Question 1

The breathing pattern that reflects respirations based primarily on CO₂ levels in the blood is:

Accepted Answer

Cheyne-Stokes breathing pattern is characterized by periods of deep breathing followed by periods of apnea. It is often associated with neurological or cardiovascular disorders and is mediated by changes in CO₂ levels in the blood.

Question 2

An alcoholic checked into a rehabilitation center. He experiences delirium, inability to concentrate, and is easily distracted. From which of the following is he most likely suffering?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of delirium, inability to concentrate, and being easily distracted are characteristic of acute confusional state, also known as delirium tremens, which is a serious withdrawal symptom that can occur in severe cases of alcoholism. Echolalia is the repetition of words or phrases, dementia is a general term for cognitive decline, and dysphagia is difficulty swallowing. None of these conditions are specifically associated with alcohol withdrawal delirium.

Question 3

The cognitive disorder that results in the loss of memory of events that occurred before a head injury is:

Accepted Answer

Retrograde amnesia is a cognitive disorder that results in the loss of memory of events that occurred before a head injury. Selective memory deficit refers to a situation where a person has difficulty remembering specific information or events, but their memory in general is still intact. Anterograde amnesia is the inability to form new memories after a brain injury. Executive memory deficit refers to an impairment in the ability to plan, initiate, control, and monitor goal-directed behavior.

Question 4

Arousal is mediated by the:

Accepted Answer

The reticular activating system is responsible for regulating arousal and wakefulness in the brain. It is located in the brainstem and receives input from various sensory systems throughout the body.

Question 5

A 45-year-old female presents to the ER complaining of vomiting. A CT scan of the brain reveals a mass in the:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A 45-year-old female presents to the ER...

Question 6

A 10-year-old female was brought to the ER following a sudden onset of convulsions. The physicians think that she experienced an explosive, disorderly discharge of cerebral neurons referred to as:

Accepted Answer

The sudden onset of convulsions suggests a seizure, which is an explosive, disorderly discharge of cerebral neurons. Reflex and inattentiveness are unlikely to cause convulsions, while brain death implies complete and irreversible cessation of brain function, which would not present with seizures.

Question 7

A peculiar sensation that immediately precedes a seizure is called a(n):

Accepted Answer

A peculiar sensation that immediately precedes a seizure is called an aura. The word "aura" comes from the Latin word for "breeze" or "air" and is used to describe a subjective sensation experienced by a person with epilepsy just before the seizure begins. The aura can take many different forms, such as a feeling of déjà vu, a strange taste or smell, or a sudden feeling of fear or dread. It is an important sign that a seizure is about to occur and can help the person prepare for it or seek assistance. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Question 8

A 20-year-old male suffers a severe closed head injury in a motor vehicle accident. He remains in a vegetative state 1 month after the accident. Which of the following structures is most likely damaged?

Accepted Answer

The brain stem controls many vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and consciousness. Damage to this area can result in a vegetative state. The other structures listed may be involved in cognitive or motor functions, but are less likely to be responsible for maintaining basic life-sustaining functions.

Question 9

Neural networks basic to cognitive functions include:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Neural networks basic to cognitive functions include:
...

Question 10

A 75-year-old female suffers a stroke and now has impaired comprehension and production of language. This condition is most likely caused by occlusion of the:

Accepted Answer

The middle cerebral artery supplies blood to the language centers in the brain, and occlusion of this artery can result in language impairment.

Question 11

A 65-year-old male recently suffered a cerebral vascular accident. He is now unable to recognize and identify objects by touch because of injury to the sensory cortex. This condition is a form of:

Accepted Answer

The inability to recognize and identify objects by touch because of injury to the sensory cortex is a form of agnosia. Hypomimesis refers to a decrease in the ability to produce gestures and facial expressions, dysphasia is a language disorder, and agraphia is the inability to write due to damage to the brain's language systems.

Question 12

When thought content and arousal level are intact but a patient cannot communicate, the patient has:

Accepted Answer

Locked-in syndrome is a condition in which a patient is fully conscious and awake but cannot communicate due to paralysis of almost all voluntary muscles, except for the ocular muscles. The thought content and arousal level are intact in this condition, and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) or cerebellar motor syndrome (affecting coordination and balance) may or may not be present. Cerebral death is a term used to describe the irreversible loss of brain function, and is not applicable in this scenario.

Question 13

A 20-year-old male was at the supermarket when he fell to the ground. Bystanders reported that he lost consciousness and his body tensed up then relaxed, then tensed and relaxed several times. He most likely was experiencing a(n):

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described suggest that the individual most likely experienced a tonic-clonic seizure. Loss of consciousness, muscle rigidity (tonic phase), followed by convulsive movements (clonic phase) are characteristic of this type of seizure. Partial seizures involve localized symptoms and do not typically result in loss of consciousness. Absence seizures involve brief periods of staring and typically occur in children. Myoclonic seizures involve brief, sudden muscle contractions.

Question 14

Dilated fixed pupils can be caused by:

Accepted Answer

Dilated fixed pupils are a sign of brain stem hypoxia, which means that the brain stem is not getting enough oxygen. This can be a life-threatening condition and requires immediate medical attention. Other causes such as cerebral contusions, compression of the optic nerve or spinal shock may cause dilated pupils but not necessarily fixed pupils.

Question 15

A patient with a history of a motor vehicle accident presents for rehabilitation. He appears to be confused and complains of an inability to remember. Which of the following is most likely impaired?

Accepted Answer

The patient's symptoms of confusion and inability to remember suggest an impairment in domain-independent declarative memory, which involves general knowledge and facts that are not tied to a specific context or domain.

Question 16

A 50-year-old male suffers a severe head injury when his motorcycle hits a tree. His breathing becomes deep and rapid, but with normal pattern. This condition is called:

Accepted Answer

The description of deep and rapid breathing with a normal pattern is characteristic of central neurogenic hyperventilation, which is caused by damage to the brainstem. Ataxic breathing is characterized by inconsistent and irregular breathing patterns, while apneusis is characterized by deep, prolonged inspirations followed by brief expirations. Gasping is a reflexive, ineffective breathing pattern commonly seen in dying patients. None of these conditions match the description given in the question as well as central neurogenic hyperventilation.

Question 17

A 30-year-old female had a seizure that started with her fingers and progressive1y spread up her arm and then extended to her leg. This condition is known as:

Accepted Answer

The description of the seizure spreading from the fingers to the arm and leg indicates a focal motor seizure, which originates in a specific area of the brain and causes movement or twitching in one part of the body. Myoclonic seizures are brief, sudden muscle jerks; tonic-clonic seizures involve a combination of muscle stiffness and rhythmic convulsions; and atonic seizures cause sudden loss of muscle tone and often result in falls.

Question 18

A teenage boy sustains a severe closed head injury following an ATV accident. He is in a state of deep sleep that requires vigorous stimulation to elicit eye opening. Which of the following describes his condition?

Accepted Answer

Stupor is a state where the patient is in deep sleep and requires vigorous stimulation to elicit eye opening, which matches the description given.

Question 19

For legal purposes, brain death is defined as:

Accepted Answer

The answer of For legal purposes, brain death is defined...

Question 20

A 16-year-old male took a recreational drug that altered his level of arousal. Physical exam revealed an absent Babinski sign, equal and reactive pupils, and roving eye movements. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

The absence of a Babinski sign, equal and reactive pupils, and roving eye movements suggest a metabolically induced coma rather than a structural cause.

Quiz 14: Concepts of Neurologic Dysfunction

The breathing pattern that reflects respirations based primarily on CO₂ levels in the blood is:

An alcoholic checked into a rehabilitation center. He experiences delirium, inability to concentrate, and is easily distracted. From which of the following is he most likely suffering?

The cognitive disorder that results in the loss of memory of events that occurred before a head injury is:

Arousal is mediated by the:

A 45-year-old female presents to the ER complaining of vomiting. A CT scan of the brain reveals a mass in the:

A 10-year-old female was brought to the ER following a sudden onset of convulsions. The physicians think that she experienced an explosive, disorderly discharge of cerebral neurons referred to as:

A peculiar sensation that immediately precedes a seizure is called a(n) :

A 20-year-old male suffers a severe closed head injury in a motor vehicle accident. He remains in a vegetative state 1 month after the accident. Which of the following structures is most likely damaged?

Neural networks basic to cognitive functions include:

A 75-year-old female suffers a stroke and now has impaired comprehension and production of language. This condition is most likely caused by occlusion of the:

A 65-year-old male recently suffered a cerebral vascular accident. He is now unable to recognize and identify objects by touch because of injury to the sensory cortex. This condition is a form of:

When thought content and arousal level are intact but a patient cannot communicate, the patient has:

A 20-year-old male was at the supermarket when he fell to the ground. Bystanders reported that he lost consciousness and his body tensed up then relaxed, then tensed and relaxed several times. He most likely was experiencing a(n) :

Dilated fixed pupils can be caused by:

A patient with a history of a motor vehicle accident presents for rehabilitation. He appears to be confused and complains of an inability to remember. Which of the following is most likely impaired?

A 50-year-old male suffers a severe head injury when his motorcycle hits a tree. His breathing becomes deep and rapid, but with normal pattern. This condition is called:

A 30-year-old female had a seizure that started with her fingers and progressive1y spread up her arm and then extended to her leg. This condition is known as:

A teenage boy sustains a severe closed head injury following an ATV accident. He is in a state of deep sleep that requires vigorous stimulation to elicit eye opening. Which of the following describes his condition?

For legal purposes, brain death is defined as:

A 16-year-old male took a recreational drug that altered his level of arousal. Physical exam revealed an absent Babinski sign, equal and reactive pupils, and roving eye movements. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Quiz 14: Concepts of Neurologic Dysfunction

The breathing pattern that reflects respirations based primarily on CO2 levels in the blood is:

An alcoholic checked into a rehabilitation center. He experiences delirium, inability to concentrate, and is easily distracted. From which of the following is he most likely suffering?

The cognitive disorder that results in the loss of memory of events that occurred before a head injury is:

Arousal is mediated by the:

A 45-year-old female presents to the ER complaining of vomiting. A CT scan of the brain reveals a mass in the:

A 10-year-old female was brought to the ER following a sudden onset of convulsions. The physicians think that she experienced an explosive, disorderly discharge of cerebral neurons referred to as:

A peculiar sensation that immediately precedes a seizure is called a(n) :

A 20-year-old male suffers a severe closed head injury in a motor vehicle accident. He remains in a vegetative state 1 month after the accident. Which of the following structures is most likely damaged?

Neural networks basic to cognitive functions include:

A 75-year-old female suffers a stroke and now has impaired comprehension and production of language. This condition is most likely caused by occlusion of the:

A 65-year-old male recently suffered a cerebral vascular accident. He is now unable to recognize and identify objects by touch because of injury to the sensory cortex. This condition is a form of:

When thought content and arousal level are intact but a patient cannot communicate, the patient has:

A 20-year-old male was at the supermarket when he fell to the ground. Bystanders reported that he lost consciousness and his body tensed up then relaxed, then tensed and relaxed several times. He most likely was experiencing a(n) :

Dilated fixed pupils can be caused by:

A patient with a history of a motor vehicle accident presents for rehabilitation. He appears to be confused and complains of an inability to remember. Which of the following is most likely impaired?

A 50-year-old male suffers a severe head injury when his motorcycle hits a tree. His breathing becomes deep and rapid, but with normal pattern. This condition is called:

A 30-year-old female had a seizure that started with her fingers and progressive1y spread up her arm and then extended to her leg. This condition is known as:

A teenage boy sustains a severe closed head injury following an ATV accident. He is in a state of deep sleep that requires vigorous stimulation to elicit eye opening. Which of the following describes his condition?

For legal purposes, brain death is defined as:

A 16-year-old male took a recreational drug that altered his level of arousal. Physical exam revealed an absent Babinski sign, equal and reactive pupils, and roving eye movements. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

The breathing pattern that reflects respirations based primarily on CO₂ levels in the blood is: