What should the nurse explain about levodopa?
- A. It stimulates dopamine receptors in the basal ganglia.
- B. It promotes the release of dopamine from brain neurons.
- C. It is a precursor of dopamine that is converted to dopamine in the brain.
- D. It prevents the excessive breakdown of dopamine in the peripheral tissues.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Levodopa is a precursor of dopamine that crosses the blood-brain barrier
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Which of the following nursing interventions should be done in the case of a client who has a head injury obtained from being thrown off of a motorcycle?
- A. Assess LOC every hour or more often if needed
- B. Put the code cart outside the client's room
- C. Keep the client quiet in bed
- D. Allow one visitor at a time
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Frequent assessments of LOC are critical to detect worsening neurological status.
What is the term for a reflex that does not include a CNS component?
- A. long reflex
- B. visceral reflex
- C. somatic reflex
- D. short reflex
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: short reflex. Short reflexes are reflex actions that do not involve the central nervous system (CNS) and occur entirely at the level of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). These reflexes are mediated by local circuits within the enteric nervous system in the gastrointestinal tract, allowing for rapid responses to stimuli without needing to involve the brain or spinal cord.
A: long reflex - This term refers to reflexes that involve the CNS and typically have a more complex pathway than short reflexes.
B: visceral reflex - This term describes reflexes involving internal organs and can involve both the CNS and PNS components.
C: somatic reflex - This term refers to reflexes involving skeletal muscles and is generally mediated by the CNS.
Hemiplegia, hemianesthesia & hemianopia develop together with disease in the:
- A. spinal cord
- B. internal capsule
- C. thalamus
- D. brainstem
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Internal capsule is the correct answer because it contains ascending and descending nerve fibers that transmit motor and sensory information between the brain and the spinal cord. Damage to the internal capsule can result in hemiplegia (paralysis on one side), hemianesthesia (sensory loss on one side), and hemianopia (visual field loss on one side) due to the dense concentration of these fibers in this region.
Which inhibitory neurotransmitter controls body posture and movement?
- A. acetylcholine
- B. glutamate
- C. dopamine
- D. serotonin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter involved in regulating movement, motivation, and reward. In the context of movement, it plays a crucial role in the basal ganglia, helping to control posture and smooth, coordinated movements.
The nurse is explaining the transmission of nerve impulses to a patient with a spinal cord injury. What should the nurse explain as the structure that carries nerve impulses at synapses?
- A. Cell membrane
- B. Depolarizations
- C. Schwann cells
- D. Neurotransmitters
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Neurotransmitters are chemicals released at the synaptic end bulb of a neuron that carry nerve impulses across the synapse to the next neuron. The cell membrane and depolarizations are involved in the electrical aspect of impulse transmission, while Schwann cells form the myelin sheath. Neurotransmitters are key to understanding synaptic communication.