Neurology

Question 1

A disease that is characterized by severe, sharp, unilateral stabbing pain in the distribution of one or more branches of the fifth cranial nerve is:

Answer 1

Trigeminal neuralgia

Question 2

Inflammation of the dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater and underlying cortex that causes increased intracranial pressure is:

Answer 2

Meningitis

Question 3

The cause of movement disorders in parkinson’s disease is thought to be related to destruction of cells in the:

Answer 3

Substancia nigra

Question 4

Which diagnostic study can be useful in differentiating Alzheimer’s disease from dementia with Lewy bodies?

Answer 4

PET scan

Question 5

Down syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality due to an extra:

Answer 5

Chromosome 21

Question 6

Two hallmark symptoms of concussion are:

Answer 6

Confusion and amnesia

Question 7

Paroxysmal events associated with abnormal electrical discharges of neurons in the brain are known as:

Answer 7

Seizures

Question 8

A disease that produces sporadic, progressive weakness and abnormal fatigue of voluntary skeletal muscles is:

Answer 8

Myasthenia gravis

Question 9

A diagnosis of meningitis should be considered in the patient who exhibits:

Answer 9

Positive Brudzinski and Kernig sign

Question 10

A transient episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by focal brain, spinal cord, or retinal ischemia without acute infarction is called:

Answer 10

Transient ischemic attack

Question 11

A transient ischemic attack:

Answer 11

May result in permanent tissue damage

Question 12

Dysfunction of cranial nerve VI (abducens nerve) would likely result in:

Answer 12

Esotropia

Question 13

The condition caused by inability of the brain to understand sound despite normal detection of sound by the inner ear is known as:

Answer 13

Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder

Question 14

Irritation of or injury to a nerve root that causes pain, numbness, or weakness in the part of the body that is supplied with nerves from that root is known as:

Answer 14

Radiculopathy

Question 15

The most common cause of aseptic viral meningitis is:

Answer 15

Enterovirus

Question 16

The hypersensitivity and pain crescendo experienced in conjunction with a migraine attack is thought to be related to the release of

Answer 16

Subtance P.

Question 17

A 35-year-old woman complains of daily or near daily low- to moderate-intensity headaches for about 4 months. The headaches are occasionally intense and are accompanied by mild photophobia. This is most likely:

Answer 17

Chronic migraines

Question 18

An irreversible condition that develops as a result of progressive degeneration in the hippocampus is:

Answer 18

Alzheimer’s disease

Question 19

A patient with a severe herniated disc at the fifth lumbar area is NOT likely to have:

Answer 19

Paralysis

Question 20

The diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer’s disease include:

Answer 20

Impaired ability to remember new information

Question 21

An acute, autoimmune, rapidly progressive demyelination of peripheral nerves is known as:

Answer 21

Guillain-Barre syndrome

Question 22

A progressive neurodegenerative disease that destroys motor neurons is:

Answer 22

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Question 23

In myasthenia gravis, neuromuscular transmission is blocked by weakened receptor sites at which neurotransmitter?

Answer 23

Acetylcholine

Question 24

The organism that is LEAST likely to be responsible for community-acquired fungal meningitis is:

Answer 24

Candida albicans

Question 25

Progressive muscle rigidity, loss of muscle movement, and involuntary tremors are associated with:

Answer 25

Parkinson’s disease

Question 26

Which of the following is a disorder of the spinal nerve roots that results from compression, inflammation, or tearing of the nerve roots at the vertebral canal?

Answer 26

Radiculopathy

Question 27

Which of the following patients is at highest risk for having a hemorrhagic stroke?

Answer 27

65-year-old woman with uncontrolled hypertension

Question 28

Autonomic symptoms associated with cluster headaches do NOT include:

Answer 28

Epistaxis

Question 29

An abnormally excessive curvature of the thoracic spine is known as:

Answer 29

Kyphosis

Question 30

A risk factor associated with cluster headaches is:

Answer 30

Alcohol ingestion by a man

Question 31

Guillain-Barre syndrome causes a degeneration of the:

Answer 31

Myelin sheath

Question 32

Hyperreflexia of the deep tendons may indicate:

Answer 32

Electrolyte imbalance

Question 33

In a patient with parkinsonism, the loss of autonomic responses to fear and the development of depression is caused by loss of neurons in the:

Answer 33

Amygdala

Question 34

Akathisia and bradykinesia occur in patients with Parkinson’s disease due to the effect of the disease on the:

Answer 34

Extrapyramidal system

Question 35

When cell death occurs in the frontal lobes of the brain, the patient with Alzheimer’s disease may experience:

Answer 35

Expressive aphasia

Question 36

A decrease in oxygen and glucose to brain tissue that is related to congestion and edema in an affected vessel is caused by:

Answer 36

A thrombus

Question 37

In a patient with meningitis secondary to Haemophilus influenza infection, the history may reveal recent:

Answer 37

Sinusitis

Question 38

A complex pathophysiology process that affects the brain and is a result of direct external contact forces is:

Answer 38

Concussion

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT likely a cause of an embolic stroke?

Answer 39

Elevated blood sugar

Question 40

A 34-year-old patient who has experienced a traumatic brain injury and has been diagnosed with retrograde amnesia will NOT:

Answer 40

Remember events that occurred immediately BEFORE the head trauma.

Question 41

The most common cause of ischemia that originates within the brain is:

Answer 41

Atherosclerosis

Question 42

The type of seizure that affects both cerebral hemispheres and causes an impairment of consciousness is:

Answer 42

Generalized seizures

Question 43

Which condition is described as a sudden internal or external spinning sensation, often triggered by moving the head quickly?

Answer 43

Vertigo

Question 44

In Parkinson’s disease, a deficiency exists in which neurotransmitter?

Answer 44

Dopamine

Question 45

The leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children and young adults in the United States is:

Answer 45

Neisseria meningitidis