,HSC 203 Midterm Exam Pathophysiology Questions And Answers
2026/2027 Jersey College
Q1. Which pathophysiologic event most directly causes neuronal
injury during an ischemic stroke?
A) Excessive oxygen delivery to neurons
B) Interruption of cerebral blood flow causes ATP depletion and cellular
dysfunction
C) Increased cerebrospinal fluid production
D) Excessive myelin formation
Correct Answer: B) Interruption of cerebral blood flow causes ATP depletion
and cellular dysfunction
Rationale: Reduced cerebral perfusion deprives neurons of oxygen and
glucose, rapidly impairing ATP-dependent membrane pumps and leading to
cellular swelling and death.
Q2. An ischemic stroke differs from a hemorrhagic stroke because
ischemic stroke results primarily from:
A) Obstruction of cerebral blood flow
B) Rupture of a cerebral vessel
C) Infection of the meninges
D) Excess cerebrospinal fluid formation
Correct Answer: A) Obstruction of cerebral blood flow
Rationale: Ischemic stroke occurs when a thrombus, embolus, or other
vascular obstruction reduces blood supply to brain tissue.
Q3. A patient suddenly develops weakness of the right arm and
difficulty speaking. Which cerebral region is most likely affected?
A) Right cerebral hemisphere only
B) Cerebellum
C) Left cerebral hemisphere
D) Spinal cord
Correct Answer: C) Left cerebral hemisphere
Rationale: Motor pathways generally cross, so left cerebral injury can cause
right-sided weakness. Language centers are also commonly located in the
left hemisphere.
, Q4. Which mechanism causes increased intracranial pressure after a
major brain injury?
A) Expansion of brain tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid within the fixed
cranial space
B) Increased skull flexibility in adults
C) Reduced cerebral blood volume in every case
D) Decreased tissue water
Correct Answer: A) Expansion of brain tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid
within the fixed cranial space
Rationale: The adult skull cannot expand significantly, so increases in brain
tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid can elevate intracranial pressure.
Q5. Why can severely increased intracranial pressure reduce
cerebral perfusion?
A) Rising intracranial pressure opposes arterial blood flow into the brain
B) It permanently increases cerebral oxygen extraction
C) It lowers pressure surrounding cerebral vessels
D) It causes unlimited expansion of cerebral arteries
Correct Answer: A) Rising intracranial pressure opposes arterial blood flow
into the brain
Rationale: Cerebral perfusion depends on the pressure gradient between
mean arterial pressure and intracranial pressure. As intracranial pressure
rises, effective cerebral perfusion falls.
Q6. Which combination is most concerning for advanced increased
intracranial pressure?
A) Hypotension, tachycardia, and rapid regular breathing
B) Hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations
C) Fever, diarrhea, and hypotension
D) Tachycardia, polyuria, and thirst
Correct Answer: B) Hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations
Rationale: This pattern reflects a late compensatory response to critically
elevated intracranial pressure and possible brainstem compression.
Q7. Communicating hydrocephalus most commonly results from
which abnormality?
2026/2027 Jersey College
Q1. Which pathophysiologic event most directly causes neuronal
injury during an ischemic stroke?
A) Excessive oxygen delivery to neurons
B) Interruption of cerebral blood flow causes ATP depletion and cellular
dysfunction
C) Increased cerebrospinal fluid production
D) Excessive myelin formation
Correct Answer: B) Interruption of cerebral blood flow causes ATP depletion
and cellular dysfunction
Rationale: Reduced cerebral perfusion deprives neurons of oxygen and
glucose, rapidly impairing ATP-dependent membrane pumps and leading to
cellular swelling and death.
Q2. An ischemic stroke differs from a hemorrhagic stroke because
ischemic stroke results primarily from:
A) Obstruction of cerebral blood flow
B) Rupture of a cerebral vessel
C) Infection of the meninges
D) Excess cerebrospinal fluid formation
Correct Answer: A) Obstruction of cerebral blood flow
Rationale: Ischemic stroke occurs when a thrombus, embolus, or other
vascular obstruction reduces blood supply to brain tissue.
Q3. A patient suddenly develops weakness of the right arm and
difficulty speaking. Which cerebral region is most likely affected?
A) Right cerebral hemisphere only
B) Cerebellum
C) Left cerebral hemisphere
D) Spinal cord
Correct Answer: C) Left cerebral hemisphere
Rationale: Motor pathways generally cross, so left cerebral injury can cause
right-sided weakness. Language centers are also commonly located in the
left hemisphere.
, Q4. Which mechanism causes increased intracranial pressure after a
major brain injury?
A) Expansion of brain tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid within the fixed
cranial space
B) Increased skull flexibility in adults
C) Reduced cerebral blood volume in every case
D) Decreased tissue water
Correct Answer: A) Expansion of brain tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid
within the fixed cranial space
Rationale: The adult skull cannot expand significantly, so increases in brain
tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid can elevate intracranial pressure.
Q5. Why can severely increased intracranial pressure reduce
cerebral perfusion?
A) Rising intracranial pressure opposes arterial blood flow into the brain
B) It permanently increases cerebral oxygen extraction
C) It lowers pressure surrounding cerebral vessels
D) It causes unlimited expansion of cerebral arteries
Correct Answer: A) Rising intracranial pressure opposes arterial blood flow
into the brain
Rationale: Cerebral perfusion depends on the pressure gradient between
mean arterial pressure and intracranial pressure. As intracranial pressure
rises, effective cerebral perfusion falls.
Q6. Which combination is most concerning for advanced increased
intracranial pressure?
A) Hypotension, tachycardia, and rapid regular breathing
B) Hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations
C) Fever, diarrhea, and hypotension
D) Tachycardia, polyuria, and thirst
Correct Answer: B) Hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations
Rationale: This pattern reflects a late compensatory response to critically
elevated intracranial pressure and possible brainstem compression.
Q7. Communicating hydrocephalus most commonly results from
which abnormality?
