Human Anatomy and Physiology : Help with Nervous System Injuries and Disorders

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Human Anatomy and Physiology

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Help With Nervous System Injuries And Disorders

Which of the following areas of the brain, if damaged, would cause receptive aphasia?

Possible Answers:

Broca's area

Olfactory area

Wernicke's area

Motor cortex

Correct answer:

Wernicke's area

Explanation:

Wernicke's area is a portion of the temporal lobe that helps formulate and understand speech. Damage to this area results in patients that are able to talk easily, but have little to no meaning in their speech. Damage to Broca's area would result in the inability to produce speech. Olfactory damage would result in the inability to smell and damage to the motor cortex would result in spontaneous and inappropriate movements. 

Example Question #12 : Help With Nervous System Injuries And Disorders

If someone has a drop foot, which nerve is suspected to be damaged?

Possible Answers:

Deep fibular nerve

Superior gluteal nerve

Femoral nerve

Superficial fibular nerve

Obturator nerve

Correct answer:

Deep fibular nerve

Explanation:

Drop foot is observed as an unusual gait, where the foot drops due to weakness in the tibialis anterior, and associated dorsiflexors, or to damage to the deep fibular nerve. The deep fibular nerve innervates the anterior compartment of the lower leg, where the dorsiflexors originate. Injury to this nerve would make a person unable to dorsiflex her ankle, causing it to drag/present as a drop foot.

Example Question #13 : Help With Nervous System Injuries And Disorders

Which nerve is implicated in tarsal tunnel syndrome?

Possible Answers:

Deep fibular nerve

Tibial nerve

Saphenous nerve

Radial nerve

Superficial fibular nerve

Correct answer:

Tibial nerve

Explanation:

Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when the tibial nerve is compressed against the flexor retinaculum of the foot and or portions of the talus and calcaneus, as these three structures comprise the tarsal tunnel. Typically, patients with tarsal tunnel syndrome will report numbness, pain, and/or a tingling sensation radiating to the hallux.

Example Question #14 : Help With Nervous System Injuries And Disorders

Which nerve is most commonly injured with shoulder dislocations?

Possible Answers:

Sciatic nerve 

Radial nerve

Accessory nerve (CN XI)

Axillary nerve

Long thoracic nerve

Correct answer:

Axillary nerve

Explanation:

The axillary nerve is most commonly injured in shoulder dislocations. The radial nerve is more commonly injured in humerus fractures, the long thoracic nerve is more commonly injured with traction injuries, the accessory nerve is more commonly injured iatrogenically (during surgery), and the sciatic nerve is more commonly injured as a result of vertebral misalignment.

Example Question #15 : Help With Nervous System Injuries And Disorders

A patient with a Brown-Séquard type of injury would present with which of the following deficits?

Possible Answers:

Difficulty controlling eye movements

Ipsilateral motor deficits

Ipsilateral deficits in pain and temperature sensation

Contralateral deficits in proprioception and vibration sense

Hearing loss

Correct answer:

Ipsilateral motor deficits

Explanation:

A Brown-Séquard lesion affects half of the spinal cord. Because the spinothalamic tracts decussate at or near the vertebral level they provide sensation too, injury to them would cause contralateral deficits in pain and temperature sensation. By the same principle, the dorsal column medial lemniscus does not decussate until it reaches the medulla, so injury to this tract would cause ipsilateral loss of proprioception and vibration sense. Eye movements and hearing are controlled by cranial nerves, so a spinal cord lesion would not affect them. This leaves ipsilateral motor loss as the correct choice.

Example Question #16 : Help With Nervous System Injuries And Disorders

Which nerve is likely injured if it is observed that the scapula is "winged?"

Possible Answers:

Thoracodorsal nerve

Median nerve

Long thoracic nerve 

Axillary nerve

Brachial plexus

Correct answer:

Long thoracic nerve 

Explanation:

The long thoracic nerve (C5-C7) innervates the serratus anterior, which connects the scapula to the thorcaic cage. It is also used for abduction above the horizontal position. During a mastectomy this nerve can be injured leading to a "winged" scapula. A winged scapula is a condition in which the shoulder blade protrudes from a person's back in an abnormal position leading to limited functional activity in the adjacent upper extremity.

Example Question #17 : Help With Nervous System Injuries And Disorders

Werdnig-Hoffmann disease is synonymous with which type of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)?

Possible Answers:

Type II

Type IV

Type III

Type V

Type I

Correct answer:

Type I

Explanation:

SMA involves atrophy of skeletal muscles. Werdnig-Hoffmann disease is synonymous with SMA type I, which involves severe, early onset (first few months of birth) SMA. Dubowitz disease is synonymous with SMA type II (intermediate), which involves onset at around 6-18 months age. Kugelberg-Welander disease, also known as juvenile SMA, is synonymous with SMA type III, and involves the affected individual being able to walk without support at some time, but the probable loss of this ability later in life. SMA type IV does not have an associated eponym, and there is no SMA type V.

Example Question #13 : Help With Nervous System Injuries And Disorders

What disease is caused by de-myelination of neurons? 

Possible Answers:

Muscular dystrophy 

Meningitis 

Dementia 

Multiple sclerosis 

Alzheimer's disease 

Correct answer:

Multiple sclerosis 

Explanation:

The destruction of myelin sheath is very common in diseases such as multiple sclerosis. It is believed to be an autoimmune disease in which the body destroys the myelin sheath. Other diseases that may result from demyelination are myasthenia gravis and Tay-Sachs disease. Dementia is a symptom of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, which is categorized by the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges. This disease can be caused by several infectious agents such as viruses and/or bacteria. Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder in which the dystrophin gene is mutated, disrupting the physical structure of muscles, causing skeletal muscular weakness and death of the muscle cells. 

Example Question #14 : Help With Nervous System Injuries And Disorders

Clinical anxiety and some cases of epilepsy are conditions that involve which neurotransmitter? 

Possible Answers:

GABA

Serotonin

Dopamine

Substance P 

Acetylcholine 

Correct answer:

GABA

Explanation:

GABA is an inhibitory neuron in the brain. When GABA levels are low, the result may be overstimulation of neurons in the brain, which can lead to epileptic seizures or development of clinical anxiety. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in the pleasure-reward system and is linked to schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. Serotonin is  involved in regulating sensory perception, and onset of sleep and control of mood and emotions. Clinically, serotonin has been implicated in depression and impulsive behavior. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter used at the neuromuscular junction. Substance P is a non-opiod neuroactive peptide that is found in the pain pathway in the spinal cord. 

Example Question #15 : Help With Nervous System Injuries And Disorders

Schizophrenia is a condition characterized by marked disturbances in emotional responses, social behavior, and thinking.

Schizophrenia is a condition that involves which neurotransmitter? 

Possible Answers:

Dopamine

GABA

Serotonin

Acetylcholine 

Substance P 

Correct answer:

Dopamine

Explanation:

Schizophrenia is thought to be caused by excessive dopamine release or an abnormal sensitivity to dopamine. Therapeutic drugs for schizophrenia either reduce the secretion of dopamine or bind to dopamine receptors so dopamine is unable to bind. GABA is an inhibitory neuron in the brain. When GABA levels are low, the result may be overstimulation of neurons in the brain, which can lead to epileptic seizures or development of clinical anxiety. Serotonin is involved in regulating sensory perception, and onset of sleep and control of mood and emotions. Clinically, serotonin has been implicated in depression and impulsive behavior. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter used at the neuromuscular junction. Substance P is a non-opiod neuroactive peptide that is found in the pain pathway in the spinal cord. 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors