Physician Assistant Physician Assistant Neurological System Disorders 3

Question 1

Which of the following distinguishes essential tremor from Parkinson's tremor?

Accepted Answer

Essential tremor is an action/postural tremor; Parkinson's is a resting tremor

Answer

Essential tremor is a postural/action tremor that occurs during movement, while Parkinson's tremor is characteristically present at rest and suppressed by movement.

Question 2

A patient with myasthenia gravis will show which characteristic pattern on repetitive nerve stimulation?

Accepted Answer

Decremental response

Answer

Myasthenia gravis is characterized by a decremental response on repetitive nerve stimulation due to depletion of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction.

Question 3

A 60-year-old male smoker presents with ptosis, diplopia, and proximal muscle weakness that improves with exercise. Which paraneoplastic syndrome is most likely?

Accepted Answer

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome

Answer

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome is a paraneoplastic syndrome most commonly associated with small cell lung cancer, causing proximal weakness that paradoxically improves with repeated movement.

Question 4

Which imaging modality is the preferred initial study for a patient presenting with acute stroke symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Non-contrast CT head

Answer

Non-contrast CT head is the first-line imaging study in acute stroke to rapidly exclude hemorrhage before considering thrombolytic therapy.

Question 5

A patient with Alzheimer's disease has deficiency of which neurotransmitter?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine

Answer

Alzheimer's disease is associated with loss of cholinergic neurons in the nucleus basalis of Meynert, leading to acetylcholine deficiency, which is the basis of cholinesterase inhibitor therapy.

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Physician Assistant Practice Test

Physician Assistant Physician Assistant Neurological System Disorders 3