NSG 530 Exam 4 – Advanced Pathophysiology Exam Review
Questions and Correct Answers 2026/2027
1. If a patient with a frontal lobe contusion exhibits difficulty in decision-making
and emotional instability, which rehabilitation strategy would be most
beneficial?
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Occupational therapy for daily living skills
Speech therapy for language skills
Physical therapy focused on balance
2. Describe the effects of spinal shock on muscle function and reflexes.
Spinal shock results in the loss of reflex function and flaccid
paralysis of all skeletal muscles below the level of injury.
Spinal shock causes increased muscle tone and reflexes below the
injury site.
Spinal shock has no effect on muscle function or reflexes.
Spinal shock only affects sensory function without impacting motor
control.
3. In a clinical scenario, if a patient presents with a high fever, which metabolic
change would you expect to occur in their body to support immune
function?
Decreased fat metabolism
Increased glycogen storage
Enhanced protein synthesis
A switch to lipolysis and proteolysis
,4. What is the term used to describe the involuntary rhythmic movement of the
eyes?
strabismus
nystagmus
amblyopia
glaucoma
5. Which type of incident is identified as the leading cause of traumatic brain
injury (TBI)?
sports-related events
violence
motor vehicle accidents
falls
6. Which brain regions are Grade III and Grade IV astrocytomas most
commonly associated with?
Frontal lobe and cerebral hemisphere
Occipital lobe and brainstem
Cerebellum and spinal cord
Temporal lobe and thalamus
7. A patient recovering from varicella-zoster experiences obtundation, coma,
and hyperventilation and is diagnosed with Reye syndrome. Which stage of
the syndrome is this patient experiencing?
Stage IV
Stage II
, Stage III
Stage I
8. Pain that is felt in an area away from the source is known as _____ _.
Acute pain
Chronic pain
Nociceptive pain
Referred pain
9. Which describes a cerebellar gait?
broad based stance, small steps with diminished arm swing
ataxic, staggering, wide based
10. In a cold environment, if a person's body temperature begins to drop, which
physiological response would be expected to help conserve heat?
Vasodilation
Vasoconstriction
Increased respiration
Sweating
11. Which type of pain is characterized by originating from internal organs?
pleuritic
acute somatic
acute visceral
referred
, 12. What term is used to describe the loss of comprehension or production of
language in a patient?
Dyslexia
Aphasia
Apraxia
Agnosia
13. What is the term for the condition characterized by the absence of a major
portion of the brain, skull, and scalp?
cyclopia
encephalocele
meningocele
anencephaly
14. The nurse is performing an assessment on a child with a head injury. The
nurse notes an abnormal flexion of the upper extremities and an extension
of the lower extremities. The nurse documents this type of positioning as
which of following?
Decorticate posturing
Flexion of the arms and legs
Decerebrate posturing
A normal expected positioning following head injury
15. A patient who demonstrates an impairment of language comprehension
demonstrates ____________ while a patient who is unable to generate fluent
speech demonstrates ____ _.
Questions and Correct Answers 2026/2027
1. If a patient with a frontal lobe contusion exhibits difficulty in decision-making
and emotional instability, which rehabilitation strategy would be most
beneficial?
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Occupational therapy for daily living skills
Speech therapy for language skills
Physical therapy focused on balance
2. Describe the effects of spinal shock on muscle function and reflexes.
Spinal shock results in the loss of reflex function and flaccid
paralysis of all skeletal muscles below the level of injury.
Spinal shock causes increased muscle tone and reflexes below the
injury site.
Spinal shock has no effect on muscle function or reflexes.
Spinal shock only affects sensory function without impacting motor
control.
3. In a clinical scenario, if a patient presents with a high fever, which metabolic
change would you expect to occur in their body to support immune
function?
Decreased fat metabolism
Increased glycogen storage
Enhanced protein synthesis
A switch to lipolysis and proteolysis
,4. What is the term used to describe the involuntary rhythmic movement of the
eyes?
strabismus
nystagmus
amblyopia
glaucoma
5. Which type of incident is identified as the leading cause of traumatic brain
injury (TBI)?
sports-related events
violence
motor vehicle accidents
falls
6. Which brain regions are Grade III and Grade IV astrocytomas most
commonly associated with?
Frontal lobe and cerebral hemisphere
Occipital lobe and brainstem
Cerebellum and spinal cord
Temporal lobe and thalamus
7. A patient recovering from varicella-zoster experiences obtundation, coma,
and hyperventilation and is diagnosed with Reye syndrome. Which stage of
the syndrome is this patient experiencing?
Stage IV
Stage II
, Stage III
Stage I
8. Pain that is felt in an area away from the source is known as _____ _.
Acute pain
Chronic pain
Nociceptive pain
Referred pain
9. Which describes a cerebellar gait?
broad based stance, small steps with diminished arm swing
ataxic, staggering, wide based
10. In a cold environment, if a person's body temperature begins to drop, which
physiological response would be expected to help conserve heat?
Vasodilation
Vasoconstriction
Increased respiration
Sweating
11. Which type of pain is characterized by originating from internal organs?
pleuritic
acute somatic
acute visceral
referred
, 12. What term is used to describe the loss of comprehension or production of
language in a patient?
Dyslexia
Aphasia
Apraxia
Agnosia
13. What is the term for the condition characterized by the absence of a major
portion of the brain, skull, and scalp?
cyclopia
encephalocele
meningocele
anencephaly
14. The nurse is performing an assessment on a child with a head injury. The
nurse notes an abnormal flexion of the upper extremities and an extension
of the lower extremities. The nurse documents this type of positioning as
which of following?
Decorticate posturing
Flexion of the arms and legs
Decerebrate posturing
A normal expected positioning following head injury
15. A patient who demonstrates an impairment of language comprehension
demonstrates ____________ while a patient who is unable to generate fluent
speech demonstrates ____ _.
