CNIM Practice Exam Questions and Correct
Answers Updated
Question 1
When monitoring CNVIII, why is it important to have a pre-operative audiogram?
a. The presence of hearing loss will not have an effect on the ABR
b. Not necessary
c. Hearing loss will affect the ability to obtain an ABR
Correct Answer
c. Hearing loss will affect the ability to obtain an ABR
Question 2
"Hearing level" (HL) is defined as the:
a. intensity of a long duration sound that has the same amplitude as the peak SPL of a
short duration sound
b. inverse of the sound pressure level
c. average threshold intensity of normally hearing young adults
d. lowest intensity that an average ear drum can hear
Correct Answer
c. average threshold intensity of normally hearing young adults
Question 3
The masking level suggested for the elimination of crossover responses is:
a. 60 dB pe SPL
b. 60 dB nHL
c. 50 dB peSPL
d. 50 dB HL
Correct Answer
a. 60 dB pe SPL
Page 1 of 246
,Question 4
Although the use of electrical cautery can obliterate EP waveforms, intraoperative
monitoring should be continued:
a. Whenever the audible sound of the cautery is present
b. By monitoring the raw (unaveraged) data
c. By averaging the saturated waveforms
d. Because the averager will store reliable waveforms
Correct Answer
b. By monitoring the raw (unaveraged) data
Question 5
What is best described as a disturbance or loss of the ability to use objects
appropriately such as zippers and buttons?
a. ankylosis
b. ataxia
c. apraxia
d. aphasia
Correct Answer
c. apraxia
Question 6
Subdermal needle electrodes must be inserted symmetrically over homologous brain
areas to avoid:
a. Artificial amplitude asymmetries
b. Excessive bleeding
c. Excessive high impedance
d. Common mode rejection of the EEG signal
Correct Answer
a. Artificial amplitude asymmetries
Page 2 of 246
,Question 7
BAEP and SSEPs monitor pathways in less than 20% of the brainstem area.
a. True
b. False
Correct Answer
a. True
Question 8
Which of the following are types of craniotomies? (select all that apply)
a. Carpal tunnel release
b. Aneurysm clipping
c. Embolization of Aneurysm or AVM
d. PLIF
e. Excision of a tumor
f. ACDF
g. AVM Malformation Excision
h. Microvascular Decompression
Correct Answer
b. Aneurysm clipping
c. Embolization of Aneurysm or AVM
e. Excision of a tumor
g. AVM Malformation Excision
h. Microvascular Decompression
Question 9
Projecting laterally from the junction of the pedicle and lamina, and serving as a lever
for muscle and ligaments, are the:
a. intervertebral discs.
b. mamillary processes.
c. intervertebral foramen.
d. transverse processes.
Correct Answer
d. transverse processes.
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, Question 10
Match the recording muscle to the cranial nerve being monitored.
Lateral rectus
Superior Oblique
Lateral soft palate
Crycothyroid or vocalis
Frontalis, orbicularis oculi, nasalis, obicularis oris, and mentalis
Tongue or genioglossus
Inferior rectus/Inferior Oblique
Masseter
Sternocleidomastoid or trapezius
CN III, IV, V, VI, VII, IX, X, XI, XII
Correct Answer
Lateral rectus - VI
Superior Oblique - IV
Lateral soft palate - IX
Crycothyroid or vocalis - X
Frontalis, orbicularis oculi, nasalis, obicularis oris, and mentalis - VII
Tongue or genioglossus - XII
Inferior rectus/Inferior Oblique - III
Masseter - V
Sternocleidomastoid or trapezius - XI
Question 11
What mixed nerve contains only a small motor component to the stylopharyngeus
muscle can be monitored by placing recording electrodes in the lateral aspect of the
soft palate?
a. Oculomotor Nerve (CN III)
b. Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX)
c. Trochlear Nerve (CN IV)
d. Vagus Nerve (CN X)
Correct Answer
b. Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX)
Page 4 of 246
Answers Updated
Question 1
When monitoring CNVIII, why is it important to have a pre-operative audiogram?
a. The presence of hearing loss will not have an effect on the ABR
b. Not necessary
c. Hearing loss will affect the ability to obtain an ABR
Correct Answer
c. Hearing loss will affect the ability to obtain an ABR
Question 2
"Hearing level" (HL) is defined as the:
a. intensity of a long duration sound that has the same amplitude as the peak SPL of a
short duration sound
b. inverse of the sound pressure level
c. average threshold intensity of normally hearing young adults
d. lowest intensity that an average ear drum can hear
Correct Answer
c. average threshold intensity of normally hearing young adults
Question 3
The masking level suggested for the elimination of crossover responses is:
a. 60 dB pe SPL
b. 60 dB nHL
c. 50 dB peSPL
d. 50 dB HL
Correct Answer
a. 60 dB pe SPL
Page 1 of 246
,Question 4
Although the use of electrical cautery can obliterate EP waveforms, intraoperative
monitoring should be continued:
a. Whenever the audible sound of the cautery is present
b. By monitoring the raw (unaveraged) data
c. By averaging the saturated waveforms
d. Because the averager will store reliable waveforms
Correct Answer
b. By monitoring the raw (unaveraged) data
Question 5
What is best described as a disturbance or loss of the ability to use objects
appropriately such as zippers and buttons?
a. ankylosis
b. ataxia
c. apraxia
d. aphasia
Correct Answer
c. apraxia
Question 6
Subdermal needle electrodes must be inserted symmetrically over homologous brain
areas to avoid:
a. Artificial amplitude asymmetries
b. Excessive bleeding
c. Excessive high impedance
d. Common mode rejection of the EEG signal
Correct Answer
a. Artificial amplitude asymmetries
Page 2 of 246
,Question 7
BAEP and SSEPs monitor pathways in less than 20% of the brainstem area.
a. True
b. False
Correct Answer
a. True
Question 8
Which of the following are types of craniotomies? (select all that apply)
a. Carpal tunnel release
b. Aneurysm clipping
c. Embolization of Aneurysm or AVM
d. PLIF
e. Excision of a tumor
f. ACDF
g. AVM Malformation Excision
h. Microvascular Decompression
Correct Answer
b. Aneurysm clipping
c. Embolization of Aneurysm or AVM
e. Excision of a tumor
g. AVM Malformation Excision
h. Microvascular Decompression
Question 9
Projecting laterally from the junction of the pedicle and lamina, and serving as a lever
for muscle and ligaments, are the:
a. intervertebral discs.
b. mamillary processes.
c. intervertebral foramen.
d. transverse processes.
Correct Answer
d. transverse processes.
Page 3 of 246
, Question 10
Match the recording muscle to the cranial nerve being monitored.
Lateral rectus
Superior Oblique
Lateral soft palate
Crycothyroid or vocalis
Frontalis, orbicularis oculi, nasalis, obicularis oris, and mentalis
Tongue or genioglossus
Inferior rectus/Inferior Oblique
Masseter
Sternocleidomastoid or trapezius
CN III, IV, V, VI, VII, IX, X, XI, XII
Correct Answer
Lateral rectus - VI
Superior Oblique - IV
Lateral soft palate - IX
Crycothyroid or vocalis - X
Frontalis, orbicularis oculi, nasalis, obicularis oris, and mentalis - VII
Tongue or genioglossus - XII
Inferior rectus/Inferior Oblique - III
Masseter - V
Sternocleidomastoid or trapezius - XI
Question 11
What mixed nerve contains only a small motor component to the stylopharyngeus
muscle can be monitored by placing recording electrodes in the lateral aspect of the
soft palate?
a. Oculomotor Nerve (CN III)
b. Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX)
c. Trochlear Nerve (CN IV)
d. Vagus Nerve (CN X)
Correct Answer
b. Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX)
Page 4 of 246
