EMT Chapter 17 - Neurologic Emergencies -
Multiple Choice UPDATED Exam Questions
and CORRECT Answers
A 41-year-old man presents with slow, irregular breathing; hypotension; and dilated pupils.
These signs MOST likely indicate dysfunction of the:
A. brain stem.
B. hypothalamus.
C. cerebrum.
D. cerebellum. - CORRECT ANSWER - Answer: A
Rationale: The brain stem is responsible for functions such as breathing, blood pressure, and
pupil constriction. Brain stem dysfunction would result in abnormal findings with these
functions.
An acute ischemic stroke is caused by:
A. a ruptured cerebral artery.
B. increased intracranial pressure.
C. an acute rise in a person's blood pressure.
D. a blocked cerebral artery. - CORRECT ANSWER - Answer: D
Rationale: There are two types of stroke—hemorrhagic and ischemic. A hemorrhagic stroke is
caused by a ruptured cerebral artery (aneurysm), which causes bleeding within the brain and
increased intracranial pressure. An ischemic stroke is caused by a blocked cerebral artery—either
from a clot that grows locally (thrombus) or that travels to the brain from another part of the
body (embolus).
A 56-year-old man experienced a sudden, severe headache and then became unresponsive. He
has a history of high blood pressure. The MOST likely cause of his condition is a(n):
A. hemorrhagic stroke.
, B. acute ischemic stroke.
C. severe migraine headache.
D. transient ischemic attack. - CORRECT ANSWER - Answer: A
Rationale: Hemorrhagic strokes are typically preceded by a sudden, severe headache (signals the
rupture of a cerebral artery), after which the patient becomes unresponsive due to bleeding
within the brain. Ischemic strokes and transient ischemic attacks generally do not cause a sudden,
severe headache, and migraine headaches typically do not cause a loss of consciousness.
Unlike an ischemic stroke, a transient ischemic attack is characterized by all of the following,
EXCEPT:
A. symptoms that resolve within 24 hours.
B. symptoms that persist for longer than 24 hours.
C. weakness or paralysis to one side of the body.
D. an acute onset of confusion and slurred speech. - CORRECT ANSWER - Answer: B
Rationale: Signs and symptoms of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) are usually identical to those
of an acute ischemic stroke (eg, hemiparesis, slurred speech, confusion, facial droop). Unlike the
ischemic stroke, however, the symptoms of a TIA usually resolve within 24 hours.
A patient with a suspected stroke presents with slurred speech that is difficult for you to
understand. This is referred to as:
A. aphasia.
B. dysphasia.
C. dysphagia.
D. dysarthria. - CORRECT ANSWER - Answer: D
Rationale: Dysarthria is defined as slurred, poorly articulated speech; it is common in stroke
patients. Dysphasia is defined as difficulty speaking; the patient's speech may or may not be
slurred. Aphasia is the inability to speak. Dysphagia is defined as difficulty swallowing.
Multiple Choice UPDATED Exam Questions
and CORRECT Answers
A 41-year-old man presents with slow, irregular breathing; hypotension; and dilated pupils.
These signs MOST likely indicate dysfunction of the:
A. brain stem.
B. hypothalamus.
C. cerebrum.
D. cerebellum. - CORRECT ANSWER - Answer: A
Rationale: The brain stem is responsible for functions such as breathing, blood pressure, and
pupil constriction. Brain stem dysfunction would result in abnormal findings with these
functions.
An acute ischemic stroke is caused by:
A. a ruptured cerebral artery.
B. increased intracranial pressure.
C. an acute rise in a person's blood pressure.
D. a blocked cerebral artery. - CORRECT ANSWER - Answer: D
Rationale: There are two types of stroke—hemorrhagic and ischemic. A hemorrhagic stroke is
caused by a ruptured cerebral artery (aneurysm), which causes bleeding within the brain and
increased intracranial pressure. An ischemic stroke is caused by a blocked cerebral artery—either
from a clot that grows locally (thrombus) or that travels to the brain from another part of the
body (embolus).
A 56-year-old man experienced a sudden, severe headache and then became unresponsive. He
has a history of high blood pressure. The MOST likely cause of his condition is a(n):
A. hemorrhagic stroke.
, B. acute ischemic stroke.
C. severe migraine headache.
D. transient ischemic attack. - CORRECT ANSWER - Answer: A
Rationale: Hemorrhagic strokes are typically preceded by a sudden, severe headache (signals the
rupture of a cerebral artery), after which the patient becomes unresponsive due to bleeding
within the brain. Ischemic strokes and transient ischemic attacks generally do not cause a sudden,
severe headache, and migraine headaches typically do not cause a loss of consciousness.
Unlike an ischemic stroke, a transient ischemic attack is characterized by all of the following,
EXCEPT:
A. symptoms that resolve within 24 hours.
B. symptoms that persist for longer than 24 hours.
C. weakness or paralysis to one side of the body.
D. an acute onset of confusion and slurred speech. - CORRECT ANSWER - Answer: B
Rationale: Signs and symptoms of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) are usually identical to those
of an acute ischemic stroke (eg, hemiparesis, slurred speech, confusion, facial droop). Unlike the
ischemic stroke, however, the symptoms of a TIA usually resolve within 24 hours.
A patient with a suspected stroke presents with slurred speech that is difficult for you to
understand. This is referred to as:
A. aphasia.
B. dysphasia.
C. dysphagia.
D. dysarthria. - CORRECT ANSWER - Answer: D
Rationale: Dysarthria is defined as slurred, poorly articulated speech; it is common in stroke
patients. Dysphasia is defined as difficulty speaking; the patient's speech may or may not be
slurred. Aphasia is the inability to speak. Dysphagia is defined as difficulty swallowing.
