaggerated motor movements.
,A neurologist is teaching about the location of the primary visual cortex in the brain. Which
area is the neurologist discussing?
1.Frontal lobe
2.Temporal lobe
3.Occipital lobe
4.Parietal lobe - CORRECT ANSWER 3.Occipital lobe
The visual cortex is located in the occipital lobe.
When a nurse is teaching about the transverse fiber tract that connects the two cerebral
hemispheres, what term should the nurse use?
1.Peduncle
2.Corpus callosum
3.Basal ganglia
4.Pons - CORRECT ANSWER 2.Corpus callosum
The corpus callosum connects the two cerebral hemispheres and is essential in coordinating
activities between hemispheres.
What term should the nurse use when talking about the outermost membrane surrounding the
brain?
1.Dura mater
2.Arachnoid mater
3.Pia mater
4.Falx cerebri - CORRECT ANSWER 1.Dura mater
The dura mater is the outer layer of the brain.
, The _____ ensures collateral blood flow from blood vessels supplying the brain.
1.Carotid arteries
2.Basal artery
3.Circle of Willis
4.Vertebral arteries - CORRECT ANSWER 3.Circle of Willis
The circle of Willis ensures collateral blood circulation in the brain.
When a student asks which type of nerves transmit nerve impulses at the fastest rate, what is
the best response by the nurse?
1.Large, non-myelinated
2.Small, myelinated
3.Large, myelinated
4.Small, non-myelinated - CORRECT ANSWER 3.Large, myelinated
Large and myelinated nerves transmit impulses at the fastest rate.
The nurse is assessing the patient with a pen light. The integrity of which cranial nerve is
being evaluated?
1.Olfactory
2.Vagus
3.Oculomotor
4.Trigeminal - CORRECT ANSWER 3.Oculomotor
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
When a patient asks what the somatic nervous system controls, how should the nurse
respond? It controls:
1.The heart
2.The spinal cord
3.Skeletal muscle
4.Smooth muscle organs - CORRECT ANSWER 3.Skeletal muscle
The somatic nervous system consists of pathways that regulate voluntary motor control, the
skeletal muscle system.
A 19-year-old male college student reports to his primary care provider that he cannot stay
awake in class regardless of how much sleep he gets. A drug that stimulates which of the
following areas would best treat his problem?
1.Corpora quadrigemina
2.Reticular activating system
3.Cerebellum
4.Hypothalamus - CORRECT ANSWER 2.Reticular activating system
The reticular activating system is responsible for wakefulness.
A 32-year-old female suffers from severe brain damage following a motor vehicle accident.
After rehabilitation she notices that her thought processes and goal-oriented behavior are
impaired. Which area does the nurse suspect is damaged?
1.Thalamus
2.Limbic
,3.Prefrontal
4.Occipital - CORRECT ANSWER 3.Prefrontal
The prefrontal area is responsible for goal-oriented behavior (e.g., ability to concentrate),
short-term or recall memory, the elaboration of thought, and inhibition on the limbic areas of
the CNS.
A neurologist is teaching about the region responsible for motor aspects of speech. Which
area is the neurologist discussing?
1.Wernicke area
2.Broca area
3.Primary speech area
4.Insula - CORRECT ANSWER 2.Broca area
Broca's area is associated with speech production and articulation. Wernicke's area is a
critical language area that connects to Broca's area via a neural pathway. Wernicke's area is
primarily involved in comprehension.
A 45-year-old male was previously diagnosed with Parkinson disease. He has impaired fine
repetitive motor movements. Which of the following areas does the nurse suspect is most
likely damaged?
1.Basal ganglia
2.Prefrontal area
3.Hippocampus
4.Temporal lobe - CORRECT ANSWER 1.Basal ganglia
The basal ganglia system is believed to exert a stabilizing effect on motor movements.
Parkinson disease and Huntington disease are conditions associated with defects of the basal
ganglia. They are characterized by various involuntary or exaggerated motor movements.
,A neurologist is teaching about the location of the primary visual cortex in the brain. Which
area is the neurologist discussing?
1.Frontal lobe
2.Temporal lobe
3.Occipital lobe
4.Parietal lobe - CORRECT ANSWER 3.Occipital lobe
The visual cortex is located in the occipital lobe.
When a nurse is teaching about the transverse fiber tract that connects the two cerebral
hemispheres, what term should the nurse use?
1.Peduncle
2.Corpus callosum
3.Basal ganglia
4.Pons - CORRECT ANSWER 2.Corpus callosum
The corpus callosum connects the two cerebral hemispheres and is essential in coordinating
activities between hemispheres.
What term should the nurse use when talking about the outermost membrane surrounding the
brain?
1.Dura mater
2.Arachnoid mater
3.Pia mater
4.Falx cerebri - CORRECT ANSWER 1.Dura mater
The dura mater is the outer layer of the brain.
, The _____ ensures collateral blood flow from blood vessels supplying the brain.
1.Carotid arteries
2.Basal artery
3.Circle of Willis
4.Vertebral arteries - CORRECT ANSWER 3.Circle of Willis
The circle of Willis ensures collateral blood circulation in the brain.
When a student asks which type of nerves transmit nerve impulses at the fastest rate, what is
the best response by the nurse?
1.Large, non-myelinated
2.Small, myelinated
3.Large, myelinated
4.Small, non-myelinated - CORRECT ANSWER 3.Large, myelinated
Large and myelinated nerves transmit impulses at the fastest rate.
The nurse is assessing the patient with a pen light. The integrity of which cranial nerve is
being evaluated?
1.Olfactory
2.Vagus
3.Oculomotor
4.Trigeminal - CORRECT ANSWER 3.Oculomotor
