Rasmussen MA278/BSC2346 Module 6 Case Study

QUESTION 1

Donna, a 42-year-old mother of two, has been experiencing intermittent tingling and numbness in both of her feet. She has also had trouble holding a pen while writing. In the past few months, the tingling and numbness in her extremities seemed to subside on its own, so she was not very concerned. Recently, though, the symptoms have spread to her knees and thighs and are persisting.

Yesterday, she stumbled when getting out of bed in the morning. When she tried to stand, her right leg was too weak to hold her weight and she fell again. She noticed that she scraped her right knee during the fall, but does not feel any pain from the wound. Donna notices that she has blurry vision and thinks that might be the reason she fell.

All of the following indicate sensory deficits EXCEPT:

Tingling in her feet

Numbness in her legs

Blurry vision

Muscular weakness

1 points

QUESTION 2

Donna does not feel the wound on her knee. In a normal situation, describe how this sensory input of a scraped knee would result in the feeling of pain.

Path: pWords:0

1 points

QUESTION 3

Donna has weakness in her right leg, but her left leg is functioning normally. Which components of the nervous system are involved with skeletal muscle movement? Be specific about how the motor impulse moves through the body.

Path: pWords:0

1 points

QUESTION 4

Which of the following correctly defines a motor unit?

All motor units are afferent neurons

A single muscle and its largest associated nerve

A single neuron and all the muscle cells it innervates

A single muscle and all the neurons that innervate it

1 points

QUESTION 5

Which of the following statements is true?

Donna is experiencing both motor and sensory deficits.

Donna’s symptoms are most likely only related to the brain, and not peripheral nerves.

Donna is experiencing problems related to motor neurons only.

Donna is experiencing problems related to sensory neurons only.

1 points

QUESTION 6

List and describe any and all symptoms in Donna’s history that could be related to a pathology of her motor neurons.

Path: pWords:0

1 points

QUESTION 7

Donna’s primary care physician wants to screen her for Multiple Sclerosis. Which of the following tests would provide the most definitive diagnosis for MS?

Bone scan

Muscle strength test

Complete blood count

MRI

1 points

QUESTION 8

If Donna does have MS, the disease is affecting her myelin sheath. Briefly describe what happens to the myelin sheath and how it disrupts nerve function in patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Path: pWords:0

1 points

QUESTION 9

Donna later sees a specialist who wants to perform a spinal tap, which is an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid. Where is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) found?

Surrounding the structures of the Central Nervous System

Inside each neuron’s soma

Surrounding every synapse and neuromuscular junction in the body

Peripheral nerves

1 points

QUESTION 10

After extensive testing, Donna’s care team concluded that she does have Multiple Sclerosis and have prescribed steroid treatment. How will steroids help alleviate her symptoms?

Path: pWords:0

1 points

QUESTION 11

Andre is a 68-year-old grandfather who has been struggling with his memory lately. At first, he was simply forgetting an appointment from time to time or forgetting to take his morning vitamins. However, now his spouse and children have noticed that his forgetfulness is progressing. There have been moments where he forgot how to get home, couldn’t remember his own phone number, or the names of his grandchildren. His family is worried he may have Alzheimer’s disease and they are not sure what to do.

Andre’s family decides to do some research about dementia and

Alzheimer’s disease. Which of the following statements is true?

Dementia is a normal form of aging, but Alzheimer’s disease is not.

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease involves neuron damage and dementia does not.

Alzheimer’s disease is not related to dementia.

1 points

QUESTION 12

Which of the following is NOT a typical symptom of Alzheimer’s disease?

Mood and behavior change

Difficulty recalling recently learned information

Forgetting appointments, but remembering them later

Disorientation to time and place

1 points

QUESTION 13

Which of the following scenarios is considered a normal age-related change in memory?

Having trouble remembering the rules of a favorite game

Paying less attention to grooming and/or cleanliness

Misplacing items occasionally and needing to retrace steps to find them

Avoiding social activities, hobbies, or sports

1 points

QUESTION 14

What are the risk factors in Andre’s history that would support a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease?

Path: pWords:0

1 points

QUESTION 15

What other Alzheimer’s disease risk factors might exist that are not given in Andre’s history? List and describe at least 5 risk factors.

Path: pWords:0

1 points

QUESTION 16

As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, the brain produces less and less of which neurotransmitter?

Acetylcholine

Serotonin

Dopamine

Calcium

1 points

QUESTION 17

Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed using all of the following tools EXCEPT:

Brain scans

Blood tests, urine tests, and spinal fluid analysis

Peripheral nerve biopsy

Tests to measure memory, problem solving, attention, and language

1 points

QUESTION 18

Describe how the plaques found in Alzheimer’s disease disrupt nerve impulses.

Path: pWords:0

1 points

QUESTION 19

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but cholinesterase inhibitors can be used to treat symptoms like memory loss or language issues. Briefly discuss how this type of medication affects the physiology of neurons and nerve impulses.

Path: pWords:0

1 points

QUESTION 20

Andre’s primary care physician will likely refer him to a specialist. Which type of specialist treats Alzheimer’s disease? With the information you are given about Andre, how do you think his specialist will proceed? List and describe at least 3 treatments, tests, or other options that would make sense for Andre’s stage of memory loss.