Medical-Surgical Nursing: Neurological
System
Comprehensive Exam Questions and Clinical Scenarios
with Verified Answers
Course Code: NURS 3270 | Latest Edition - 2025
SECTION 1: NEUROLOGICAL ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY
Question 1: Which structure connects the two cerebral hemispheres?
A) Brain stem
B) Corpus callosum
C) Thalamus
D) Cerebellum
Answer: B) Corpus callosum
Rationale: The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibers connecting the left and right
cerebral hemispheres, allowing communication between them. It facilitates information
transfer and coordinated function between hemispheres.
Question 2: Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is responsible for voluntary motor function?
A) Frontal lobe
B) Parietal lobe
C) Temporal lobe
D) Occipital lobe
Answer: A) Frontal lobe
Rationale: The frontal lobe contains the primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus), which
controls voluntary skeletal muscle movement. It also governs executive functions,
personality, judgment, and speech production (Broca's area in dominant hemisphere).
Question 3: Where is the primary visual cortex located?
,A) Frontal lobe
B) Parietal lobe
C) Temporal lobe
D) Occipital lobe
Answer: D) Occipital lobe
Rationale: The occipital lobe processes visual information. Damage to this area causes visual
field defects or blindness. The parietal lobe processes sensory information; temporal lobe
processes hearing, memory, and comprehension (Wernicke's area).
Question 4: Which structure is responsible for maintaining balance and coordinating
movement?
A) Cerebrum
B) Cerebellum
C) Medulla oblongata
D) Hypothalamus
Answer: B) Cerebellum
Rationale: The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movement, maintains posture and balance,
and ensures smooth, precise motor activities. Cerebellar damage causes ataxia (uncoordinated
movement), intention tremor, and balance problems.
Question 5: The medulla oblongata controls which vital functions?
A) Emotions and memory
B) Cardiac, respiratory, and vasomotor centers
C) Vision and hearing
D) Voluntary movement
Answer: B) Cardiac, respiratory, and vasomotor centers
Rationale: The medulla oblongata contains vital centers controlling heart rate, blood
pressure, and respiration. It also controls reflexes like coughing, swallowing, and vomiting.
Medullary damage can be rapidly fatal.
Question 6: What is the function of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
A) Provide nutrients to neurons
B) Cushion the brain and spinal cord; remove waste products
C) Produce hormones
D) Generate nerve impulses
, Answer: B) Cushion the brain and spinal cord; remove waste products
Rationale: CSF cushions and protects the CNS, maintains stable chemical environment,
removes metabolic waste, and provides some nutrients. Produced by choroid plexuses in
ventricles; circulates through ventricles, subarachnoid space; reabsorbed by arachnoid villi.
Normal volume: 125-150 mL.
Question 7: The blood-brain barrier protects the brain by:
A) Producing antibodies
B) Selectively preventing harmful substances from entering brain tissue
C) Generating electrical impulses
D) Storing memories
Answer: B) Selectively preventing harmful substances from entering brain tissue
Rationale: The blood-brain barrier consists of tight junctions between capillary endothelial
cells that selectively allow passage of essential substances (glucose, oxygen) while blocking
potentially harmful agents. This limits CNS drug penetration - only lipid-soluble or actively
transported drugs cross effectively.
Question 8: Which neurotransmitter is deficient in Parkinson's disease?
A) Serotonin
B) Dopamine
C) Acetylcholine
D) GABA
Answer: B) Dopamine
Rationale: Parkinson's disease results from degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in
the substantia nigra of the basal ganglia. This dopamine deficiency causes characteristic
motor symptoms: tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability.
Question 9: What is the normal intracranial pressure (ICP) range?
A) 0-5 mm Hg
B) 5-15 mm Hg
C) 20-30 mm Hg
D) 40-50 mm Hg
Answer: B) 5-15 mm Hg
System
Comprehensive Exam Questions and Clinical Scenarios
with Verified Answers
Course Code: NURS 3270 | Latest Edition - 2025
SECTION 1: NEUROLOGICAL ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY
Question 1: Which structure connects the two cerebral hemispheres?
A) Brain stem
B) Corpus callosum
C) Thalamus
D) Cerebellum
Answer: B) Corpus callosum
Rationale: The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibers connecting the left and right
cerebral hemispheres, allowing communication between them. It facilitates information
transfer and coordinated function between hemispheres.
Question 2: Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is responsible for voluntary motor function?
A) Frontal lobe
B) Parietal lobe
C) Temporal lobe
D) Occipital lobe
Answer: A) Frontal lobe
Rationale: The frontal lobe contains the primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus), which
controls voluntary skeletal muscle movement. It also governs executive functions,
personality, judgment, and speech production (Broca's area in dominant hemisphere).
Question 3: Where is the primary visual cortex located?
,A) Frontal lobe
B) Parietal lobe
C) Temporal lobe
D) Occipital lobe
Answer: D) Occipital lobe
Rationale: The occipital lobe processes visual information. Damage to this area causes visual
field defects or blindness. The parietal lobe processes sensory information; temporal lobe
processes hearing, memory, and comprehension (Wernicke's area).
Question 4: Which structure is responsible for maintaining balance and coordinating
movement?
A) Cerebrum
B) Cerebellum
C) Medulla oblongata
D) Hypothalamus
Answer: B) Cerebellum
Rationale: The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movement, maintains posture and balance,
and ensures smooth, precise motor activities. Cerebellar damage causes ataxia (uncoordinated
movement), intention tremor, and balance problems.
Question 5: The medulla oblongata controls which vital functions?
A) Emotions and memory
B) Cardiac, respiratory, and vasomotor centers
C) Vision and hearing
D) Voluntary movement
Answer: B) Cardiac, respiratory, and vasomotor centers
Rationale: The medulla oblongata contains vital centers controlling heart rate, blood
pressure, and respiration. It also controls reflexes like coughing, swallowing, and vomiting.
Medullary damage can be rapidly fatal.
Question 6: What is the function of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
A) Provide nutrients to neurons
B) Cushion the brain and spinal cord; remove waste products
C) Produce hormones
D) Generate nerve impulses
, Answer: B) Cushion the brain and spinal cord; remove waste products
Rationale: CSF cushions and protects the CNS, maintains stable chemical environment,
removes metabolic waste, and provides some nutrients. Produced by choroid plexuses in
ventricles; circulates through ventricles, subarachnoid space; reabsorbed by arachnoid villi.
Normal volume: 125-150 mL.
Question 7: The blood-brain barrier protects the brain by:
A) Producing antibodies
B) Selectively preventing harmful substances from entering brain tissue
C) Generating electrical impulses
D) Storing memories
Answer: B) Selectively preventing harmful substances from entering brain tissue
Rationale: The blood-brain barrier consists of tight junctions between capillary endothelial
cells that selectively allow passage of essential substances (glucose, oxygen) while blocking
potentially harmful agents. This limits CNS drug penetration - only lipid-soluble or actively
transported drugs cross effectively.
Question 8: Which neurotransmitter is deficient in Parkinson's disease?
A) Serotonin
B) Dopamine
C) Acetylcholine
D) GABA
Answer: B) Dopamine
Rationale: Parkinson's disease results from degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in
the substantia nigra of the basal ganglia. This dopamine deficiency causes characteristic
motor symptoms: tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability.
Question 9: What is the normal intracranial pressure (ICP) range?
A) 0-5 mm Hg
B) 5-15 mm Hg
C) 20-30 mm Hg
D) 40-50 mm Hg
Answer: B) 5-15 mm Hg
