Deck 13: Neurologic Diseases and Conditions

Question 1

A chronic brain disorder characterized by sudden episodes of abnormally intense electrical activity in the brain is called

A) epilepsy.
B) Bell's palsy.
C) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
D) Parkinson's disease.

Answer 1

A
Epilepsy, a seizure disorder, is a chronic brain disorder, characterized by sudden episodes of abnormal intense electrical activity in the brain, which result in seizure activity.

Question 2

Of the following, which is not likely to cause a cerebrovascular accident (CVA)?

A) Advancing arteriosclerosis
B) Cerebral embolism
C) Neuroblastoma
D) Cerebral thrombosis

Answer 2

C
A CVA is usually the result of one of three types of vascular disorders: occlusion of an artery caused by an atheroma; sudden obstruction by an embolus, including a cerebral thrombosis (clot), embolism (moving clot), or other moving emboli; or a cerebral bleed. These vascular disorders most often are caused by atherosclerosis (see "atherosclerosis" section in Chapter 10) and hypertension (high blood pressure). Strokes can also result from blood disorders, arrhythmias, systemic diseases (for example, diabetes mellitus and syphilis), hyperlipidemia, rheumatic heart disease, or head trauma. A high-fat diet, lack of exercise, cigarette smoking, obesity, and a family history of atherosclerotic disease are contributing factors.

Question 3

Infectious organisms may reach the brain from

A) the blood.
B) penetrating trauma.
C) an infection in adjoining structures such as the ear or sinuses.
D) all of the above.

Answer 3

D
Meningitis can be either bacterial or viral. The infection can originate directly from the brain, spinal cord, or sinuses. Open head injuries are additional portals of entry for the offending bacteria. Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae are the bacteria responsible for most meningeal infections; however, the causative microorganism can be either bacterial or viral (see Figure 13-22). CNS abscesses may be the result of a local infection or may be secondary to infections elsewhere in the body. Common causative organisms are staphylococci, streptococci, or pneumococci. Any occurrence that breaches the integrity of the CNS, including head trauma and a craniotomy wound, may be the portal of entry for the microorganisms. The abscess may be secondary to another infectious process, including sinusitis, otitis, dental abscess, subdural empyema, and bacterial endocarditis (see Figure 13-24).

Question 4

Possible causes of peripheral neuritis

A) include chronic alcohol intoxication, toxicity, and infectious diseases.
B) include history of head injury or skull fractures.
C) include stress, a noisy environment, and edema in the blood vessels.
D) are not known.

Question 5

A collection or mass of blood that forms between the skull and the dura mater is termed a(n)

A) subdural hematoma.
B) epidural hematoma.
C) meningocele.
D) concussion.

Question 6

The patient with _____ experiences excruciating pain that radiates along the fifth cranial nerve distribution, affecting any of the branches.

A) tic douloureux
B) peripheral neuritis
C) trigeminal neuralgia
D) tic douloureux and trigeminal neuralgia

Question 7

Nerves that transmit impulses away from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands are

A) efferent.
B) afferent.
C) sensory.
D) efferent and sensory.

Question 8

Bruising of the brain tissues along or just beneath its surface accompanied by symptoms lasting more than 24 hours describes a

A) concussion.
B) contusion.
C) CVA.
D) TIA.

Question 9

Temporary episodes of impaired neurologic functioning caused by inadequate blood flow to a portion of the brain are termed

A) CVAs.
B) transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).
C) ministrokes.
D) both b and c.

Question 10

Loss of motor and sensory control of the trunk of the body and lower extremities as a result of a spinal cord injury describes

A) peripheral neuritis.
B) quadriplegia.
C) paraplegia.
D) a degenerative disk.

Question 11

Parkinson's disease is characterized by

A) "pill-rolling" tremor of thumb and forefinger, muscular rigidity, masklike facial expression, and shuffling gait.
B) narcolepsy, hemiparesis, muscular atrophy, and seizures.
C) tongue smacking; dementia; and ceaseless, involuntary movements.
D) all of the above.

Question 12

Nerves that transmit impulses toward the brain and spinal cord are

A) afferent.
B) efferent.
C) motor.
D) receptor.

Question 13

Unilateral facial paralysis is called

A) quadriplegia.
B) hemiparesis.
C) Bell's palsy.
D) epilepsy.

Question 14

Nuchal rigidity, headache, and photopia are symptomatic of

A) trigeminal neuralgia.
B) hydrocephalus.
C) postpolio syndrome.
D) meningeal irritation or meningitis.

Question 15

An acute, rapidly progressive disease of the spinal nerves with progressive muscle weakness and paralysis in a 24- to 72-hour period may be indicative of

A) Parkinson's disease.
B) Guillain-Barré syndrome.
C) Huntington's chorea.
D) ALS.

Question 16

_____ involves degeneration of the nerves outside the CNS and affects the distal muscles of the extremities.

A) Bell's palsy
B) Neuralgia
C) Peripheral neuritis
D) Parkinson's disease

Question 17

Periodic severe headaches that may be completely incapacitating are called

A) cephalalgia.
B) peripheral neuritis.
C) neuralgia.
D) migraines.

Question 18

Paralysis of all four extremities is known as

A) paraplegia.
B) quadriplegia.
C) hemiplegia.
D) hemiparesis.

Question 19

Vascular disorders that may result in a CVA are

A) cerebral thrombosis and cerebral embolism.
B) cerebral hemorrhage.
C) both a and b.
D) epidural hematoma.

Question 20

Inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord is called

A) encephalitis.
B) meningitis.
C) blepharitis.
D) polyneuritis.

Question 21

The condition that involves progressive destruction of motor neurons resulting in muscle atrophy is called

A) Parkinson's disease.
B) Guillain-Barré syndrome.
C) Huntington's chorea.
D) ALS.

Question 22

_____ is an abnormal condition in which there are sudden, transient disturbances of brain function causing seizures.

A) Parkinson's disease
B) Guillain-Barré syndrome
C) Epilepsy
D) Bell's palsy

Question 23

Symptoms and signs of brain tumors include

A) headache, seizures, and cognitive dysfunction.
B) gait disturbances, lethargy, and nystagmus.
C) fever, stiff neck, and unilateral facial paralysis.
D) all of the above.

Question 24

Electrical impulses are carried throughout the body by the

A) nephrons.
B) tendons.
C) hormones.
D) neurons.

Question 25

_____ is the result of the bones of the floor of the cranial vault being broken.

A) CVA
B) Depressed fracture
C) Basilar fracture
D) Encephalitis

Question 26

ALS causes symptoms of

A) pill-rolling and shuffling of feet.
B) progressive destruction of motor neurons, resulting in muscle atrophy.
C) dancelike movements and a decline in mental function.
D) paralysis.

Question 27

The spinal cord is divided into ___ segments, each giving rise to a pair of spinal nerves.

A) 7
B) 12
C) 5
D) 31

Question 28

Blood, penetrating trauma, and infection in adjoining structures such as the ear or sinuses are all routes in which infectious organisms may reach the brain and cause

A) infection.
B) a stroke.
C) a subdural hematoma.
D) restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Question 29

Pill-rolling tremor of thumb and forefinger, muscular rigidity, masklike facial expression, and shuffling gait are all signs of

A) Bell's palsy.
B) Parkinson's disease.
C) epilepsy.
D) neuropathy.

Question 30

A slight paralysis in either half of the body is known as

A) paraplegia.
B) quadriplegia.
C) hemiparesis.
D) Bell's palsy.

Question 31

Another term for herniated disk is ruptured or slipped disk.

Question 32

_____ is a highly contagious viral disease that affects the anterior horn cells of the gray matter in the spinal cord.

A) Poliomyelitis
B) Meningitis
C) Encephalitis
D) Brain abscess

Question 33

All brain tumors originate in the brain tissue.

Question 34

A disorder of the facial nerve (seventh cranial nerve) that causes a sudden onset of weakness or paralysis of facial muscles is

A) trigeminal neuritis.
B) Guillain-Barré syndrome.
C) epilepsy.
D) Bell's palsy.

Question 35

Narrowing of intervertebral spaces on imaging studies may indicate degeneration of an intervertebral disk.

Question 36

Paralysis of the lower half of the body as a result of damage in the lower portion of the spinal cord is called

A) paraplegia.
B) quadriplegia.
C) hemiparesis.
D) Bell's palsy.

Question 37

Encephalitis is caused by

A) bacteria.
B) the bite from an infected mosquito.
C) fungus.
D) contaminated soil.

Question 38

Spinal stenosis contributes to sciatic pain caused by a narrowing of the spinal canal that causes compression of spinal nerve roots.

Question 39

The prognosis for patients with tumors involving the brain is

A) poor.
B) always death.
C) good.
D) difficult to project.

Question 40

With an epidural hematoma, the onset of symptoms is delayed as a result of a slower accumulation of blood.

Question 41

The amnesia of transient global amnesia is permanent.

Question 42

The patient's mental status may be graded with the Glasgow coma scale, which is a standardized system for assessing the response to stimuli.

Question 43

The goals of treatment for all spinal cord injuries include restoration of the normal alignment and stability of the spine; decompression of the spinal cord, nerves, and vertebrae; and early rehabilitation of the patient.

Question 44

The CNS's function is to process and store sensory and motor information and to govern the state of consciousness.

Question 45

RLS is caused by hypertension.

Question 46

TIA and transient global amnesia are the same thing.

Question 47

Cephalalgia, or secondary headache, is sometimes a symptom of an underlying disorder or disease.

Question 48

Ruptured disks in the cervical region of the spine often produce pain and weakness in the arms and neck.