Chapter 24: Infections of the Central Nervous System
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The part of the nervous system that collects data from the environment is the
a. meninges. c. cerebrospinal fluid.
b. central nervous system. d. peripheral nervous system.
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 24.1
OBJ: 24.1a Describe the functional organization of the central nervous system.
MSC: Remembering
2. What is the correct order of the meninges from most outer to inner structures?
a. pia mater, dura mater, arachnoid c. dura mater, arachnoid, pia mater
b. pia mater, arachnoid, dura mater d. dura mater, pia mater, arachnoid
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 24.1
OBJ: 24.1b Explain how meninges and cerebrospinal fluid protect the central nervous system.
MSC: Understanding
3. Motor neurons send
a. information from the CNS to the periphery.
b. information from the periphery to the CNS.
c. information in both directions.
d. information.
ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: 24.1
OBJ: 24.1c Describe the differences between two major types of neurons.
MSC: Remembering
4. Which of the following is true about myelin sheaths?
a. They slow down the speed of nerve impulses.
b. They are made up of a protein molecule called myelin.
c. They are destroyed in certain disorders such as multiple sclerosis.
d. They cover all neuronal axons.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 24.1
OBJ: 24.1d Correlate the anatomy of the central nervous system to the symptoms of CNS infections.
MSC: Understanding
5. Microorganisms reach the CNS by all of the following EXCEPT
a. migrating to the CNS from distal sites.
b. toxins traveling along peripheral nerves.
c. infecting bone.
d. inhalation of the organism.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 24.2
OBJ: 24.2a Categorize central nervous system infections by the anatomical structures affected.
MSC: Understanding
, 6. The symptoms of tetanus are due to
a. tetanospasmin. c. inflammation.
b. endospore formation. d. the relaxation of muscles.
ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: 24.4
OBJ: 24.4c List patient history information and clinical signs and symptoms specific to each bacterial
pathogen of the central nervous system. MSC: Remembering
7. All of the following are caused by prions EXCEPT
a. sheep scrapie.
b. kuru.
c. rabies.
d. bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 24.6
OBJ: 24.6a Compare and contrast parasites and prions. MSC: Analyzing
8. Naegleria fowleri is commonly acquired through
a. mosquito bites.
b. ingestion of water contaminated with fecal material.
c. exposure to bird droppings.
d. swimming in warm ponds or streams.
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 24.6
OBJ: 24.6b Evaluate acquisition of parasitic CNS infections. MSC: Remembering
9. Initial treatment for tetanus in an unimmunized person with a puncture wound is
a. tetanus immune globulin. c. penicillin.
b. tetanus toxoid. d. debridement.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 24.4
OBJ: 24.4d Relate pathogenesis of bacterial CNS diseases to prevention and treatment modalities
used. MSC: Analyzing
10. Refer to this image showing a CT scan of a brain displaying disease. To what does the arrow point?
a. c. myelitis
a brain abscess
b. encephalitis d. a normal brain
, ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: 24.2
OBJ: 24.2b Use key laboratory information to distinguish types of CNS infections.
MSC: Analyzing
11. Which of the following vaccine characteristics is/are mismatched with its/their respective vaccine
type?
Salk Vaccine Sabin Vaccine
1. Consists of a formalin-inactivated virus 4. Consists of a live, attenuated virus
2. Administered orally 5. Administered orally
3. Requires booster doses 6. Provides community immunity
a. 1, 3, and 5 c. 1 and 3 only
b. 4, 5, and 6 d. 2 only
ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: 24.3
OBJ: 24.3b Explain the role of reservoirs in pathogenesis and prevention of viral diseases of the
central nervous system. MSC: Analyzing
12. Which of the following pairs is mismatched?
a. tetanus – releases potent neurotoxin
b. botulism – stimulates transmission of nerve impulse
c. poliomyelitis – multiplication of virus occurs in throat and small intestine
d. rabies – destroys cells of the CNS
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 24.4
OBJ: 24.4a Identify risk factors for each of the bacterial CNS diseases.
MSC: Analyzing
13. Which of the following is true about CSF?
a. Inflammatory cells are found in both healthy and unhealthy CSF.
b. It helps to diagnose infections of the central nervous system.
c. The identification of PMNs in CSF indicates a viral infection.
d. CSF is collected via the placement of a shunt in the vertebral column.
ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: 24.2
OBJ: 24.2c Compare and contrast the roles of meninges and cerebrospinal fluid in the pathogenesis
of CNS infections. MSC: Analyzing
14. Using the table below, which patient is most likely infected by a bacterium?
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The part of the nervous system that collects data from the environment is the
a. meninges. c. cerebrospinal fluid.
b. central nervous system. d. peripheral nervous system.
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 24.1
OBJ: 24.1a Describe the functional organization of the central nervous system.
MSC: Remembering
2. What is the correct order of the meninges from most outer to inner structures?
a. pia mater, dura mater, arachnoid c. dura mater, arachnoid, pia mater
b. pia mater, arachnoid, dura mater d. dura mater, pia mater, arachnoid
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 24.1
OBJ: 24.1b Explain how meninges and cerebrospinal fluid protect the central nervous system.
MSC: Understanding
3. Motor neurons send
a. information from the CNS to the periphery.
b. information from the periphery to the CNS.
c. information in both directions.
d. information.
ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: 24.1
OBJ: 24.1c Describe the differences between two major types of neurons.
MSC: Remembering
4. Which of the following is true about myelin sheaths?
a. They slow down the speed of nerve impulses.
b. They are made up of a protein molecule called myelin.
c. They are destroyed in certain disorders such as multiple sclerosis.
d. They cover all neuronal axons.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 24.1
OBJ: 24.1d Correlate the anatomy of the central nervous system to the symptoms of CNS infections.
MSC: Understanding
5. Microorganisms reach the CNS by all of the following EXCEPT
a. migrating to the CNS from distal sites.
b. toxins traveling along peripheral nerves.
c. infecting bone.
d. inhalation of the organism.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 24.2
OBJ: 24.2a Categorize central nervous system infections by the anatomical structures affected.
MSC: Understanding
, 6. The symptoms of tetanus are due to
a. tetanospasmin. c. inflammation.
b. endospore formation. d. the relaxation of muscles.
ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: 24.4
OBJ: 24.4c List patient history information and clinical signs and symptoms specific to each bacterial
pathogen of the central nervous system. MSC: Remembering
7. All of the following are caused by prions EXCEPT
a. sheep scrapie.
b. kuru.
c. rabies.
d. bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 24.6
OBJ: 24.6a Compare and contrast parasites and prions. MSC: Analyzing
8. Naegleria fowleri is commonly acquired through
a. mosquito bites.
b. ingestion of water contaminated with fecal material.
c. exposure to bird droppings.
d. swimming in warm ponds or streams.
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 24.6
OBJ: 24.6b Evaluate acquisition of parasitic CNS infections. MSC: Remembering
9. Initial treatment for tetanus in an unimmunized person with a puncture wound is
a. tetanus immune globulin. c. penicillin.
b. tetanus toxoid. d. debridement.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 24.4
OBJ: 24.4d Relate pathogenesis of bacterial CNS diseases to prevention and treatment modalities
used. MSC: Analyzing
10. Refer to this image showing a CT scan of a brain displaying disease. To what does the arrow point?
a. c. myelitis
a brain abscess
b. encephalitis d. a normal brain
, ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: 24.2
OBJ: 24.2b Use key laboratory information to distinguish types of CNS infections.
MSC: Analyzing
11. Which of the following vaccine characteristics is/are mismatched with its/their respective vaccine
type?
Salk Vaccine Sabin Vaccine
1. Consists of a formalin-inactivated virus 4. Consists of a live, attenuated virus
2. Administered orally 5. Administered orally
3. Requires booster doses 6. Provides community immunity
a. 1, 3, and 5 c. 1 and 3 only
b. 4, 5, and 6 d. 2 only
ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: 24.3
OBJ: 24.3b Explain the role of reservoirs in pathogenesis and prevention of viral diseases of the
central nervous system. MSC: Analyzing
12. Which of the following pairs is mismatched?
a. tetanus – releases potent neurotoxin
b. botulism – stimulates transmission of nerve impulse
c. poliomyelitis – multiplication of virus occurs in throat and small intestine
d. rabies – destroys cells of the CNS
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 24.4
OBJ: 24.4a Identify risk factors for each of the bacterial CNS diseases.
MSC: Analyzing
13. Which of the following is true about CSF?
a. Inflammatory cells are found in both healthy and unhealthy CSF.
b. It helps to diagnose infections of the central nervous system.
c. The identification of PMNs in CSF indicates a viral infection.
d. CSF is collected via the placement of a shunt in the vertebral column.
ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: 24.2
OBJ: 24.2c Compare and contrast the roles of meninges and cerebrospinal fluid in the pathogenesis
of CNS infections. MSC: Analyzing
14. Using the table below, which patient is most likely infected by a bacterium?
