Central Nervous System: Structure and Function for Nurses

Question 1

Which of the following is **not** a major division of the brain?

Accepted Answer

Spinal cord

Answer

Cerebrum

Answer

Cerebellum

Answer

Brainstem

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a major division of the brain?

Accepted Answer

Spinal cord

Answer

Cerebrum

Answer

Cerebellum

Answer

Brainstem

Question 3

The cerebellum primarily controls which of the following functions?

Accepted Answer

Maintains balance and coordination

Answer

Initiates involuntary reflexes

Answer

Processes sensory information

Answer

Controls voluntary movements

Question 4

Which brain division is responsible for complex cognitive abilities like decision-making and problem-solving?

Accepted Answer

Cerebrum

Answer

Brainstem

Answer

Cerebellum

Answer

Diencephalon

Question 5

Which spinal cord tract transmits motor signals from the brain to muscles?

Accepted Answer

Corticospinal tract

Answer

Spinothalamic tract

Answer

Vestibulospinal tract

Answer

Rubrospinal tract

Question 6

Which meningeal layer serves as the outermost protective covering of the brain and spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Dura mater

Answer

Arachnoid mater

Answer

Pia mater

Answer

Ependyma

Question 7

What is the primary neurotransmitter released by neurons in the sympathetic nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Norepinephrine

Answer

Acetylcholine

Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Serotonin

Question 8

Which cranial nerve is responsible for transmitting taste sensations?

Accepted Answer

Glossopharyngeal nerve

Answer

Trigeminal nerve

Answer

Facial nerve

Answer

Vagus nerve

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a primary division of the brain?

Accepted Answer

Spinal cord

Answer

Cerebrum

Answer

Cerebellum

Answer

Brainstem

Question 10

Which lobe of the cerebrum is responsible for higher intellectual functions like reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making?

Accepted Answer

Frontal lobe

Answer

Parietal lobe

Answer

Occipital lobe

Answer

Temporal lobe

Question 11

Which pathways in the spinal cord transmit sensory information from the body to the brain?

Accepted Answer

Ascending tracts

Answer

Descending tracts

Answer

Lateral tracts

Answer

Ventral tracts

Question 12

Which neurotransmitter is released at the neuromuscular junction, triggering muscle contraction?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine

Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Serotonin

Answer

Epinephrine

Question 13

Which structure of the brain is involved in maintaining balance, coordination, and motor skills?

Accepted Answer

Cerebellum

Answer

Cerebrum

Answer

Thalamus

Answer

Hippocampus

Question 14

Which layer of the meninges is the outermost and toughest, protecting the brain and spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Dura mater

Answer

Pia mater

Answer

Arachnoid mater

Answer

Myelin sheath

Question 15

Which of the following functions is NOT regulated by the hypothalamus?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive processes

Answer

Temperature regulation

Answer

Hunger and thirst control

Answer

Sleep-wake cycle

Question 16

What fluid-filled cavities within the brain contain cerebrospinal fluid?

Accepted Answer

Ventricles

Answer

Cisterns

Answer

Meninges

Answer

Sulci

Question 17

Which type of neuron has a single long axon that transmits signals over long distances?

Accepted Answer

Multipolar neuron

Answer

Bipolar neuron

Answer

Unipolar neuron

Answer

Purkinje cell

Question 18

What is the pathway through which the spinal cord transmits signals to and from the brain, enabling rapid reflexes?

Accepted Answer

Reflex arc

Answer

Nociception

Answer

Proprioception

Answer

Interoception

Question 19

Define the meninges, the protective layers covering the brain and spinal cord. Briefly describe their composition and main functions.

Accepted Answer

The meninges consist of three layers: the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater, with each layer contributing unique properties and functions to the protective system.

Answer

The meninges are a single, tough membrane encasing the brain and spinal cord.

Answer

The primary function of the meninges is to shield the brain and spinal cord.

Answer

The outermost layer of the meninges is the pia mater, which tightly adheres to the brain and spinal cord.

Question 20

A patient presents with suspected central nervous system damage. Which assessment is most crucial for the nurse to perform?

Accepted Answer

Neurological examination

Answer

Blood pressure measurement

Answer

Capillary refill time assessment

Answer

Auscultation of lung sounds

Question 21

Design an experiment to determine if exercise can prevent nerve damage in spinal cord injuries.

Accepted Answer

Randomized controlled trial with blinded outcome assessment

Answer

Observational study using data collected in the past

Answer

Detailed descriptions of a series of patient cases

Answer

Animal model study without a group that does not receive exercise

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT a primary division of the brain?

Accepted Answer

Spinal cord

Answer

Cerebrum

Answer

Cerebellum

Answer

Brainstem

Question 23

The cerebrum is primarily responsible for:

Accepted Answer

Higher-order cognitive functions

Answer

Motor control

Answer

Balance

Answer

Reflexive actions

Question 24

Which lobe of the cerebrum is primarily responsible for language comprehension?

Accepted Answer

Temporal lobe

Answer

Frontal lobe

Answer

Parietal lobe

Answer

Occipital lobe

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT a function of the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Higher-order thinking

Answer

Sensory transmission

Answer

Motor control

Answer

Reflexive actions

Question 26

The autonomic nervous system is composed of two main divisions, which are:

Accepted Answer

Sympathetic and parasympathetic

Answer

Central and peripheral

Answer

Motor and sensory

Answer

Cranial and spinal

Question 27

Which of the following imaging techniques produces cross-sectional images of the brain using magnetic fields and radio waves?

Accepted Answer

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Answer

X-ray

Answer

Ultrasound

Answer

Computed tomography (CT)

Question 28

Which of the following occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted?

Accepted Answer

Stroke

Answer

Seizure

Answer

Meningitis

Answer

Encephalitis

Question 29

Which part of the brain is primarily responsible for coordinating voluntary movements, balance, and fine motor skills?

Accepted Answer

Cerebellum

Answer

Cerebrum

Answer

Brainstem

Question 30

Which of the following is not a main division of the brain?

Accepted Answer

Thalamus

Answer

Cerebrum

Answer

Cerebellum

Answer

Brainstem

Question 31

In which lobe of the cerebral cortex is the primary motor cortex found?

Accepted Answer

Frontal lobe

Answer

Parietal lobe

Answer

Temporal lobe

Answer

Occipital lobe

Question 32

Which function is primarily associated with the cerebellum?

Accepted Answer

Movement coordination

Answer

Body temperature regulation

Answer

Sensory information processing

Answer

Control of breathing

Question 33

Which spinal cord tract transmits sensory information from the body to the brain?

Accepted Answer

Spinothalamic tract

Answer

Corticospinal tract

Answer

Vestibulospinal tract

Answer

Rubrospinal tract

Question 34

Which of the following layers is the outermost protective membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Dura mater

Answer

Pia mater

Answer

Arachnoid mater

Answer

Ependyma

Question 35

Which neurotransmitter is known to primarily facilitate excitatory synaptic transmission?

Accepted Answer

Glutamate

Answer

GABA

Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Serotonin

Question 36

Which type of cell forms the primary component of the blood-brain barrier, protecting the brain from potentially harmful substances?

Accepted Answer

Astrocytes

Answer

Oligodendrocytes

Answer

Microglia

Answer

Neurons

Question 37

Describe the separate pathways that transmit sensory and motor information within the spinal cord and between the spinal cord and the brain.

Accepted Answer

Sensory information ascends via tracts in the spinal cord to the brainstem, while motor information descends via distinct tracts to the spinal cord.

Answer

Sensory and motor information share the same tracts in the spinal cord.

Answer

Sensory information transmits to the cerebellum via the spinal cord, while motor information transmits to the cerebrum.

Question 38

Compare the overall anatomical organization of the central nervous system in humans and birds.

Accepted Answer

Both humans and birds have a cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem.

Accepted Answer

The spinal cord is longer in humans than in birds.

Answer

Birds have a proportionally larger cerebrum than humans.

Answer

Birds have a cerebellum that is more developed than humans.

Question 39

In healthcare settings, which ethical principle should nurses prioritize when administering Central Nervous System (CNS)-altering substances?

Accepted Answer

Patient autonomy

Answer

Cost-effectiveness

Answer

Cultural beliefs

Question 40

The primary function of the spinal cord is to:

Accepted Answer

Transmit signals between the brain and the rest of the body

Answer

Process sensory information

Answer

Control voluntary movement

Answer

Produce hormones

Question 41

Which division of the brain is responsible for conscious thought, decision-making, and memory storage?

Accepted Answer

Cerebrum

Answer

Cerebellum

Answer

Brainstem

Answer

Diencephalon

Question 42

The peripheral nervous system encompasses:

Accepted Answer

All neurons located outside the brain and spinal cord

Answer

Only nerves innervating the limbs

Answer

Only motor nerves

Answer

Only sensory nerves

Question 43

Which of the following is a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation?

Accepted Answer

Serotonin

Answer

Estrogen

Answer

Vitamin C

Answer

Glucose

Question 44

The blood-brain barrier primarily serves to:

Accepted Answer

Restrict the entry of harmful substances into the brain

Answer

Facilitate nutrient exchange between the brain and blood

Answer

Control the production of cerebrospinal fluid

Question 45

The autonomic nervous system primarily regulates:

Accepted Answer

Involuntary body functions, such as heart rate and digestion

Answer

Voluntary muscle movements

Answer

Conscious cognitive processes

Answer

Sensory perception from the environment

Question 46

Which protective membrane system surrounds both the brain and spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Meninges

Answer

Pia mater

Answer

Dura mater

Answer

Arachnoid mater

Question 47

The hypothalamus is primarily responsible for:

Accepted Answer

Maintaining homeostasis and regulating basic physiological needs

Answer

Controlling voluntary movement

Answer

Processing sensory information

Question 48

A patient has difficulty maintaining balance and coordinating movements. Which part of the brain is most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

Cerebellum

Answer

Hypothalamus

Answer

Medulla oblongata

Answer

Cerebrum

Question 49

Damage to which lobe of the cerebrum is most likely to result in personality changes and impaired decision-making?

Accepted Answer

Frontal lobe

Answer

Parietal lobe

Answer

Temporal lobe

Answer

Occipital lobe

Question 50

Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in transmitting pain signals to the brain?

Accepted Answer

Substance P

Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Serotonin

Answer

Acetylcholine

Question 51

A patient experiences loss of sensation in their legs after a spinal cord injury. Which type of spinal cord tract is most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

Ascending (sensory) tracts

Answer

Corticospinal tracts

Answer

Rubrospinal tracts

Answer

Descending (motor) tracts

Question 52

Which part of the brainstem controls essential functions like breathing and heart rate?

Accepted Answer

Medulla oblongata

Answer

Thalamus

Answer

Pons

Answer

Midbrain

Question 53

The meninges are protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Which layer is the outermost and toughest?

Accepted Answer

Dura mater

Answer

Arachnoid mater

Answer

Subdural space

Answer

Pia mater

Question 54

Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response?

Accepted Answer

Sympathetic nervous system

Answer

Parasympathetic nervous system

Answer

Somatic nervous system

Question 55

Where is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) produced in the brain?

Accepted Answer

Ventricles

Answer

Hypothalamus

Answer

Pituitary gland

Answer

Meninges

Question 56

After a head injury, a patient has difficulty forming new memories. Which brain structure is most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

Hippocampus

Answer

Amygdala

Answer

Thalamus

Answer

Hypothalamus

Question 57

The blood-brain barrier is a protective mechanism that regulates substances entering the brain from the bloodstream. Which type of cell plays a crucial role in maintaining this barrier?

Accepted Answer

Astrocytes

Answer

Microglia

Answer

Oligodendrocytes

Answer

Ependymal cells