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NR 507 Advanced Pathophysiology Final Exam
2026/2027 | Verified Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Chamberlain Nursing Grade A Study Guide
1. A nurse is teaching about dermatomes. What is a dermatome?
A. An area of skin supplied by branches of a single spinal sensory nerve root
B. A muscle group innervated by a single motor nerve
C. A reflex arc involving sensory and motor neurons
D. A segment of the spinal cord
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A dermatome is an area of skin mainly supplied by branches of a single spinal
sensory nerve root. These spinal sensory nerves enter the nerve root at the spinal cord,
and their branches reach to the periphery of the body.
2. A nurse is teaching about neurotransmitters. Which neurotransmitter is involved in
Alzheimer's disease?
A. Norepinephrine
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B. Dopamine
C. Acetylcholine
D. Serotonin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that can be excitatory or inhibitory.
Decreased acetylcholine is associated with Alzheimer's disease.
3. A nurse is teaching about neurotransmitters. Which neurotransmitter is involved in
the sleep/wake cycle and sympathetic nervous system transmission?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Dopamine
C. Serotonin
D. Norepinephrine
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Norepinephrine is involved in the sleep/wake cycle and sympathetic nervous
system transmission. It can be both excitatory and inhibitory.
4. A nurse is teaching about neurotransmitters. Which neurotransmitter is involved in
Parkinson's disease?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Norepinephrine
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C. Dopamine
D. Serotonin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dopamine has both excitatory (H1 and H2 receptors) and inhibitory (H3
receptors) effects. Dopamine deficiency is associated with Parkinson's disease.
5. A nurse is teaching about spondylolysis. What is spondylolysis?
A. Forward slippage of one vertebra over another
B. Structural defect (degeneration, fracture, or developmental defect) in the pars
interarticularis of the vertebral arch
C. Herniation of the intervertebral disc
D. Narrowing of the spinal canal
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Spondylolysis is a structural defect in the pars interarticularis of the vertebral
arch. The lumbar spine at L5 is most commonly affected. Risk factors include heredity
and other congenital spinal defects.
6. A nurse is teaching about the primary motor area of the brain. Where is the primary
motor area located?
A. Postcentral gyrus
B. Precentral gyrus
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C. Parietal lobe
D. Temporal lobe
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary motor area (Brodmann area 4) is located along the precentral
gyrus, forming the primary voluntary motor area (homunculus). The parietal lobe is the
major area for somatic sensory input, located along the postcentral gyrus.
7. A nurse is teaching about the ischemic penumbra. What is the ischemic penumbra?
A. Area of permanent brain tissue death
B. Ischemic but not infarcted (salvageable) tissue surrounding the core infarct
C. Area of cerebral edema
D. Area of hemorrhagic transformation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ischemic penumbra is peri-infarct tissue that is ischemic but not yet
infarcted (salvageable). It has no structural damage and is the target of acute stroke
therapies.
8. A nurse is teaching about cerebral infarction. When does necrosis appear after an
ischemic stroke?
A. 6-12 hours
B. 24 hours
NR 507 Advanced Pathophysiology Final Exam
2026/2027 | Verified Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Chamberlain Nursing Grade A Study Guide
1. A nurse is teaching about dermatomes. What is a dermatome?
A. An area of skin supplied by branches of a single spinal sensory nerve root
B. A muscle group innervated by a single motor nerve
C. A reflex arc involving sensory and motor neurons
D. A segment of the spinal cord
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A dermatome is an area of skin mainly supplied by branches of a single spinal
sensory nerve root. These spinal sensory nerves enter the nerve root at the spinal cord,
and their branches reach to the periphery of the body.
2. A nurse is teaching about neurotransmitters. Which neurotransmitter is involved in
Alzheimer's disease?
A. Norepinephrine
,2|Page
B. Dopamine
C. Acetylcholine
D. Serotonin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that can be excitatory or inhibitory.
Decreased acetylcholine is associated with Alzheimer's disease.
3. A nurse is teaching about neurotransmitters. Which neurotransmitter is involved in
the sleep/wake cycle and sympathetic nervous system transmission?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Dopamine
C. Serotonin
D. Norepinephrine
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Norepinephrine is involved in the sleep/wake cycle and sympathetic nervous
system transmission. It can be both excitatory and inhibitory.
4. A nurse is teaching about neurotransmitters. Which neurotransmitter is involved in
Parkinson's disease?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Norepinephrine
,3|Page
C. Dopamine
D. Serotonin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dopamine has both excitatory (H1 and H2 receptors) and inhibitory (H3
receptors) effects. Dopamine deficiency is associated with Parkinson's disease.
5. A nurse is teaching about spondylolysis. What is spondylolysis?
A. Forward slippage of one vertebra over another
B. Structural defect (degeneration, fracture, or developmental defect) in the pars
interarticularis of the vertebral arch
C. Herniation of the intervertebral disc
D. Narrowing of the spinal canal
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Spondylolysis is a structural defect in the pars interarticularis of the vertebral
arch. The lumbar spine at L5 is most commonly affected. Risk factors include heredity
and other congenital spinal defects.
6. A nurse is teaching about the primary motor area of the brain. Where is the primary
motor area located?
A. Postcentral gyrus
B. Precentral gyrus
, 4|Page
C. Parietal lobe
D. Temporal lobe
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary motor area (Brodmann area 4) is located along the precentral
gyrus, forming the primary voluntary motor area (homunculus). The parietal lobe is the
major area for somatic sensory input, located along the postcentral gyrus.
7. A nurse is teaching about the ischemic penumbra. What is the ischemic penumbra?
A. Area of permanent brain tissue death
B. Ischemic but not infarcted (salvageable) tissue surrounding the core infarct
C. Area of cerebral edema
D. Area of hemorrhagic transformation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ischemic penumbra is peri-infarct tissue that is ischemic but not yet
infarcted (salvageable). It has no structural damage and is the target of acute stroke
therapies.
8. A nurse is teaching about cerebral infarction. When does necrosis appear after an
ischemic stroke?
A. 6-12 hours
B. 24 hours
