SUNY DOWNSTATE MEDICAL CENTER NRMS 5190 |
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 3 STUDY GUIDE | 100% UPDATED
FALL 2025/26, A+ GUIDE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
Somatosensory Function and Pain Pathways
Neurological Pathophysiology: ICP, TBI, and Spinal Disorders
Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Disorders
Cerebrovascular Disorders and Stroke
Endocrine Pathophysiology: Pituitary, Thyroid, and Adrenal
Disorders
Diabetes Insipidus and SIADH
Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Test Interpretation
Pharmacology and Therapeutic Interventions
Introduction
This comprehensive examination assesses the advanced
pathophysiology knowledge required for NRMS 5190 Exam 3 at
SUNY Downstate Medical Center. It evaluates somatosensory
function, pain pathways, neurological disorders, and endocrine
pathophysiology. Items emphasize disease mechanisms, clinical
manifestations, diagnostic reasoning, and evidence-based
management. The exam integrates multiple-choice and scenario-
based questions to prepare graduate nursing students for advanced
clinical practice and certification.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. Which pathway in the study guide carries pain, thermal
sensation, crude touch, and pressure?
A. Extrapyramidal system
B. Discriminative pathway
C. Pyramidal motor system
D. Anterolateral pathway
🟢 D. Anterolateral pathway
🔴 RATIONALE: The study guide identifies the anterolateral
pathway as carrying pain, thermal sensation, crude touch, and
pressure.
2. A patient can identify a screwdriver placed in the hand
without looking at it. Which sensory ability is being
demonstrated?
A. Avolition
B. Stereognosis
C. Bradykinesia
D. Allodynia
🟢 B. Stereognosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Stereognosis is the ability to recognize the shape
and size of an object without visualization and requires intact
discriminative pathways and higher-order parietal association
cortex.
3. Which pain fibers are associated with fast pain?
A. Oligodendrocytes
B. C fibers
,C. Schwann cells
D. A-delta fibers
🟢 D. A-delta fibers
🔴 RATIONALE: The notes distinguish A-delta fibers as the fast
pain fibers, whereas C fibers are smaller and slower.
4. Which tract is associated with sharp, stabbing pain?
A. Pyramidal tract
B. Nigrostriatal pathway
C. Neospinothalamic tract
D. Paleospinothalamic tract
🟢 C. Neospinothalamic tract
🔴 RATIONALE: The study guide links the neospinothalamic tract
with sharp, stabbing pain.
5. Which description best matches visceral pain?
A. Sharp burning pain originating in skin and subcutaneous tissue
B. Pain limited to a ligament after abnormal joint movement
C. A painless sensory deficit confined to one peripheral nerve
D. Diffuse, poorly defined pain originating in visceral organs
🟢 D. Diffuse, poorly defined pain originating in visceral organs
🔴 RATIONALE: Visceral pain is diffuse and poorly defined, arises
from visceral organs, and is the most common pain produced by
disease.
6. A sprained ankle is used in the study guide as an example of
which type of pain?
, A. Cutaneous pain
B. Deep somatic pain
C. Referred pain
D. Visceral pain
🟢 B. Deep somatic pain
🔴 RATIONALE: Deep somatic pain originates in structures such
as periosteum, muscles, tendons, joints, and blood vessels; a
sprained ankle is the example provided.
7. A patient has recurrent sharp, stabbing facial pain without
numbness. Which disorder is most consistent with the study
guide?
A. Trigeminal neuralgia
B. Phantom limb pain
C. Complex regional pain syndrome
D. Postherpetic neuralgia
🟢 A. Trigeminal neuralgia
🔴 RATIONALE: Trigeminal neuralgia is described as sharp,
stabbing pain without numbness and involves cranial nerve V with
demyelination of axons in the ganglion, root, and nerve.
8. Trigeminal neuralgia primarily involves which cranial nerve
according to the notes?
A. Cranial nerve VII
B. Cranial nerve X
C. Cranial nerve V
D. Cranial nerve II
🟢 C. Cranial nerve V
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 3 STUDY GUIDE | 100% UPDATED
FALL 2025/26, A+ GUIDE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
Somatosensory Function and Pain Pathways
Neurological Pathophysiology: ICP, TBI, and Spinal Disorders
Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Disorders
Cerebrovascular Disorders and Stroke
Endocrine Pathophysiology: Pituitary, Thyroid, and Adrenal
Disorders
Diabetes Insipidus and SIADH
Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Test Interpretation
Pharmacology and Therapeutic Interventions
Introduction
This comprehensive examination assesses the advanced
pathophysiology knowledge required for NRMS 5190 Exam 3 at
SUNY Downstate Medical Center. It evaluates somatosensory
function, pain pathways, neurological disorders, and endocrine
pathophysiology. Items emphasize disease mechanisms, clinical
manifestations, diagnostic reasoning, and evidence-based
management. The exam integrates multiple-choice and scenario-
based questions to prepare graduate nursing students for advanced
clinical practice and certification.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. Which pathway in the study guide carries pain, thermal
sensation, crude touch, and pressure?
A. Extrapyramidal system
B. Discriminative pathway
C. Pyramidal motor system
D. Anterolateral pathway
🟢 D. Anterolateral pathway
🔴 RATIONALE: The study guide identifies the anterolateral
pathway as carrying pain, thermal sensation, crude touch, and
pressure.
2. A patient can identify a screwdriver placed in the hand
without looking at it. Which sensory ability is being
demonstrated?
A. Avolition
B. Stereognosis
C. Bradykinesia
D. Allodynia
🟢 B. Stereognosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Stereognosis is the ability to recognize the shape
and size of an object without visualization and requires intact
discriminative pathways and higher-order parietal association
cortex.
3. Which pain fibers are associated with fast pain?
A. Oligodendrocytes
B. C fibers
,C. Schwann cells
D. A-delta fibers
🟢 D. A-delta fibers
🔴 RATIONALE: The notes distinguish A-delta fibers as the fast
pain fibers, whereas C fibers are smaller and slower.
4. Which tract is associated with sharp, stabbing pain?
A. Pyramidal tract
B. Nigrostriatal pathway
C. Neospinothalamic tract
D. Paleospinothalamic tract
🟢 C. Neospinothalamic tract
🔴 RATIONALE: The study guide links the neospinothalamic tract
with sharp, stabbing pain.
5. Which description best matches visceral pain?
A. Sharp burning pain originating in skin and subcutaneous tissue
B. Pain limited to a ligament after abnormal joint movement
C. A painless sensory deficit confined to one peripheral nerve
D. Diffuse, poorly defined pain originating in visceral organs
🟢 D. Diffuse, poorly defined pain originating in visceral organs
🔴 RATIONALE: Visceral pain is diffuse and poorly defined, arises
from visceral organs, and is the most common pain produced by
disease.
6. A sprained ankle is used in the study guide as an example of
which type of pain?
, A. Cutaneous pain
B. Deep somatic pain
C. Referred pain
D. Visceral pain
🟢 B. Deep somatic pain
🔴 RATIONALE: Deep somatic pain originates in structures such
as periosteum, muscles, tendons, joints, and blood vessels; a
sprained ankle is the example provided.
7. A patient has recurrent sharp, stabbing facial pain without
numbness. Which disorder is most consistent with the study
guide?
A. Trigeminal neuralgia
B. Phantom limb pain
C. Complex regional pain syndrome
D. Postherpetic neuralgia
🟢 A. Trigeminal neuralgia
🔴 RATIONALE: Trigeminal neuralgia is described as sharp,
stabbing pain without numbness and involves cranial nerve V with
demyelination of axons in the ganglion, root, and nerve.
8. Trigeminal neuralgia primarily involves which cranial nerve
according to the notes?
A. Cranial nerve VII
B. Cranial nerve X
C. Cranial nerve V
D. Cranial nerve II
🟢 C. Cranial nerve V
