Medicine Exam Finals Neuro Practice Questions And Answers

MEDICINE FINALS  Neuro Practice Questions And Answers HIGHLY GRADED

Contents 

o Neuroanatomy / Neuroembryology / Neurohistology

o Neuroscience / Neuropathology

o Neuropharmacology 

A previously normal 56-year-old woman comes to the emergency department because of a "flu-like"

illness. She complains of nausea and vomiting, unilateral tingling in the leg, and a headache involving

the eye and forehead. She is alert and fully oriented. Motor, sensory, gait, and coordination

examinations are normal. Cranial nerve examination is normal, aside from the visual field disorder

indicated in the plot below. 

The neurologic examination suggests an occlusion of which of the following vessels? 

(A) Left middle cerebral artery 

*(B) Left posterior cerebral artery

(C) Right middle cerebral artery

(D) Right posterior cerebral artery

(E) Posterior communicating artery

A 35-year old woman who recently gave birth has elevated prolactin levels. The gland responsible for

secretion of this hormone is derived from which of the following structures?

(A) Cerebral vesicle

(B) Infundibulum

(C) Neurohypophysis

(D) Proctodeum

*(E) Rathke's pouch

A 34-year-old man is examined in the prison infirmary after sustaining a superficial stab wound to the

superolateral aspect of the thoracic wall at the level of the third rib. There is little bleeding and no

difficulty breathing; however, the medial border of the scapula on the injured side pulls away from

the body wall when the arm is raised. In addition, the arm cannot be abducted above the horizontal.

Which of the following muscles is paralyzed? 

(A) Levator scapulae 

(B) Pectoralis minor

(C) Rhomboid major

*(D) Serratus anterior

(E) Supraspinatus

A 47-year-old man presents to his neurologist with an unsteady, broad-based gait and slow, slurred

speech. Neurologic examination reveals dysdiadochokinesia, intention tremor, hypotonia, and

nystagmus. The patient's lesion is in a brain structure that derives from which of the following 

embryonic structures? 

(A) Diencephalon

(B) Mesencephalon

*(C) Metencephalon

(D) Myelencephalon

(E) Telencephalon 

A neuroscientist decides to perform a study that requires him to increase the concentration of

norepinephrine in the cortex of an animal subject. He does this by electrically stimulating a nucleus in

the brain. Which of the following nuclei is the most important source of noradrenergic innervation to

the cerebral cortex?

(A) Basal nucleus of Meynert

(B) Caudate nucleus

*(C) Locus caeruleus

(D) Raphe nucleus

(E) Substantia nigra

(F) Ventral tegmental area

A 26-year-old man is stabbed in the left chest during a bar brawl. Several days after he is treated, he

returns to the physician complaining of decreased function in his left arm. Physical examination

reveals a winged left scapula and an inability to raise his left arm above the horizontal. Which of the

following nerves is most likely affected?

(A) Axillary

*(B) Long thoracic

(C) Lower subscapular

(D) Suprascapular

(E) Thoracodorsal

A 19-year-old woman comes to the emergency department after falling while on roller-blades. There

is a 3-cm laceration over the lateral aspect of the knee penetrating so deep that the head of the fibula

is apparent. A radiograph of the leg is negative for any fractures. A noticeable foot-drop occurs while

the patient walks. Further examination reveals inability to dorsiflex or evert the foot. Which of the

following best explains her injury?

*(A) The common peroneal nerve was severed

(B) The peroneal muscles were detached from the head of the fibula

(C) The superficial peroneal nerve was severed

(D) The tibial nerve was severed

A 41-year-old man is injured in a motorcycle accident. He is taken to the hospital by a rescue

helicopter and treated for abdominal, spinal, and head injuries. Three weeks later he is examined by a

neurologist, who notes that the patient has left-sided facial swelling and discoloration, slight drooping

of the left eyelid, and a constricted pupil on the left side. There are no other motor or sensory

abnormalities. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's ocular disorder?

(A) A lesion of cranial nerve VI

(B) A lesion of the midbrain

(C) A lesion of the oculomotor nerve

*(D) A lesion of the thoracic spinal cord

(E) Myasthenia gravis

A 40-year-old man complains of loss of sensation over the right scrotum and on the medial right thigh.

Damage to which of the following nerves would result in such symptoms?

(A) Genitofemoral

(B) Iliohypogastric

*(C) Ilioinguinal

(D) Lateral cutaneous 

(E) Pudendal 

A neonate has a prominent defect at the base of his spine through which his meninges and spinal cord

protrude. A failure of which of the following processes is the most common cause of this type of 

defect? 

(A) Development of the body