Chapter 25: Assessing Neurologic System Flashcards
The cerebrospinal fluid cushions the central nervous system (CNS), provides nourishment to the CNS, and
a. transmits impulses.
b. coats the brain.
c. regulates heart rate.
d. removes wastes.
d. removes wastes
The cerebrum is divided into right and left hemispheres, which are joined together by the
a. corpus callosum.
b. diencephalon.
c. medulla oblongata.
d. pons.
a. corpus callosum
The portion of the brain that rims the surfaces of the cerebral hemispheres forming the cerebral cortex is the
a. gray matter.
b. cerebellum.
c. diencephalon.
d. brain stem.
a. gray matter
The diencephalon of the brain consists of the
a. pons and brain stem.
b. medulla oblongata and cerebrum.
c. cerebellum and midbrain.
d. thalamus and hypothalamus.
d. thalamus and hypothalamus
The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating
a. sleep cycles.
b. nerve impulses.
c. memory.
d. eye reflexes.
a. sleep cycles
Innervates neck muscles that promote movement of the shoulders and head rotation
Spinal accessory
Contains sensory fibers for taste on posterior one-third of the tongue; responsible for “gag reflex” when stimulated
Glossopharyngeal
Carries smell impulses from nasal mucous
membrane to brain
Olfactory
Contains sensory fibers for taste on anterior two- thirds of the tongue, and stimulates secretions from the salivary glands and tears from lacrimal glands
Facial
Innervates tongue muscles that promote the movement of food and talking
Hypoglossal
Contains sensory fibers for hearing and balance
Acoustic
Carries visual impulses from the eye to the brain
Optic
Carries sensations from the throat, larynx, heart, lungs, bronchi, gastrointestinal tract, and abdominal viscera
Vagus
Controls lateral eye movements
Abducens
Contracts eye muscles to control eye movement, constricts pupils, and elevates eyelids
Oculomotor
Carries sensory impulses of pain, touch, and temperature from the face to the brain
Trigeminal
Contracts one eye muscle to control inferomedial eye movement
Trochlear
Sensations of temperature, pain, and crude and light touch are carried by way of the
a. extrapyramidal tract.
b. corticospinal tract.
c. spinothalamic tract.
d. posterior tract.
c. spinothalamic tract
The cranial nerve that has sensory fibers for taste and fibers that result in the “gag reflex” is the
a. vagus.
b. hypoglossal.
c. trigeminal.
d. glossopharyngeal.
d. glossopharyngeal
The nurse is assessing an older adult client when the client tells the nurse that she has experienced transient blind spots for the last few days. The nurse should refer the client to a physician for possible
a. vagus nerve damage.
b. stroke.
c. spinal cord compression.
d. Parkinson disease.
b. stroke
The nurse is planning a presentation to a group of adults on the topic of cardiovascular accidents. Which of the following should the nurse plan to include in the teaching plan?
a. Strokes are the number one cause of death in the United States.
b. Smoking and high cholesterol levels are risk factors for stroke.
c. Clients who smoke while taking oral contraceptives are not at higher risk.
d. Postmenopausal women taking estrogen are at greater risk for stroke.
b. Smoking and high cholesterol levels are risk factors for stroke.
The nurse is caring for a client during the immediate postoperative period after abdominal surgery. While performing a “neuro check” the nurse should assess the client’s
a. sensation in the extremities.
b. deep tendon reflexes.
c. ability to speak.
d. recent memory.
a. sensation in the extremities
The nurse is preparing to percuss a client’s reflexes in his arms. To use the reinforcement technique, the nurse should ask the client to
a. clench his jaw.
b. stretch the opposite arm.
c. hold his neck toward the floor.
d. straighten his legs forward.
a. clench his jaw
Which cranial nerve is the nurse testing when the client is asked to identify a scented object?
a. oculomotor
b. facial
c. optic
d. olfactory
d. olfactory
Reduced ability to sense vibrations of a tuning fork may be present with
a. peripheral neuropathy.
b. nystagmus.
c. graphesthesia.
d. stereognosis.
a. peripheral neuropathy
While assessing the neurologic system of a confused older adult, the nurse observes that the
client is unable to recall past events. The nurse suspects that the client may be exhibiting signs of
a. depression.
b. anxiety.
c. attention deficit disorder.
d. cerebral cortex disorder.
d. cerebral cortex disorder
The nurse is assessing the neurologic system of an adult client. To test the client’s use of memory to learn new information, the nurse should ask the client
a. “What did you have for breakfast?”
b. “How old were you when you began working?”
c. “Can you repeat rose, hose, nose, clothes?”
d. “Can you repeat brown, chair, textbook, tomato?”
a. “What did you have for breakfast?”
While assessing the pupils of a hospitalized adult client, the nurse observes that the client’s pupils are dilated to 6 cm. The nurse suspects that the client is exhibiting signs of
a. oculomotor nerve paralysis.
b. damage to the pons.
c. alcohol abuse.
d. cocaine abuse.
a. oculomotor nerve paralysis
The nurse is assessing the neurologic system of an adult client. To test the client’s motor function of the facial nerve, the nurse should
a. ask the client to purse the lips.
b. ask the client to open the mouth and say “ah.”
c. note the presence of a gag reflex.
d. observe the client swallow a sip of water.
a. ask the client to purse the lips.
The nurse is assessing the neurologic system of a client who has spastic muscle tone. The nurse should explain to the client that spastic muscle tone is associated with impairment to the
a. extrapyramidal tract.
b. spinothalamic tract.
c. posterior columns.
d. corticospinal tract
d. corticospinal tract
The nurse is preparing to perform the Romberg test on an adult male client. The nurse should instruct the client to
a. squat down as far as he is able to do so.
b. keep his eyes open while he bends at the knees.
c. stand erect with arms at the sides and feet together.
d. touch the tip of his nose with his finger.
c. stand erect with arms at the sides and feet together
The nurse is planning to test position sensation in an adult female client. To perform this procedure, the nurse should ask the client to close her eyes while the nurse moves the client’s
a. arm away from the body.
b. toes up or down.
c. hand forward and then backward.
d. leg away from the body.
b. toes up or down
