NURS 5315 Exam 4 Nervous System Review | Nursing
Pathophysiology Exam Prep 2026/2027
1. In the pathophysiology of supratentorial herniation, which brain structures are
primarily involved in
The frontal lobe and olfactory bulb
The cerebellar tonsils and vermis
The temporal lobe and hippocampal gyrus
The pineal gland and midbrain
2. What is the name of the neuronal network in the brain stem that maintains
wakefulness and screens out unimportant sensory stimuli?
corpus callosum
reticular formation
limbic ststem
basal nuclei
3. The part of the brain that is primarily responsible for muscle coordination and
balance is the
medulla
diencephalon
cerebellum
frontal lobe
4. Describe how upper motor neurons differ from lower motor neurons in terms
of their function.
, Lower motor neurons are responsible for initiating movement, while
upper motor neurons do not.
Upper motor neurons are involved in sensory processing, while lower
motor neurons control movement.
Upper motor neurons originate in the brain and control the activity
of lower motor neurons in the spinal cord.
Lower motor neurons transmit signals from the brain to the muscles.
5. Approximately how much cardiac output does the brain receive?
22-25 %
7-12%
15-20 %
27-30%
6. If a child with phenylketonuria (PKU) consumes high levels of phenylalanine,
what potential neurological outcome might occur?
Enhanced memory retention
Improved motor coordination
Cognitive impairment
Increased muscle strength
7. Pressure against which cranial nerve accounts for pupillary dilation when
temporal lobe herniation is present?
Cranial nerve III
Cranial nerve IV
Cranial nerve V
, Cranial nerve VI
8. What is the result of a Chiari type II malformation associated with a
myelomeningocele?
Upward displacement of the cerebellum into the diencephalon
Downward displacement of the cerebellum, brainstem, and fourth
ventricle
Motor and sensory lesions below the level of the myelomeningocele
Generalized cerebral edema and hydrocephalus
9. The membraneous structure that separates the cerebrum from the
cerebellum is called the
Falx cerebri
Superior Sagittal sinus
Tentorium cerebelli
Septum pellucidum
10. Which symptoms are most common in a child with possible brain tumor?
headache and vomiting
ataxia and seizures
poor fine motor and gross motor control
fever and irritability
11. Which demographic is identified as being most vulnerable to spinal cord
injuries from minor trauma?
Young adults
, Athletes
Children
Elderly individuals
12. What is the type of hemorrhage associated with meningeal irritation and
positive Kernig and Brudzinski signs?
Intracerebral hemorrhage
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Epidural hemorrhage
Subdural hemorrhage
13. Which is an example of a disease process producing diffuse cortical
dysfunction?
Encephalitis
Cerebral neoplasm
Cerebral emboli
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
14. Cerebral edema is an accumulation of fluid in the:
neuroglia
brain tissue
subarachnoid space
brain ventricles
Pathophysiology Exam Prep 2026/2027
1. In the pathophysiology of supratentorial herniation, which brain structures are
primarily involved in
The frontal lobe and olfactory bulb
The cerebellar tonsils and vermis
The temporal lobe and hippocampal gyrus
The pineal gland and midbrain
2. What is the name of the neuronal network in the brain stem that maintains
wakefulness and screens out unimportant sensory stimuli?
corpus callosum
reticular formation
limbic ststem
basal nuclei
3. The part of the brain that is primarily responsible for muscle coordination and
balance is the
medulla
diencephalon
cerebellum
frontal lobe
4. Describe how upper motor neurons differ from lower motor neurons in terms
of their function.
, Lower motor neurons are responsible for initiating movement, while
upper motor neurons do not.
Upper motor neurons are involved in sensory processing, while lower
motor neurons control movement.
Upper motor neurons originate in the brain and control the activity
of lower motor neurons in the spinal cord.
Lower motor neurons transmit signals from the brain to the muscles.
5. Approximately how much cardiac output does the brain receive?
22-25 %
7-12%
15-20 %
27-30%
6. If a child with phenylketonuria (PKU) consumes high levels of phenylalanine,
what potential neurological outcome might occur?
Enhanced memory retention
Improved motor coordination
Cognitive impairment
Increased muscle strength
7. Pressure against which cranial nerve accounts for pupillary dilation when
temporal lobe herniation is present?
Cranial nerve III
Cranial nerve IV
Cranial nerve V
, Cranial nerve VI
8. What is the result of a Chiari type II malformation associated with a
myelomeningocele?
Upward displacement of the cerebellum into the diencephalon
Downward displacement of the cerebellum, brainstem, and fourth
ventricle
Motor and sensory lesions below the level of the myelomeningocele
Generalized cerebral edema and hydrocephalus
9. The membraneous structure that separates the cerebrum from the
cerebellum is called the
Falx cerebri
Superior Sagittal sinus
Tentorium cerebelli
Septum pellucidum
10. Which symptoms are most common in a child with possible brain tumor?
headache and vomiting
ataxia and seizures
poor fine motor and gross motor control
fever and irritability
11. Which demographic is identified as being most vulnerable to spinal cord
injuries from minor trauma?
Young adults
, Athletes
Children
Elderly individuals
12. What is the type of hemorrhage associated with meningeal irritation and
positive Kernig and Brudzinski signs?
Intracerebral hemorrhage
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Epidural hemorrhage
Subdural hemorrhage
13. Which is an example of a disease process producing diffuse cortical
dysfunction?
Encephalitis
Cerebral neoplasm
Cerebral emboli
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
14. Cerebral edema is an accumulation of fluid in the:
neuroglia
brain tissue
subarachnoid space
brain ventricles
