Question 1

The term for localized dilation of the wall of a cerebral artery is:

Accepted Answer

The term for localized dilation of the wall of a cerebral artery is cerebral aneurysm.

Question 2

Expression of an emotional conflict through physical symptoms is considered a:

Accepted Answer

Psychosomatic disorders are characterized by the expression of emotional conflict through physical symptoms.

Question 3

You are treating a patient who has a personality disorder that involves acting against the rights of others. Which personality disorder is this patient displaying?

Accepted Answer

The patient is displaying behavior that violates the rights of others, which is a characteristic of antisocial personality disorder.

Question 4

A 33-year-old man presents to the emergency department with restlessness, tachycardia, tension, and difficult breathing. Finding no anatomical problems, what is the likely cause of these symptoms?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described suggest an anxiety attack, which can happen in the absence of any physical abnormalities. Bipolar disorder, hydrocephalus, and neurosis are not typical causes of these specific symptoms.

Question 5

A patient presents to your clinic. During the physical examination, she notices a spider in the corner of the room and begins screaming as she runs out of the room. This patient likely has:

Accepted Answer

The patient's fear of the spider indicates arachnophobia, a specific phobia related to spiders. Acrophobia is a fear of heights, agoraphobia is a fear of open or public places, and claustrophobia is a fear of enclosed spaces. None of these phobias are related to the patient's fear of spiders.

Question 6

Herniation of the meninges is called:

Accepted Answer

Herniation of the meninges is specifically called meningocele. Encephalocele involves herniation of brain tissue, myelencephalitis is inflammation of both the spinal cord and brainstem, and myocele involves herniation of a muscle through a defect in the surrounding fascia.

Question 7

One of the halves of the cerebrum is a:

Accepted Answer

The cerebrum is divided into two cerebral hemispheres – the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere – that are connected by a bundle of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum. The cerebellum (A) is a separate structure located underneath the cerebrum. A cerebral infarction (C) is a type of stroke that occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is blocked. The pons (D) is a part of the brainstem and is not part of the cerebrum.

Question 8

A patient complains of being afraid of tight spaces. Which term do you document in her chart?

Accepted Answer

Claustrophobia is the fear of confined spaces, which fits the patient's complaint of being afraid of tight spaces. Acrophobia is the fear of heights, agoraphobia is the fear of open or public spaces, and arachnophobia is the fear of spiders, none of which fit the patient's complaint.

Question 9

Which of the following nerve processes transport impulses to the cell body?

Accepted Answer

Dendrites are the branch-like structures that extend from the neuron's cell body and receive signals from other neurons through synapses. These signals are then transported to the cell body to be integrated and processed before being sent down the axon for transmission to other neurons.

Question 10

An abnormal mental state in which one believes oneself to be a person of great importance, powerful, famous, or wealthy is:

Accepted Answer

Megalomania is a condition characterized by an inflated sense of self-esteem and an unrealistic belief in one's own importance, wealth, power, or talents. It is often associated with narcissistic personality disorder but can be a symptom of other mental health conditions as well. Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by extreme high and low mood swings, while paraphilia refers to unusual or abnormal sexual interests or behaviors. Pyrophilia refers to an abnormal interest in fire and burning.

Question 11

Your client complains of severe headaches. What is the proper term to document in the chart?

Accepted Answer

"Cephalgia" is the proper medical term for severe headaches. "Analgesic" refers to pain relief medication, "cerebral contusion" refers to a head injury causing bruising of the brain tissue, and "neuralgia" refers to a sharp pain in a nerve.

Question 12

The clinic you work at is at the top of a skyscraper. A patient who is scheduled to see you today calls to say that he has a severe fear of heights and will not come up from the lobby. This patient is displaying:

Accepted Answer

Acrophobia is a severe fear of heights. The patient is unable to come up to the clinic due to this fear, which suggests that they may be experiencing acrophobia. Agoraphobia is a fear of open spaces, arachnophobia is a fear of spiders, and claustrophobia is a fear of enclosed spaces, none of which are specifically related to a fear of heights.

Question 13

Your patient reports that she has split-personality disorder and she experiences occasional confusion of her identity. Which term best describes this disorder?

Accepted Answer

Split-personality disorder is also known as dissociative identity disorder, which is a type of dissociative disorder characterized by a disruption of identity, where a person may have one or more alternate personalities or identities.

Question 14

Which of the following is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that involves progressive destruction of the myelin sheaths of the neurons?

Accepted Answer

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that involves the progressive destruction of the myelin sheaths of the neurons. This leads to various symptoms like muscle weakness, fatigue, and problems with coordination and balance. Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the muscles, Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement, and retinopathy is the damage to the retina of the eye due to several factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.

Question 15

The term for a graphic record of the contracting of a muscle as a result of electrical stimulation is:

Accepted Answer

An electromyogram is the graphic record of the electrical activity of a muscle as it contracts, typically as a result of electrical stimulation.

Question 16

A 16-year-old woman is referred to your clinic. She reports she has an insatiable desire for food, often resulting in episodes of continuous eating, followed by purging and depression. You believe she has:

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are consistent with bulimia, a type of eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging behaviors, such as vomiting or using laxatives. Anorexia nervosa involves severe restriction of food intake, while aphagia refers to a complete loss of appetite. Hyperemesis refers to excessive vomiting often seen in pregnancy or other medical conditions.

Question 17

A term for paralysis of all four extremities is:

Accepted Answer

The term for paralysis of all four extremities is tetraplegia. Hemiplegia refers to paralysis of one side of the body, paraplegia refers to paralysis of both lower extremities, and neuroplegia is not a commonly used medical term.

Question 18

While reviewing a chart, you understand the patient you are about to see has a major mental disorder characterized by the occurrence of manic episodes, major depressive episodes, or mixed moods. Which of the following best describes this patient's condition?

Accepted Answer

The condition described fits the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, as it is characterized by episodes of both mania and depression. An anxiety attack is a sudden onset of intense fear or panic. Neurosis is a now outdated term for a mild mental disorder. Pseudomania is not a recognized psychiatric diagnosis.

Question 19

You are completing an initial examination on a 74-year-old man. His daughter attends the appointment with him and reports that she has noticed progressive confusion, disorientation, and deterioration of intellectual capacity and function. The patient does not show a speech disturbance or restlessness. All of these findings indicate:

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described by the daughter suggest a decline in cognitive function, which is characteristic of dementia. Alzheimer disease is a type of dementia, but it cannot be definitively diagnosed based on just these symptoms alone without further medical evaluation. Bradykinesia and Parkinson disease are not indicated by the symptoms described.

Question 20

Which of the following is characterized by an abnormal, uncontrollable, and recurrent urge to steal?

Accepted Answer

Kleptomania is a disorder characterized by the recurrent urge to steal. It is not related to hypochondriasis, neurosis, or schizophrenia.

Quiz 13: Nervous System and Psychologic Disorders