Health
HEALTH ASSESSMENT: NEUROLOGICAL
ASSESSMENT EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS UPDATED (2024/2025)
(VERIFIED ANSWERS)
What are the four main parts of the peripheral nervous system? - ANS
✓reflexes, cranial nerves, spinal nerves, autonomic nervous system
What are reflexes? - ANS ✓basic defense mechanisms of nervous system
What are the four types of reflexes? - ANS ✓deep tendon, superficial, visceral,
pathologic
The cranial nerves enter and exit what? - ANS ✓the brain rather than the
spinal cord
What are spinal nerves? - ANS ✓31 pairs of nerves that go from the spinal cord
to the rest of the body
What is a dermatone? - ANS ✓Circumscribed skin area supplied mainly from
one spinal cord segment through particular nerve
What are the 3 parts of the autonomic nervous system? - ANS ✓sympathetic,
parasympathetic and enteric
What do autonomic fibers innervate? (3) - ANS ✓smooth muscle, cardiac
muscle and glands
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The autonomic system mediates _________________ activity - ANS
✓unconscious/involuntary
What nervous system is involved with referred pain? - ANS ✓ANS
(autonomic nervous system)
When would you do a neurological exam on a client? - ANS ✓screening
(nothing really wrong with them, just screening them), complete neurologic
exam (when you suspect something wrong or when there is something wrong),
neurologic recheck (want to be able to pick up on changes different then
baseline)
What are the two types of strokes? - ANS ✓embolic (clot) and haemorrhagic
What are risk factors for stroke? - ANS ✓hypertension, high cholesterol,
diabetes, smoking, inactivity, obesity
What ethnic group has strokes earlier in life and with more severe results
than whites? - ANS ✓African Americans
What additional questions should you specifically ask to the aging adults
(in regards to neurological function)? - ANS ✓any problems with dizziness,
memory, tremors, vision changes
What are the two types of tremors? - ANS ✓intentional (when you are
moving), resting (more pathological). Caffeine and medications can also cause
tremors
What is the sequence for complete neurologic examinations? (5) - ANS
✓mental status, cranial nerves, motor system, sensory system and reflexes
How do you test a patient's orientation? - ANS ✓do you know your name,
DOB, where you are?
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What are the four sections of the mental status exam that you are
examining? - ANS ✓(ABCT) appearance, behavior, cognition, thought process
What are the cranial nerves (in order)? - ANS ✓olfactory, optic, oculomotor,
trochlear, trigeminal, abducens, facial, acoustic (vestibulocochlear),
glossopharyngeal, vagus, spinal accessory, hypoglossal
What is the mnemonic to remember what cranial nerves are
sensory/motor/both - ANS ✓Some Say Marry Money But My Brother Says Big
Brains Matter Most
What is the function of CN 1? - ANS ✓smell
What is the function of CN 2? - ANS ✓vision
What is the function of CN 3? (4) - ANS ✓most extraocular muscle movement,
opening of eyelids and pupil constriction and lens accommodation
What is the function of CN 4? - ANS ✓down and inward movement of eye
What is the function of CN 5? - ANS ✓muscles of mastication, sensation of face,
scalp, cornea, mucous membranes of mouth and nose
What is the function of CN 6? - ANS ✓lateral movement of eye
What is the function of CN 7? - ANS ✓facial muscles, close eye, labial speech,
close mouth, taste on anterior two thirds of tongue
What is the function of CN 8? - ANS ✓hearing and equilibrium
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