ANCC PMHNP Exam Prep 2025
Questions and Answers
mesocortical pathway - ANSWER✔✔-executive function: attention, focus, depression
nigrostriatal pathway - ANSWER✔✔-from substantia nigra (brainstem) to striatum (muscles):
Parkinson's
mesolimbic pathway - ANSWER✔✔-projects to nucleus accumbens (part of limbic system).
Pleasure, reward, positive symptoms of schizophrenia: Addiction, gambling
Tuberoinfundibular pathway - ANSWER✔✔-regulation of prolactin (acts on pituitary).
Hypersexuality in mania
Dopamine - ANSWER✔✔-produced in substania nigra and VTA. D2 & D4 receptors most
important. Elevated in the mesolimbic pathway associated with pleasure and psychosis.
Antispychotics block dopamine. travels through mesocoritcal, mesolimbic, nigrostriatal, and
tuberinfundibular pathways
Serotonin - ANSWER✔✔-5-HT. produced in raphe nucleus. emotion, impulses, dreams. 5HT2A
receptors = atypical antipsychotics.
Norepinephrine - ANSWER✔✔-produced in locus coeruleus. arousal and vigilance
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, GABA - ANSWER✔✔-inhibitory. produces calm in conjunction with benzodiazepines.
ACTH - ANSWER✔✔-motor control, learning, memory, sleep, and dreams. Helps with balance.
Decrease in Alzheimer's disease
hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) - ANSWER✔✔-CRH, ACTH, then cortisol. Worsens
with stress and depression
hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) - ANSWER✔✔-TRH, TSH, T4. Hypothyroid causes
depression, weight gain, slow metabolism. Hyperthyroid is opposite.
hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) - ANSWER✔✔-GnRH, FSH, LH. Malfunctions cause
infertility problems.
gray matter - ANSWER✔✔-neurons are found
frontal lobe - ANSWER✔✔-executive function, voluntary movement, speech (Broca's area)
Temporal lobe - ANSWER✔✔-memory, cognition, speech, emotions (aka limbic area)
parietal lobe - ANSWER✔✔-receive and process sensory input
Wernicke's area - ANSWER✔✔-temporal and parietal lobes; speech
amygdala - ANSWER✔✔-fear response.
hippocampus - ANSWER✔✔-memory. Make up limbic system with amydgala
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
Questions and Answers
mesocortical pathway - ANSWER✔✔-executive function: attention, focus, depression
nigrostriatal pathway - ANSWER✔✔-from substantia nigra (brainstem) to striatum (muscles):
Parkinson's
mesolimbic pathway - ANSWER✔✔-projects to nucleus accumbens (part of limbic system).
Pleasure, reward, positive symptoms of schizophrenia: Addiction, gambling
Tuberoinfundibular pathway - ANSWER✔✔-regulation of prolactin (acts on pituitary).
Hypersexuality in mania
Dopamine - ANSWER✔✔-produced in substania nigra and VTA. D2 & D4 receptors most
important. Elevated in the mesolimbic pathway associated with pleasure and psychosis.
Antispychotics block dopamine. travels through mesocoritcal, mesolimbic, nigrostriatal, and
tuberinfundibular pathways
Serotonin - ANSWER✔✔-5-HT. produced in raphe nucleus. emotion, impulses, dreams. 5HT2A
receptors = atypical antipsychotics.
Norepinephrine - ANSWER✔✔-produced in locus coeruleus. arousal and vigilance
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, GABA - ANSWER✔✔-inhibitory. produces calm in conjunction with benzodiazepines.
ACTH - ANSWER✔✔-motor control, learning, memory, sleep, and dreams. Helps with balance.
Decrease in Alzheimer's disease
hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) - ANSWER✔✔-CRH, ACTH, then cortisol. Worsens
with stress and depression
hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) - ANSWER✔✔-TRH, TSH, T4. Hypothyroid causes
depression, weight gain, slow metabolism. Hyperthyroid is opposite.
hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) - ANSWER✔✔-GnRH, FSH, LH. Malfunctions cause
infertility problems.
gray matter - ANSWER✔✔-neurons are found
frontal lobe - ANSWER✔✔-executive function, voluntary movement, speech (Broca's area)
Temporal lobe - ANSWER✔✔-memory, cognition, speech, emotions (aka limbic area)
parietal lobe - ANSWER✔✔-receive and process sensory input
Wernicke's area - ANSWER✔✔-temporal and parietal lobes; speech
amygdala - ANSWER✔✔-fear response.
hippocampus - ANSWER✔✔-memory. Make up limbic system with amydgala
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
