AST COMPETENCY NERVOUS SYSTEM AND SPECIAL SENSES
1. Blood gas analysis is called
BGA
SAT rate
ABG
ABO
2. A ganglion is a
Chemical substance secreted by the ova
Necrotic death of tissue
Missing segment
Collection of nerve endings
3. The brain contains four fluid-filled spaces called the:
Ventricles
Auricles
Fissures
Sulci
4. The area of the brain that controls respiration is the:
Cerebellum
Pons
Medulla oblongata
Cerebrum
5. All thought takes place in the:
Midbrain
Cerebral cortex
Cerebellum
Pons
6. The basic unit of the nervous system is the:
Neuron
Axon
Dendrite
Ion
7. The cranial nerve that contains special fibers for hearing as well as for balance is:
V
VIII
XI
XII
8. The peripheral nervous system contains:
Brain and spinal cord
Cranial and spinal nerves
Spinal cord and spinal nerves
Cranial nerves and spinal cord
9. Muscle tone, coordination of voluntary muscles, and balance are controlled in the:
Cerebellum
Cerebrum
Pons
Medulla
10. The largest part of the brain is the:
Cerebellum
Cerebrum
Pons
Hypothalamus
11. Which cranial nerve emerges from the medulla, passes through the skull, and descends through the
neck region into the thorax and abdominal region?
IX
X
XI
XII
12. The cranial nerve that carries motor fibers to the tongue and sensory impulses from the tongue to
the brain is the:
Glossopharyngeal
Hypoglossal
Facial
Olfactory
13. Which cranial nerve can be tested for sensations of pain, touch, and temperature with the use of a
safety pin and hot and cold objects?
IV
V
VII
VIII
14. Which cranial nerve carries impulses for sense of smell?
I
II
III
IV
15. Neurons that conduct impulses to the cardiac muscles are part of the:
Central nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
Afferent system
Somatic system
16. The outermost covering of the brain and spinal cord is the:
Arachnoid
Dura mater
Pia mater
Pons
17. The contractions of involuntary muscles are controlled by the:
Autonomic nervous system
Sympathetic nervous system Central nervous system
Somatic nervous system
18. The neuroglia are cells that:
Support and protect
Conduct impulses
Are only found outside the central nervous system
Convey visceral Information
19. The cytoplasmic process of a neuron that conducts impulses away from the cell body is a/an:
Ganglion
Dendrite
Nissil body
Axon
20. The part of the brain that is a continuation of the spinal cord and forms the inferior portion of the
brain stem is the:
Pons
Medulla
Midbrain
Hypothalamus
21. Which area of the brain produces subconscious skeletal muscle movements required for coordination
and balance?
Cerebrum
Cerebellum
Midbrain
Medulla
22. The fifth cranial nerve is also called the:
Vagus nerve
Vestibulocochlear nerve
Trigeminal nerve
Trochlear
23. Which of the following neuroglia are star shaped and attach neurons to their blood vessels?
Ependyma
Oligodendroglia
Microglia
Astrocytes
24. Where is cerebrospinal fluid formed?
Cerebellum
Superior sagittal sinus
Ventricles
Auricles
25. The diencephalon is composed of the:
Pons and Midbrain
Medulla and insula
Thalamus and hypothalamus
Midbrain and thalamus
26. The wisp-like roots of the nerves at the end of the spinal cord are called the:
Conus medullaris
Filum terminale
Cauda Equina
Median fissure
27. Neuron axons that are surrounded by a multilayer, white, phospholipid, segmented covering are
called:
gray matter
Mylinated neurons
Neurofibrils
Nissl bodies
28. Chemicals released by neurons to increase or inhibit impulses are called:
Polarizers
Neurotransmitters
Regenerators
Synapse
29. The bridge connecting the spinal cord with the brain is the:
Brain stem
Pons
Midbrain
Diencephalon
30. Albumin, globulin, and fibrinogen are all:
Plasma proteins
Coagulation factors
Formed elements of blood
Hematopoietic growth factors
31. The structure that connects the middle ear and the throat, allowing the eardrum to vibrate
freely is the
External auditory canal Eustachian tube Semicircular canal
Labyrinth
32. Another name for tympanic membrane is the
External ear canal
Eardrum
Semicircular canal
Eustachian tube
33. The winding, cone-shaped tube of the inner ear is the
Semicircular canal
Vestibule
Cochlea
Ampulla
34. The nasal sinus located between the nose and the orbits is the
Frontal sinus Sphenoid
Ethmoid
Maxillary sinus
35. Which ossicle of the middle ear covers the oval window?
Malleus
Incus
Stapes
Utricle
36. Which part of the ear is responsible for equilibrium?
Semicircular canals
Middle ear
Cochlea
Meatus
37. A term referring to a waxy secretion in the external ear canal is
Pinna
Aurum
Cerumen
Saccule
38. Which of the following structures is not an ossicle of the middle ear?
Incus
Vestibule
Stapes
Malleus
39. The fluid within the membranous labyrinth is called
Perilymph
Endolymph Intralabyrinthine lymph
Otolymph
40. In the physiology of hearing, sound waves collect in the ______________ and pass on to hit
the ___________
Auricle, ossicles
Ossicles, oval window External auditory canal, tympanic membrane
Ossicles, auricles
41. The white, tough layer of the eyes that gives it it’s shape is the
Cornea
Iris
Sclera
Choroid
42. The layer of the eye that is clear, covers the iris, and contains no blood vessels is the
Cornea
Iris
Sclera
Choroid
43. The layer of the eye that absorbs light rays and nourishes the retina through its numerous
blood vessels is the
Sclera
Ciliary body
Choroid
iris
44. Which muscle alters the shape of the lens of the eye to accommodate near or far vision?
Rectus muscle
Oblique muscle
Circular muscle
Ciliary muscle
45. What structure regulates the amount of light entering the eye and assists in obtaining a clear
image?
Pupil
Iris
Cornea
Retina
46. Intraocular pressure is primarily dependent on
Vitreous humor
Aqueous humor
Macula lutea Nerve impulses
47. At the junction of the sclera and cornea is a venous sinus known as the
Macula
Uvea
Canal of Schlemm
Glands of Zeis
48. The smooth intrinsix muscle that alters the shape of the eye lens is the
Iris
Ciliary body Medial rectus
Lateral rectus
49. The ciliary body is part of which layer of the eye?
Fibrous
Vascular
Nervous
Lens
50. The abbreviation used for the left eye is
LE
OS
OP
OU
51. What is the definition of otosclerosis?
Earache
Ringing in the ear
Hardening of the spongy bone in ear
Hardening of tympanic membrane
52. The medical term for a nosebleed is
Epistaxis
Sinusitis
Rhinitis
Hemoptysis
53. Meniere’s syndrome involves the
Middle ear
Inner ear
Eustachian tube
Auditory ossicles
54. Untreated acute otitis media may result in
Mastoiditis Adenoiditis Otosclerosis Cholesteatoma
55. Otoplasty is performed to correct a congenital deformity of the
Mouth
Nose
Ear
Eye
56. An accumulation of squamous epithelium that forms a mass destructive to the middle ear is
called: Otosclerosis Otitis media Cholesteatoma Meniere’s syndrome
57. A plastic procedure performed to correct protruding ears is
Tympanoplasty
Otoplasty
Blepharoplasty
Mentoplasty
58. A surgical procedure for the treatment of acute otitis media is
Myringotomy Stapedectomy Stapes mobilization
Tympanoplasty
59. The most common cause of retinal detachment is: trauma, aging, inflammation, glaucoma
60. A fleshy encroachment of conjunctiva onto the cornea is a/an
Pterygium
Chalazion
Strabismus
Ecchymosis
61. Blockage of the canal of Schlemm will cause: detached retina, Strabismus, Glaucoma,
Chalazion
62. An uneven curvature of the cornea is known as
Myopia
Strabismus
Astigmatism Hyperopia
63. The inability to direct both eyes at the same object is called:
Strabismus Glaucoma
Chalazion
Vitreoretinopathy
64. A condition that causes the sudden onset of the appearance of floating spots before the eye
: scleral tumor Retinal detachment Epiretinal membrane Vitreous hemorrhage
65. Which muscle is involved in resection for strabismus correction?
Superior rectus
Inferior rectus
Medial rectus
Lateral rectus
The pathology that is the cause of chronic ear infections is
Otitis media Mastoiditis Otosclerosis Cholesteatoma
What is the medical term for the inability of the patient to focus both eyes at the same
object due to the lack of coordination of the extraocular muscles?
Pterygium
Strabismus Ectropion
Chalazion