The geriatrician providing care for a 74-year-old man with ...

[mcmcdaniel]

The geriatrician providing care for a 74-year-old man with diagnosis of Parkinson disease has recently changed the client's medication regimen. What is the most likely focus of the pharmacologic treatment of the man's health problem?
 
  A)
  Maximizing acetylcholine release from synaptic vesicles at neuromuscular junctions
  B)
  Preventing demyelination of the efferent cerebellar pathways
  C)
  Increasing the functional ability of the underactive dopaminergic system
  D)
  Preventing axonal degradation of motor neurons

Question 2

During a clinical assessment of a 68-year-old client who has suffered a head injury, a neurologist suspects that a client has a sustained damage to her vagus (CN X) nerve.
 
  Which of the following assessment findings is most likely to lead the physician to this conclusion?
  A)
  The client has difficulty swallowing and has had recent constipation and hypoactive bowel sounds.
  B)
  The client is unable to turn her head from side to side, and her tongue is flaccid.
  C)
  The client has a unilateral facial droop, dry eyes, and decreased salivary production.
  D)
  The client is unable to perform any fine motor movements of her tongue.

[bitingbit]

Answer to Question 1

Ans:
C

Feedback:

Antiparkinson drugs act by increasing the functional ability of the underactive dopaminergic system. The cerebellar pathways, acetylcholine levels, and axonal degradation are not components of the etiology of Parkinson disease.

Answer to Question 2

Ans:
A

Feedback:

Dysphagia and impaired GI motility are associated with damage to the vagus nerve. Lateral movement of the head is mediated by CN XI. Facial droop and dry eyes are associated with CN VII, the facial nerve, while abnormal tongue movement is a result of damage to CN XII, the hypoglossal nerve.