NUR 221 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 2
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS 2026
● A patient comes into the ER after a car accident where his head was
thrown forward into the steering wheel. Which type of spinal cord injury
does this accident describe?
a. hyperflexion
b. hyperextension
c. compression fracture
d. wedge fracture . Answer: a
● A diver comes into the ER after an accident where his head hit the
water before his arms, causing his neck to be thrown back. Which type
of spinal cord injury does this accident describe?
a. hyperflexion
b. compression fracture
c. simple fracture
d. hyperextension . Answer: d
● Match the following terms: simple fracture, compression fracture,
wedge fracture, dislocation.
,a. displaced angular section of bone
b. vertebrae forced out of normal position
c. bone crushed/shattered into multiple fragments
d. single line break . Answer: a. wedge fracture
b. dislocation
c. compression fraction
d. simple fracture
● When a spinal cord injury occurs, which part of the spinal cord is
affected? (select all that apply)
a. above the injury
b. just above the injury
b. at the location of injury
c. below the injury
d. the entire spinal cord . Answer: b,c,d
● True or false: the initial loss of function from a spinal cord injury is
the permanent loss of function.
a. true
b. false . Answer: b
● Which of the following causes irreversible damage?
a. damage to the discs
,b. damage to the ligaments around the spine
c. compression/stretching of spinal cord
d. crushing or severance of the spinal cord . Answer: d
● Which of the following occur in the initial phase of spinal shock?
a. all neurological activity ceases at, below, and slightly above the injury
b. no reflexes are present
c. hypotension and bradycardia
d. hyperreflexia
e. sensory loss . Answer: a,b,c,e
● What does the recovery phase of spinal shock gradually reveal?
a. the type of spinal injury
b. the severity of the injury
c. the permanent damage
d. pain and sensation . Answer: c
● match the following terms: tetraplegia, paraplegia, ipsilateral paralysis
a. uneven paralysis
b. paralysis of all 4 extremities
c. paralysis of lower trunk and legs . Answer: a. ipsilateral paralysis
b. tetraplegia
, c. paraplegia
● A patient with injury to the C2 vertebrae would have...
a. no paralysis
b. full time dependency on a ventilator
c. no intact muscles
d. ability to perform hygiene . Answer: b
● A patient with injury to the C5 vertebrae would have...
a. quadriplegia
b. no intact muscles
c. full time dependency on a ventilator
d. ability to perform hygiene . Answer: a
● A patient with injury to the C7 vertebrae may have...
a. cannot perform hygiene
b. no paralysis
c. intestinal paralysis
d. inability to perform hygiene . Answer: c
● A patient with injury to the T3 vertebrae may have...
a. normal senses and pain
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS 2026
● A patient comes into the ER after a car accident where his head was
thrown forward into the steering wheel. Which type of spinal cord injury
does this accident describe?
a. hyperflexion
b. hyperextension
c. compression fracture
d. wedge fracture . Answer: a
● A diver comes into the ER after an accident where his head hit the
water before his arms, causing his neck to be thrown back. Which type
of spinal cord injury does this accident describe?
a. hyperflexion
b. compression fracture
c. simple fracture
d. hyperextension . Answer: d
● Match the following terms: simple fracture, compression fracture,
wedge fracture, dislocation.
,a. displaced angular section of bone
b. vertebrae forced out of normal position
c. bone crushed/shattered into multiple fragments
d. single line break . Answer: a. wedge fracture
b. dislocation
c. compression fraction
d. simple fracture
● When a spinal cord injury occurs, which part of the spinal cord is
affected? (select all that apply)
a. above the injury
b. just above the injury
b. at the location of injury
c. below the injury
d. the entire spinal cord . Answer: b,c,d
● True or false: the initial loss of function from a spinal cord injury is
the permanent loss of function.
a. true
b. false . Answer: b
● Which of the following causes irreversible damage?
a. damage to the discs
,b. damage to the ligaments around the spine
c. compression/stretching of spinal cord
d. crushing or severance of the spinal cord . Answer: d
● Which of the following occur in the initial phase of spinal shock?
a. all neurological activity ceases at, below, and slightly above the injury
b. no reflexes are present
c. hypotension and bradycardia
d. hyperreflexia
e. sensory loss . Answer: a,b,c,e
● What does the recovery phase of spinal shock gradually reveal?
a. the type of spinal injury
b. the severity of the injury
c. the permanent damage
d. pain and sensation . Answer: c
● match the following terms: tetraplegia, paraplegia, ipsilateral paralysis
a. uneven paralysis
b. paralysis of all 4 extremities
c. paralysis of lower trunk and legs . Answer: a. ipsilateral paralysis
b. tetraplegia
, c. paraplegia
● A patient with injury to the C2 vertebrae would have...
a. no paralysis
b. full time dependency on a ventilator
c. no intact muscles
d. ability to perform hygiene . Answer: b
● A patient with injury to the C5 vertebrae would have...
a. quadriplegia
b. no intact muscles
c. full time dependency on a ventilator
d. ability to perform hygiene . Answer: a
● A patient with injury to the C7 vertebrae may have...
a. cannot perform hygiene
b. no paralysis
c. intestinal paralysis
d. inability to perform hygiene . Answer: c
● A patient with injury to the T3 vertebrae may have...
a. normal senses and pain
