Quadriplegia or tetraplegia refers to paralysis involving what part(s) of the body?
- A. all four limbs
- B. the entire body
- C. the legs and feet
- D. the arms and hands
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia, refers to paralysis affecting all four limbs and typically the torso. It is usually caused by a spinal cord injury in the cervical region, which disrupts communication between the brain and the limbs.
You may also like to solve these questions
During an assessment, Nurse Johnson observes Brudzinski's sign and Kernig's sign in a patient. She recognizes these as two classic indicators associated with a specific medical condition. Which disorder is Nurse Johnson likely considering based on these signs?
- A. Parkinson's disease
- B. Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
- C. Seizure disorder
- D. Meningitis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Brudzinski's sign and Kernig's sign are indicative of meningeal irritation, commonly seen in meningitis.
Do neurons make synapses with other neurons?
- A. No, the only role of neurons is to cause muscles to contract
- B. No, neurons can enervate tissues other than muscle, but there is no need for them to enervate other neurons
- C. Yes, neurons make contacts with other neurons that are identical to those they make with muscle cells
- D. Yes, however, the connections neurons make with each other differ from those they make with muscle cells in that cell-cell adhesion molecules link the pre-synaptic and post-synaptic membranes together
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Neurons form synapses with other neurons to create complex neural circuits. These synapses differ from neuromuscular junctions in their structure and function, often involving specialized cell-cell adhesion molecules and signaling mechanisms that enable precise communication between neurons.
Deuterium oxide and inulin are injected into a normal 30-year-old man. The volume of distribution of deuterium oxide is found to be 42 L and that of inulin 14 L.
- A. The man's intracellular fluid volume is about 14 L.
- B. The man's intracellular fluid volume is about 28 L.
- C. The man's plasma volume is about 7 L.
- D. The man's interstitial fluid volume is about 9 L.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Deuterium oxide distributes throughout total body water (TBW), while inulin distributes only in extracellular fluid (ECF). The intracellular fluid (ICF) volume is calculated as TBW - ECF. Here, TBW = 42 L and ECF = 14 L, so ICF = 42 - 14 = 28 L. This calculation is based on the principle that deuterium oxide measures all body water, while inulin is restricted to the extracellular compartment.
A patient reports sudden weakness on one side of their body. The nurse should:
- A. Perform a neurologic assessment focusing on motor function and sensation.
- B. Measure the patient's oxygen saturation.
- C. Inspect the patient's skin color.
- D. Check the patient's blood glucose levels.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Sudden weakness on one side of the body may indicate a neurological issue, such as a stroke. A focused neurologic assessment is essential. Oxygen saturation, skin color, and blood glucose levels are secondary considerations.
A patient is being evaluated for an acute onset of a high fever, severe headache, vomiting, and a change in mental status. Which assessment finding would confirm a definitive diagnosis of meningitis?
- A. Initial Glasgow Coma Scale score <15
- B. Pseudomonas aeruginosa on blood culture
- C. Normal MRI
- D. White blood cells (WBC) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: White blood cells (WBC) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In meningitis, an infection of the meninges, the CSF will show an elevated WBC count indicating an inflammatory response. This finding is crucial for confirming the diagnosis as it directly reflects the presence of infection in the central nervous system.
A: While a Glasgow Coma Scale score <15 may indicate altered mental status, it is not specific to meningitis.
B: Pseudomonas aeruginosa on blood culture suggests a bacterial infection but does not confirm meningitis specifically.
C: A normal MRI may not show definitive signs of meningitis, as the diagnosis is primarily made through CSF analysis.