Patho Final Exam - Practice Questions\\
Patho Final Exam Clinical Scenario
Questions & Rationales 2025
Ch. 20
Several types of brain injuries can occur. What are the primary (or direct) brain injuries? Mark all that
apply.
a. focal lesions of laceration
b. contusion
c. hypoxic
d. diffuse axonal
e. hemorrhage - ANSWER ✨✔---a, b, d, e
Ch. 20
Global and focal brain injuries manifest differently. What is almost always a manifestation of a global
brain injury?
,a. altered level of consciousness
b. change in behavior
c. respiratory instability
d. loss of eye movement reflexes - ANSWER ✨✔---a
Ch. 20
You are the nurse caring for a 31-year-old trauma victim admitted to the neurologic intensive care unit
(ICU). During your initial assessment, you find that the patient is flexing arms, wrists, and fingers. There
is abduction of the upper extremities with internal rotation and plantar flexion of the lower extremities.
How would you describe this in your nursing notes?
a. decerebrate posturing
b. decorticate posturing
c. extensor posturing
d. diencephalon posturing - ANSWER ✨✔---b
Ch. 20
Brain death is the term used when irreversible loss of function of the entire brain occurs. A clinical
examination must be done and repeated at least 6 hours later with the same findings for brain death to
be declared. What is not assessed in the clinical examination for brain death?
a. blink reflex
b. responsiveness
c. electrocardiographic (ECG) findings
d. respiratory effort - ANSWER ✨✔---c
Ch. 20
, Much as with brain death, there are criteria for the diagnosis of a persistent vegetative state, and the
criteria have to have lasted for more than 1 month. What are the criteria for the diagnosis of persistent
vegetative state? Mark all that apply.
a. bowel and bladder incontinence
b. ability to open the eyes
c. lack of language comprehension
d. lack of sufficient hypothalamic function to maintain life
e. variable preserved cranial nerve reflexes - ANSWER ✨✔---a, c, e
Ch. 20
The regulation of cerebral blood flow is accomplished through both auto regulation and local regulation.
This allows for the brain to meet its metabolic needs. What is the low parameter for blood pressure
before cerebral blood flow becomes severely compromised?
a. 30 mmHg
b. 40 mmHg
c. 50 mmHg
d. 60 mmHg - ANSWER ✨✔---d
Ch. 20
Intracranial aneurysms that rupture cause subarachnoid hemorrhage in the patient. How is the diagnosis
of intracranial aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage made?
a. lumbar puncture
b. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
c. loss of cranial nerve reflexes
d. venography - ANSWER ✨✔---a
Patho Final Exam Clinical Scenario
Questions & Rationales 2025
Ch. 20
Several types of brain injuries can occur. What are the primary (or direct) brain injuries? Mark all that
apply.
a. focal lesions of laceration
b. contusion
c. hypoxic
d. diffuse axonal
e. hemorrhage - ANSWER ✨✔---a, b, d, e
Ch. 20
Global and focal brain injuries manifest differently. What is almost always a manifestation of a global
brain injury?
,a. altered level of consciousness
b. change in behavior
c. respiratory instability
d. loss of eye movement reflexes - ANSWER ✨✔---a
Ch. 20
You are the nurse caring for a 31-year-old trauma victim admitted to the neurologic intensive care unit
(ICU). During your initial assessment, you find that the patient is flexing arms, wrists, and fingers. There
is abduction of the upper extremities with internal rotation and plantar flexion of the lower extremities.
How would you describe this in your nursing notes?
a. decerebrate posturing
b. decorticate posturing
c. extensor posturing
d. diencephalon posturing - ANSWER ✨✔---b
Ch. 20
Brain death is the term used when irreversible loss of function of the entire brain occurs. A clinical
examination must be done and repeated at least 6 hours later with the same findings for brain death to
be declared. What is not assessed in the clinical examination for brain death?
a. blink reflex
b. responsiveness
c. electrocardiographic (ECG) findings
d. respiratory effort - ANSWER ✨✔---c
Ch. 20
, Much as with brain death, there are criteria for the diagnosis of a persistent vegetative state, and the
criteria have to have lasted for more than 1 month. What are the criteria for the diagnosis of persistent
vegetative state? Mark all that apply.
a. bowel and bladder incontinence
b. ability to open the eyes
c. lack of language comprehension
d. lack of sufficient hypothalamic function to maintain life
e. variable preserved cranial nerve reflexes - ANSWER ✨✔---a, c, e
Ch. 20
The regulation of cerebral blood flow is accomplished through both auto regulation and local regulation.
This allows for the brain to meet its metabolic needs. What is the low parameter for blood pressure
before cerebral blood flow becomes severely compromised?
a. 30 mmHg
b. 40 mmHg
c. 50 mmHg
d. 60 mmHg - ANSWER ✨✔---d
Ch. 20
Intracranial aneurysms that rupture cause subarachnoid hemorrhage in the patient. How is the diagnosis
of intracranial aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage made?
a. lumbar puncture
b. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
c. loss of cranial nerve reflexes
d. venography - ANSWER ✨✔---a
