Chapter 24 Practice Questions - Neurologic System

Question 1

The two parts of the nervous system are the:

a. Motor and sensory.
b. Central and peripheral.
c. Peripheral and autonomic.
d. Hypothalamus and cerebral.

Answer 1

b. Central and peripheral.

Question 2

The wife of a 65-year-old man tells the nurse that she is concerned because she has noticed a change in her husbands personality and ability to understand. He also cries very easily and becomes angry. The nurse recalls that the cerebral lobe responsible for these behaviors is the _____ lobe.

a. Frontal
b. Parietal
c. Occipital
d. Temporal

Answer 2

a. Frontal

Question 3

Which statement concerning the areas of the brain is true?

a. The cerebellum is the center for speech and emotions.
b. The hypothalamus controls body temperature and regulates sleep.
c. The basal ganglia are responsible for controlling voluntary movements.
d. Motor pathways of the spinal cord and brainstem synapse in the thalamus.

Answer 3

b. The hypothalamus controls body temperature and regulates sleep.

Question 4

The area of the nervous system that is responsible for mediating reflexes is the:

a. Medulla.
b. Cerebellum.
c. Spinal cord.
d. Cerebral cortex.

Answer 4

c. Spinal cord.

Question 5

While gathering equipment after an injection, a nurse accidentally received a prick from an improperly capped needle. To interpret this sensation, which of these areas must be intact?

a. Corticospinal tract, medulla, and basal ganglia
b. Pyramidal tract, hypothalamus, and sensory cortex
c. Lateral spinothalamic tract, thalamus, and sensory cortex
d. Anterior spinothalamic tract, basal ganglia, and sensory cortex

Answer 5

c. Lateral spinothalamic tract, thalamus, and sensory cortex

Question 6

A patient with a lack of oxygen to his heart will have pain in his chest and possibly in the shoulder, arms, or jaw. The nurse knows that the best explanation why this occurs is which one of these statements?

a. A problem exists with the sensory cortex and its ability to discriminate the location.
b. The lack of oxygen in his heart has resulted in decreased amount of oxygen to the areas experiencing the pain.
c. The sensory cortex does not have the ability to localize pain in the heart; consequently, the pain is felt elsewhere.
d. A lesion has developed in the dorsal root, which is preventing the sensation from being transmitted normally.

Answer 6

c. The sensory cortex does not have the ability to localize pain in the heart; consequently, the pain is felt elsewhere.

Question 7

The ability that humans have to perform very skilled movements such as writing is controlled by the:

a. Basal ganglia.
b. Corticospinal tract.
c. Spinothalamic tract.
d. Extrapyramidal tract.

Answer 7

b. Corticospinal tract.

Question 8

A 30-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has been very unsteady and has had difficulty in maintaining her balance. Which area of the brain that is related to these findings would concern the nurse?

a. Thalamus
b. Brainstem
c. Cerebellum
d. Extrapyramidal tract

Answer 8

c. Cerebellum

Question 9

Which of these statements about the peripheral nervous system is correct?

a. The CNs enter the brain through the spinal cord.
b. Efferent fibers carry sensory input to the central nervous system through the spinal cord.
c. The peripheral nerves are inside the central nervous system and carry impulses through their motor fibers.
d. The peripheral nerves carry input to the central nervous system by afferent fibers and away from the central nervous system by efferent fibers.

Answer 9

d. The peripheral nerves carry input to the central nervous system by afferent fibers and away from the central nervous system by efferent fibers.

Question 10

A patient has a severed spinal nerve as a result of trauma. Which statement is true in this situation?

a. Because there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, no effect results if only one nerve is severed.
b. The dermatome served by this nerve will no longer experience any sensation.
c. The adjacent spinal nerves will continue to carry sensations for the dermatome served by the severed nerve.
d. A severed spinal nerve will only affect motor function of the patient because spinal nerves have no sensory component.

Answer 10

c. The adjacent spinal nerves will continue to carry sensations for the dermatome served by the severed nerve.

Question 11

A 21-year-old patient has a head injury resulting from trauma and is unconscious. There are no other injuries. During the assessment what would the nurse expect to find when testing the patients deep tendon reflexes?

a. Reflexes will be normal.
b. Reflexes cannot be elicited.
c. All reflexes will be diminished but present.
d. Some reflexes will be present, depending on the area of injury.

Answer 11

a. Reflexes will be normal.

Question 12

A mother of a 1-month-old infant asks the nurse why it takes so long for infants to learn to roll over. The nurse knows that the reason for this is:

a. A demyelinating process must be occurring with her infant.
b. Myelin is needed to conduct the impulses, and the neurons of a newborn are not yet myelinated.
c. The cerebral cortex is not fully developed; therefore, control over motor function gradually occurs.
d. The spinal cord is controlling the movement because the cerebellum is not yet fully developed.

Answer 12

b. Myelin is needed to conduct the impulses, and the neurons of a newborn are not yet myelinated.

Question 13

During an assessment of an 80-year-old patient, the nurse notices the following: an inability to identify vibrations at her ankle and to identify the position of her big toe, a slower and more deliberate gait, and a slightly impaired tactile sensation. All other neurologic findings are normal. The nurse should interpret that these findings indicate:

a. CN dysfunction.
b. Lesion in the cerebral cortex.
c. Normal changes attributable to aging.
d. Demyelination of nerves attributable to a lesion.

Answer 13

c. Normal changes attributable to aging.

Question 14

A 70-year-old woman tells the nurse that every time she gets up in the morning or after shes been sitting, she gets really dizzy and feels like she is going to fall over. The nurses best response would be:

a. Have you been extremely tired lately?
b. You probably just need to drink more liquids.
c. Ill refer you for a complete neurologic examination.
d. You need to get up slowly when youve been lying down or sitting.

Answer 14

d. You need to get up slowly when youve been lying down or sitting.

Question 15

During the taking of the health history, a patient tells the nurse that it feels like the room is spinning around me. The nurse would document this finding as:

a. Vertigo.
b. Syncope.
c. Dizziness.
d. Seizure activity.

Answer 15

a. Vertigo.

Question 16

When taking the health history on a patient with a seizure disorder, the nurse assesses whether the patient has an aura. Which of these would be the best question for obtaining this information?

a. Does your muscle tone seem tense or limp?
b. After the seizure, do you spend a lot of time sleeping?
c. Do you have any warning sign before your seizure starts?
d. Do you experience any color change or incontinence during the seizure?

Answer 16

c. Do you have any warning sign before your seizure starts?

Question 17

While obtaining a health history of a 3-month-old infant from the mother, the nurse asks about the infants ability to suck and grasp the mothers finger. What is the nurse assessing?

a. Reflexes
b. Intelligence
c. CNs
d. Cerebral cortex function

Answer 17

a. Reflexes

Question 18

In obtaining a health history on a 74-year-old patient, the nurse notes that he drinks alcohol daily and that he has noticed a tremor in his hands that affects his ability to hold things. With this information, what response should the nurse make?

a. Does your family know you are drinking every day?
b. Does the tremor change when you drink alcohol?
c. Well do some tests to see what is causing the tremor.
d. You really shouldnt drink so much alcohol; it may be causing your tremor.

Answer 18

b. Does the tremor change when you drink alcohol?

Question 19

A 50-year-old woman is in the clinic for weakness in her left arm and leg that she has noticed for the past week. The nurse should perform which type of neurologic examination?

a. Glasgow Coma Scale
b. Neurologic recheck examination
c. Screening neurologic examination
d. Complete neurologic examination

Answer 19

d. Complete neurologic examination

Question 20

During an assessment of the CNs, the nurse finds the following: asymmetry when the patient smiles or frowns, uneven lifting of the eyebrows, sagging of the lower eyelids, and escape of air when the nurse presses against the right puffed cheek. This would indicate dysfunction of which of these CNs?

a. Motor component of CN IV
b. Motor component of CN VII
c. Motor and sensory components of CN XI
d. Motor component of CN X and sensory component of CN VII

Answer 20

b. Motor component of CN VII

Question 21

The nurse is testing the function of CN XI. Which statement best describes the response the nurse should expect if this nerve is intact? The patient:

a. Demonstrates the ability to hear normal conversation.
b. Sticks out the tongue midline without tremors or deviation.
c. Follows an object with his or her eyes without nystagmus or strabismus.
d. Moves the head and shoulders against resistance with equal strength.

Answer 21

d. Moves the head and shoulders against resistance with equal strength.

Question 22

During the neurologic assessment of a healthy 35-year-old patient, the nurse asks him to relax his muscles completely. The nurse then moves each extremity through full range of motion. Which of these results would the nurse expect to find?

a. Firm, rigid resistance to movement
b. Mild, even resistance to movement
c. Hypotonic muscles as a result of total relaxation
d. Slight pain with some directions of movement

Answer 22

b. Mild, even resistance to movement

Question 23

When the nurse asks a 68-year-old patient to stand with his feet together and arms at his side with his eyes closed, he starts to sway and moves his feet farther apart. The nurse would document this finding as:

a. Ataxia.
b. Lack of coordination.
c. Negative Homans sign.
d. Positive Romberg sign.

Answer 23

d. Positive Romberg sign.

Question 24

The nurse is performing an assessment on a 29-year-old woman who visits the clinic complaining of always dropping things and falling down. While testing rapid alternating movements, the nurse notices that the woman is unable to pat both of her knees. Her response is extremely slow and she frequently misses. What should the nurse suspect?

a. Vestibular disease
b. Lesion of CN IX
c. Dysfunction of the cerebellum
d. Inability to understand directions

Answer 24

c. Dysfunction of the cerebellum

Question 25

During the taking of the health history of a 78-year-old man, his wife states that he occasionally has problems with short-term memory loss and confusion: He cant even remember how to button his shirt. When assessing his sensory system, which action by the nurse is most appropriate?

a. The nurse would not test the sensory system as part of the examination because the results would not be valid.
b. The nurse would perform the tests, knowing that mental status does not affect sensory ability.
c. The nurse would proceed with an explanation of each test, making certain that the wife understands.
d. Before testing, the nurse would assess the patients mental status and ability to follow directions.

Answer 25

d. Before testing, the nurse would assess the patients mental status and ability to follow directions.

Question 26

The assessment of a 60-year-old patient has taken longer than anticipated. In testing his pain perception, the nurse decides to complete the test as quickly as possible. When the nurse applies the sharp point of the pin on his arm several times, he is only able to identify these as one very sharp prick. What would be the most accurate explanation for this?

a. The patient has hyperesthesia as a result of the aging process.
b. This response is most likely the result of the summation effect.
c. The nurse was probably not poking hard enough with the pin in the other areas.
d. The patient most likely has analgesia in some areas of arm and hyperalgesia in others.

Answer 26

b. This response is most likely the result of the summation effect.

Question 27

The nurse is performing a neurologic assessment on a 41-year-old woman with a history of diabetes. When testing her ability to feel the vibrations of a tuning fork, the nurse notices that the patient is unable to feel vibrations on the great toe or ankle bilaterally, but she is able to feel vibrations on both patellae. Given this information, what would the nurse suspect?

a. Hyperalgesia
b. Hyperesthesia
c. Peripheral neuropathy
d. Lesion of sensory cortex

Answer 27

c. Peripheral neuropathy

Question 28

The nurse places a key in the hand of a patient and he identifies it as a penny. What term would the nurse
use to describe this finding?

a. Extinction
b. Astereognosis
c. Graphesthesia
d. Tactile discrimination

Answer 28

b. Astereognosis

Question 29

The nurse is testing the deep tendon reflexes of a 30-year-old woman who is in the clinic for an annual physical examination. When striking the Achilles heel and quadriceps muscle, the nurse is unable to elicit a reflex. The nurses next response should be to:

a. Ask the patient to lock her fingers and pull.
b. Complete the examination, and then test these reflexes again.
c. Refer the patient to a specialist for further testing.
d. Document these reflexes as 0 on a scale of 0 to 4+.

Answer 29

a. Ask the patient to lock her fingers and pull.

Question 30

In assessing a 70-year-old patient who has had a recent cerebrovascular accident, the nurse notices right- sided weakness. What might the nurse expect to find when testing his reflexes on the right side?

a. Lack of reflexes
b. Normal reflexes
c. Diminished reflexes
d. Hyperactive reflexes

Answer 30

d. Hyperactive reflexes

Question 31

When the nurse is testing the triceps reflex, what is the expected response?

a. Flexion of the hand
b. Pronation of the hand
c. Extension of the forearm
d. Flexion of the forearm

Answer 31

c. Extension of the forearm

Question 32

The nurse is testing superficial reflexes on an adult patient. When stroking up the lateral side of the sole and across the ball of the foot, the nurse notices the plantar flexion of the toes. How should the nurse document this finding?

a. Positive Babinski sign
b. Plantar reflex abnormal
c. Plantar reflex present
d. Plantar reflex 2+ on a scale from 0 to 4+

Answer 32

c. Plantar reflex present

Question 33

In the assessment of a 1-month-old infant, the nurse notices a lack of response to noise or stimulation. The mother reports that in the last week he has been sleeping all of the time, and when he is awake all he does is cry. The nurse hears that the infants cries are very high pitched and shrill. What should be the nurses appropriate response to these findings?

a. Refer the infant for further testing.
b. Talk with the mother about eating habits.
c. Do nothing; these are expected findings for an infant this age.
d. Tell the mother to bring the baby back in 1 week for a recheck.

Answer 33

a. Refer the infant for further testing.

Question 34

Which of these tests would the nurse use to check the motor coordination of an 11-month-old infant?

a. Denver II
b. Stereognosis
c. Deep tendon reflexes
d. Rapid alternating movements

Answer 34

a. Denver II

Question 35

To assess the head control of a 4-month-old infant, the nurse lifts up the infant in a prone position while supporting his chest. The nurse looks for what normal response? The infant:

a. Raises the head, and arches the back.
b. Extends the arms, and drops down the head.
c. Flexes the knees and elbows with the back straight.
d. Holds the head at 45 degrees, and keeps the back straight.

Answer 35

a. Raises the head, and arches the back.

Question 36

While assessing a 7-month-old infant, the nurse makes a loud noise and notices the following response: abduction and flexion of the arms and legs; fanning of the fingers, and curling of the index finger and thumb in a C position, followed by the infant bringing in the arms and legs to the body. What does the nurse know about this response?

a. This response could indicate brachial nerve palsy.
b. This reaction is an expected startle response at this age.
c. This reflex should have disappeared between 1 and 4 months of age.
d. This response is normal as long as the movements are bilaterally symmetric.

Answer 36

c. This reflex should have disappeared between 1 and 4 months of age.

Question 37

To test for gross motor skill and coordination of a 6-year-old child, which of these techniques would be appropriate? Ask the child to:

a. Hop on one foot.
b. Stand on his head.
c. Touch his finger to his nose.
d. Make funny faces at the nurse.

Answer 37

a. Hop on one foot.

Question 38

During the assessment of an 80-year-old patient, the nurse notices that his hands show tremors when he reaches for something and his head is always nodding. No associated rigidity is observed with movement. Which of these statements is most accurate?

a. These findings are normal, resulting from aging.
b. These findings could be related to hyperthyroidism.
c. These findings are the result of Parkinson disease.
d. This patient should be evaluated for a cerebellar lesion.

Answer 38

a. These findings are normal, resulting from aging.

Question 39

While the nurse is taking the history of a 68-year-old patient who sustained a head injury 3 days earlier, he tells the nurse that he is on a cruise ship and is 30 years old. The nurse knows that this finding is indicative of a(n):

a. Great sense of humor.
b. Uncooperative behavior.
c. Inability to understand questions.
d. Decreased level of consciousness.

Answer 39

d. Decreased level of consciousness.

Question 40

The nurse is caring for a patient who has just had neurosurgery. To assess for increased intracranial
pressure, what would the nurse include in the assessment?

a. CNs, motor function, and sensory function
b. Deep tendon reflexes, vital signs, and coordinated movements
c. Level of consciousness, motor function, pupillary response, and vital signs
d. Mental status, deep tendon reflexes, sensory function, and pupillary response

Answer 40

c. Level of consciousness, motor function, pupillary response, and vital signs

Question 41

During an assessment of a 22-year-old woman who sustained a head injury from an automobile accident 4 hours earlier, the nurse notices the following changes: pupils were equal, but now the right pupil is fully dilated and nonreactive, and the left pupil is 4 mm and reacts to light. What do these findings suggest?

a. Injury to the right eye
b. Increased intracranial pressure
c. Test inaccurately performed
d. Normal response after a head injury

Answer 41

b. Increased intracranial pressure

Question 42

A 32-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has noticed very sudden, jerky movements mainly in her hands and arms. She says, They seem to come and go, primarily when I am trying to do something. I havent noticed them when Im sleeping. This description suggests:

a. Tics.
b. Athetosis.
c. Myoclonus.
d. Chorea.

Answer 42

d. Chorea.

Question 43

During an assessment of a 62-year-old man, the nurse notices the patient has a stooped posture, shuffling
walk with short steps, flat facial expression, and pill-rolling finger movements. These findings would be
consistent with:

a. Parkinsonism.
b. Cerebral palsy.
c. Cerebellar ataxia.
d. Muscular dystrophy.

Answer 43

a. Parkinsonism.

Question 44

During an assessment of a 32-year-old patient with a recent head injury, the nurse notices that the patient responds to pain by extending, adducting, and internally rotating his arms. His palms pronate, and his lower extremities extend with plantar flexion. Which statement concerning these findings is most accurate? This patients response:

a. Indicates a lesion of the cerebral cortex.
b. Indicates a completely nonfunctional brainstem.
c. Is normal and will go away in 24 to 48 hours.
d. Is a very ominous sign and may indicate brainstem injury.

Answer 44

d. Is a very ominous sign and may indicate brainstem injury.

Question 45

A 78-year-old man has a history of a cerebrovascular accident. The nurse notes that when he walks, his left
arm is immobile against the body with flexion of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers and adduction of the shoulder. His left leg is stiff and extended and circumducts with each step. What type of gait disturbance is this individual experiencing?

a. Scissors gait
b. Cerebellar ataxia
c. Parkinsonian gait
d. Spastic hemiparesis

Answer 45

d. Spastic hemiparesis

Question 46

In a person with an upper motor neuron lesion such as a cerebrovascular accident, which of these physical
assessment findings should the nurse expect?

a. Hyperreflexia
b. Fasciculations
c. Loss of muscle tone and flaccidity
d. Atrophy and wasting of the muscles

Answer 46

a. Hyperreflexia

Question 47

A 59-year-old patient has a herniated intervertebral disk. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect to see on physical assessment of this individual?

a. Hyporeflexia
b. Increased muscle tone
c. Positive Babinski sign
d. Presence of pathologic reflexes

Answer 47

a. Hyporeflexia

Question 48

A patient is unable to perform rapid alternating movements such as rapidly patting her knees. The nurse
should document this inability as:

a. Ataxia.
b. Astereognosis.
c. Presence of dysdiadochokinesia.
d. Loss of kinesthesia.

Answer 48

c. Presence of dysdiadochokinesia.

Question 49

The nurse knows that determining whether a person is oriented to his or her surroundings will test the
functioning of which structure(s)?

a. Cerebrum
b. Cerebellum
c. CNs
d. Medulla oblongata

Answer 49

a. Cerebrum

Question 50

During an examination, the nurse notices severe nystagmus in both eyes of a patient. Which conclusion by the nurse is correct? Severe nystagmus in both eyes:

a. Is a normal occurrence.
b. May indicate disease of the cerebellum or brainstem.
c. Is a sign that the patient is nervous about the examination.
d. Indicates a visual problem, and a referral to an ophthalmologist is indicated.

Answer 50

b. May indicate disease of the cerebellum or brainstem.

Question 51

The nurse knows that testing kinesthesia is a test of a persons:

a. Fine touch.
b. Position sense.
c. Motor coordination.
d. Perception of vibration.

Answer 51

b. Position sense.

Question 52

The nurse is reviewing a patients medical record and notes that he is in a coma. Using the Glasgow Coma Scale, which number indicates that the patient is in a coma?

a. 6
b. 12
c. 15
d. 24

Answer 52

a. 6

Question 53

A man who was found wandering in a park at 2 AM has been brought to the emergency department for an examination; he said he fell and hit his head. During the examination, the nurse asks him to use his index finger to touch the nurses finger, then his own nose, then the nurses finger again (which has been moved to a different location). The patient is clumsy, unable to follow the instructions, and overshoots the mark, missing he finger. The nurse should suspect which of the following?

a. Cerebral injury
b. Cerebrovascular accident
c. Acute alcohol intoxication
d. Peripheral neuropathy

Answer 53

c. Acute alcohol intoxication

Question 54

The nurse is assessing the neurologic status of a patient who has a late-stage brain tumor. With the reflex hammer, the nurse draws a light stroke up the lateral side of the sole of the foot and inward, across the ball of the foot. In response, the patients toes fan out, and the big toe shows dorsiflexion. The nurse interprets this result as:

a. Negative Babinski sign, which is normal for adults.
b. Positive Babinski sign, which is abnormal for adults.
c. Clonus, which is a hyperactive response.
d. Achilles reflex, which is an expected response.

Answer 54

b. Positive Babinski sign, which is abnormal for adults.

Question 55

A 69-year-old patient has been admitted to an adult psychiatric unit because his wife thinks he is getting
more and more confused. He laughs when he is found to be forgetful, saying Im just getting old! After the nurse completes a thorough neurologic assessment, which findings would be indicative of Alzheimer disease? Select all that apply.

a. Occasionally forgetting names or appointments
b. Difficulty performing familiar tasks, such as placing a telephone call
c. Misplacing items, such as putting dish soap in the refrigerator
d. Sometimes having trouble finding the right word
e. Rapid mood swings, from calm to tears, for no apparent reason
f. Getting lost in ones own neighborhood

Answer 55

b. Difficulty performing familiar tasks, such as placing a telephone call
c. Misplacing items, such as putting dish soap in the refrigerator
e. Rapid mood swings, from calm to tears, for no apparent reason
f. Getting lost in ones own neighborhood

Question 56

During the assessment of deep tendon reflexes, the nurse finds that a patients responses are bilaterally
normal. What number is used to indicate normal deep tendon reflexes when the documenting this finding? ____+

Answer 56

2