Human Anatomy and Physiology : Injuries and Disorders

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #28 : Help With Nervous System Injuries And Disorders

What are some of the signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Possible Answers:

Mongol face, shield-shaped chest, large hands, mental disabilities, inability to communicate

Aversion of people, extreme dislike of anything except solitude, aphasia, deafness

Severe delay in cognitive development, inability to breathe without medical intervention, aversion of eye contact, disinterest in others

Not looking when objects are pointed out to them, avoids eye contact, avoids social settings, aversion of touch, repetition of actions or words, unusual reactions to sensory input

Correct answer:

Not looking when objects are pointed out to them, avoids eye contact, avoids social settings, aversion of touch, repetition of actions or words, unusual reactions to sensory input

Explanation:

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has a wide range of signs or symptoms. These can vary from mild to severe, depending on the individual. There is no single cause for autism and there is no cure. Treatment includes management of behaviors, therapy, interventional services. 

Example Question #26 : Help With Nervous System Injuries And Disorders

What are some symptoms of meningitis?

Possible Answers:

Headache, fever, stiff neck

Insomnia, irritability, flu-like symptoms

Headache, vomiting, excess bile production

Confusion, water aversion, aggression

Correct answer:

Headache, fever, stiff neck

Explanation:

Meningitis is an illness that features fevers, headaches, and stiff necks. This is a serious illness that can be fatal if not treated promptly. It typically begins showing symptoms 3-7 days after exposure. If the infection is bacterial in origin, it can be treated effectively with antibiotics. If it is viral, the treatment is supportive in nature.  

Example Question #81 : Injuries And Disorders

What is botulism?

Possible Answers:

A disease that results from a toxin produced by a bacterium

A viral infection

A fungal infection

A bacterial infection 

Correct answer:

A disease that results from a toxin produced by a bacterium

Explanation:

Botulism is caused by a toxin released by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The bacteria lives in the intestinal tract and releases the toxin. The toxin leads to double vision, slurred speech, and flaccid muscle paralysis. It can lead to death if not treated as botulism can cause the respiratory system to shut down. This is the same toxin that individuals often elect to inject into their face for cosmetic purposes.

Example Question #82 : Injuries And Disorders

A patient walks into your office with a shuffling gait and complains of clawed toes. On examination they have a loss of plantar flexion, impaired inversion, and their heel is grounded.

Based off the presented defects, you would suspect damage to which nerve? 

Possible Answers:

Femoral nerve

Superior gluteal nerve

Tibial nerve

Obturator nerve

Sciatic nerve

Correct answer:

Tibial nerve

Explanation:

The tibial nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve. It passes through the popliteal fossa and gives off branches to the gastrocnemius, popliteus, soleus, and plantaris muscles. It also gives off a branch that will become the sural nerve. The nerve also supplies the tibialis posterior, the flexor digitorium longus, and the flexor hallucis longus muscles.

Since the tibial nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve, it too is derived from spinal nerves L4-S3. Damage to the tibial nerve would result in clawed toes, a shuffling gait, loss of plantar flexion, impaired inversion of the foot (due to damage to tibialis posterior), and the heel would be grounded. 

Example Question #83 : Injuries And Disorders

A patient comes into your office with a high stepping gait. On examination you notice the patient has a foot drop.

Based off the presented defects, you would suspect damage to which nerve? 

Possible Answers:

Axillary nerve

Sciatic nerve

Tibial nerve

Deep fibular nerve

Obturator nerve

Correct answer:

Deep fibular nerve

Explanation:

The deep fibular nerve is also known as the deep peroneal nerve. The deep fibular nerve supplies branches to the tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, peroneus tertius, and extensor hallicus longus. The common fibular nerve is derived from spinal nerves L2-L4 and branches off to the superficial and deep fibular nerves. Damage to the fibular nerve is often caused by traumatic injury to the lateral knee; this results in a foot drop which causes the affected person to walk with a high stepping gait. 

Example Question #84 : Injuries And Disorders

A patient comes in and has impaired hip extension and knee flexion. They also have a loss of plantar/dorsiflexion and inversion and eversion of the foot.

Based off the presented defects, you would suspect damage to which nerve?

Possible Answers:

Brachial plexus

Common fibular nerve

Femoral nerve

Sciatic nerve

Tibial nerve

Correct answer:

Sciatic nerve

Explanation:

The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that runs through the buttocks and down the lower limb. The sciatic nerve innervates skin of the leg, and muscles in the posterior thigh, leg, and foot. The sciatic nerve is derived from spinal nerves L4-S3. Damage to the sciatic nerve would result in impaired hip extension and knee flexion. It would also lead to a loss of plantar/dorsiflexion and inversion and eversion of the foot.

Example Question #85 : Injuries And Disorders

A patient comes in with weakness in adduction and lateral swinging of their leg. Additionally (s)he has noticed decreased sensation at the medial aspect of the thigh.

Based off the presented defects, you would suspect damage to which nerve? 

Possible Answers:

Femoral nerve

Obturator nerve

Tibial nerve

Axillary nerve

Deep fibular nerve

Correct answer:

Obturator nerve

Explanation:

The obturator nerve innervates skin of the medial aspect of the thigh. It is also responsible for the motor innervation of the adductor muscles of lower extremity (external adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and gracillis). The obturator nerve is derived from spinal nerves L2-L4. Damage to the obturator nerve would result in weakness in adduction and lateral swinging of the leg due to unopposed abductors.

Example Question #86 : Injuries And Disorders

A 44-year-old female underwent surgery for staging of her breast cancer, during the operation she underwent an axillary dissection. During that procedure the axillary nerve was damaged; what muscles are most likely to be affected?

Possible Answers:

Deltoid and teres major

Teres major and teres minor

Subscapularis and infraspinatus

Deltoid and teres minor

Rhomboids

Correct answer:

Deltoid and teres minor

Explanation:

The axillary nerve, which originates from the C5 and C6 spinal roots, provides motor innervation to the deltoid and teres minor muscles, both abductors of the shoulder. It also provides sensory input to the lower deltoid via  the superior lateral cutaneous nerve. Damage to this nerve is a possible complication during an axillary dissection. If a patient had sustained an injury to this area they would have difficulty abducting or raising the arm laterally. 

Example Question #87 : Injuries And Disorders

What is not a cause of hydrocephalus?

Possible Answers:

Impaired flow of cerebrospinal fluid

Increased intracranial pressure

Decreased reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid

Excess production of cerebrospinal fluid

Two of these

Correct answer:

Increased intracranial pressure

Explanation:

Hydrocephalus is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain. It can be caused by one of three mechanisms: impaired flow of CSF, decreased reabsorption, or excessive production. Hydrocephalus may cause increased intracranial pressure inside the skull. It is most common among infants and the elderly.

Example Question #88 : Injuries And Disorders

Which of the following is not a type of herniation?

Possible Answers:

Uncal transtentorial

Epidural

Subfalcine

Tonsillar

Correct answer:

Epidural

Explanation:

Brain herniations are a dangerous and potentially fatal. They occur when there is a very high pressure within the skull (via mass effect from hemorrhage, trauma, or tumors) that occurs when a part of the brain is pushed/squeezed across structures within the skull. There are three main types of herniation of brain tissue. Subfalcine, uncal transtentorial, and tonsillar herniations. The subfalcine herniation is also called the cingulated herniation, this occurs when the innermost part of the frontal lobe is scraped under a portion of the falx cerebri. The uncal transtentorial herniation involves the uncus (innermost part of the temporal lobe) moving the tentorium so far that is pushes against the brainstem. A tonsillar herniation is also called a “downward cerebellar herniation,” and occurs when the cerebellar tonsils are pushed downward through the foramen magnum.

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