Neuromuscular and Nervous Systems Flashcards
7 cards from real NPTE-PT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Neuromuscular and Nervous Systems flashcards as text
Which spinal cord tract carries conscious proprioception and vibration sense to the brain?
Answer: Dorsal columns (posterior funiculus)
The dorsal columns (medial lemniscal pathway) carry fine touch, vibration, and conscious proprioception to the sensory cortex via the thalamus.
A patient who had a right middle cerebral artery stroke now has left-sided hemiplegia and left homonymous hemianopia. The hemianopia is caused by damage to which structure?
Answer: Right optic radiation
The right optic radiation carries visual information from the left visual field; damage causes left homonymous hemianopia contralateral to the side of the MCA stroke.
Which finding would differentiate a peripheral vestibular disorder from a central vestibular disorder in a patient with dizziness?
Answer: Nystagmus that changes direction with gaze
Direction-changing nystagmus with gaze is a hallmark of central vestibular pathology; peripheral vestibular nystagmus is unidirectional and suppressed by visual fixation.
A patient with a T10 complete spinal cord injury would be expected to have intact function at which level?
Answer: Both A and B
T10 is above the lumbar plexus, so hip flexors (L1-L3) and knee extensors (L2-L4) would both be paralyzed; however, T10 and above innervated trunk muscles are intact.
Which assessment tool is most appropriate for measuring functional mobility and fall risk in a patient with neurological deficits?
Answer: Berg Balance Scale
The Berg Balance Scale is a validated 14-item functional balance assessment widely used to quantify balance ability and predict fall risk in neurological populations.
A patient demonstrates athetosis. Which structure is most likely damaged?
Answer: Basal ganglia (putamen)
Athetosis (slow, writhing, involuntary movements) results from damage to the putamen component of the basal ganglia and is commonly seen in cerebral palsy.
In a patient with Brown-Séquard syndrome (right-sided hemisection of cord at T6), which deficits would be expected?
Answer: Left-sided loss of pain/temperature, right-sided motor weakness
In Brown-Séquard syndrome, ipsilateral motor loss and proprioception loss occur with contralateral pain and temperature loss because the spinothalamic tract decussates at the level of entry.