Spinal Cord Injury (NCLEX) Level Matching Quiz

1. Autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord injury patients above T6 is triggered by which stimulus?

Sudden drop in blood pressure

Noxious stimuli below the injury level (e.g., full bladder, bowel)

Emotional stress or anxiety

Hypothermia or cold exposure

2. True or False: A patient with a complete L5 spinal cord injury retains normal bowel and bladder control.

True

False

3. A C5 spinal cord injury patient has intact shoulder and elbow function but cannot extend the wrist. This indicates preservation of which nerve?

Radial nerve

Ulnar nerve

Median nerve

Musculocutaneous nerve

4. Which nursing diagnosis is most appropriate for a patient with acute T8 spinal cord injury in the first 48 hours?

Chronic pain related to nerve damage

Risk for ineffective tissue perfusion related to spinal shock

Impaired mobility related to permanent paralysis

Urinary retention related to loss of bladder control

Submit

6. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale grades motor function from 0 to 5. A grade of 3 indicates:

Normal strength against resistance

Movement against gravity only

Trace contraction with no movement

Complete paralysis with no contraction

7. A patient with T6 spinal cord injury experiences sudden severe headache, hypertension, and flushed skin. Which nursing intervention is priority?

Administer analgesics and monitor vital signs

Identify and remove the noxious stimulus (check bladder, bowel)

Place patient flat and elevate legs

Administer oxygen and prepare for intubation

8. In cauda equina syndrome, nerve root compression occurs below which spinal level?

C7

T12

L1

S2

9. A complete C3 spinal cord injury results in which outcome?

Tetraplegia with respiratory dependence on mechanical ventilation

Paraplegia with intact upper extremity function

Monoplegia affecting one limb

Hemiplegia affecting one side of the body

10. Match the spinal cord injury level with its primary motor deficit:

C4 injury

C7 injury

T1 injury

L4 injury

Submit

11. A patient with a C5 spinal cord injury has intact motor function in the shoulders and arms but loss below that level. Which nerve root primarily controls shoulder abduction at this level?

C3

C4

C5

C6

12. A T4 spinal cord injury results in loss of intercostal muscle function. Which respiratory muscle remains functional?

Internal intercostals

External intercostals

Diaphragm

Abdominal muscles

Submit

14. Central cord syndrome most commonly results from what type of injury mechanism?

Hyperextension in elderly patients with cervical stenosis

Hyperflexion with anterior dislocation

Penetrating gunshot wound

Complete transection at one level

15. A patient with acute spinal cord injury at L1 is at highest risk for which immediate complication?

Respiratory failure

Spinal shock with hypotension and bradycardia

Autonomic dysreflexia

Permanent locked-in syndrome

16. Which spinal cord syndrome involves loss of motor and pain/temperature sensation with preserved vibration and proprioception?

Anterior cord syndrome

Posterior cord syndrome

Central cord syndrome

Cauda equina syndrome

Submit

18. In Brown-Séquard syndrome, ipsilateral motor loss and contralateral sensory loss occur. This pattern results from damage to which spinal cord region?

Central cord

Anterior cord

Half of the spinal cord (hemisection)

Posterior columns only

19. A T10 spinal cord injury results in paraplegia. Which body systems remain primarily intact?

Lower extremities and bowel/bladder

Upper extremities and respiratory function

Abdominal muscles and leg sensation

Diaphragm and intercostal muscles

20. Which classification describes a spinal cord injury with preserved motor and sensory function in the lowest sacral segments but loss above?

Complete injury

Incomplete injury

Brown-Séquard syndrome

Anterior cord syndrome

Spinal Injury Quiz: Can You Match the Level?

1. Autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord injury patients above T6 is triggered by which stimulus?

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

2. True or False: A patient with a complete L5 spinal cord injury retains normal bowel and bladder control.

3. A C5 spinal cord injury patient has intact shoulder and elbow function but cannot extend the wrist. This indicates preservation of which nerve?

4. Which nursing diagnosis is most appropriate for a patient with acute T8 spinal cord injury in the first 48 hours?

5. Posterior cord syndrome results in loss of _ and _ sensation while preserving motor and pain sensation.

6. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale grades motor function from 0 to 5. A grade of 3 indicates:

7. A patient with T6 spinal cord injury experiences sudden severe headache, hypertension, and flushed skin. Which nursing intervention is priority?

8. In cauda equina syndrome, nerve root compression occurs below which spinal level?

9. A complete C3 spinal cord injury results in which outcome?

10. Match the spinal cord injury level with its primary motor deficit:

11. A patient with a C5 spinal cord injury has intact motor function in the shoulders and arms but loss below that level. Which nerve root primarily controls shoulder abduction at this level?

12. A T4 spinal cord injury results in loss of intercostal muscle function. Which respiratory muscle remains functional?

13. In central cord syndrome, upper extremity weakness is typically _____ than lower extremity weakness.

14. Central cord syndrome most commonly results from what type of injury mechanism?

15. A patient with acute spinal cord injury at L1 is at highest risk for which immediate complication?

16. Which spinal cord syndrome involves loss of motor and pain/temperature sensation with preserved vibration and proprioception?

17. A C6 spinal cord injury preserves wrist extension but loses finger extension. This indicates intact _____ nerve.

18. In Brown-Séquard syndrome, ipsilateral motor loss and contralateral sensory loss occur. This pattern results from damage to which spinal cord region?

19. A T10 spinal cord injury results in paraplegia. Which body systems remain primarily intact?

20. Which classification describes a spinal cord injury with preserved motor and sensory function in the lowest sacral segments but loss above?

Spinal Injury Quiz: Can You Match the Level?

1. Autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord injury patients above T6 is triggered by which stimulus?

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

2. True or False: A patient with a complete L5 spinal cord injury retains normal bowel and bladder control.

3. A C5 spinal cord injury patient has intact shoulder and elbow function but cannot extend the wrist. This indicates preservation of which nerve?

4. Which nursing diagnosis is most appropriate for a patient with acute T8 spinal cord injury in the first 48 hours?

5. Posterior cord syndrome results in loss of _____ and _____ sensation while preserving motor and pain sensation.

6. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale grades motor function from 0 to 5. A grade of 3 indicates:

7. A patient with T6 spinal cord injury experiences sudden severe headache, hypertension, and flushed skin. Which nursing intervention is priority?

8. In cauda equina syndrome, nerve root compression occurs below which spinal level?

9. A complete C3 spinal cord injury results in which outcome?

10. Match the spinal cord injury level with its primary motor deficit:

11. A patient with a C5 spinal cord injury has intact motor function in the shoulders and arms but loss below that level. Which nerve root primarily controls shoulder abduction at this level?

12. A T4 spinal cord injury results in loss of intercostal muscle function. Which respiratory muscle remains functional?

13. In central cord syndrome, upper extremity weakness is typically _____ than lower extremity weakness.

14. Central cord syndrome most commonly results from what type of injury mechanism?

15. A patient with acute spinal cord injury at L1 is at highest risk for which immediate complication?

16. Which spinal cord syndrome involves loss of motor and pain/temperature sensation with preserved vibration and proprioception?

17. A C6 spinal cord injury preserves wrist extension but loses finger extension. This indicates intact _____ nerve.

18. In Brown-Séquard syndrome, ipsilateral motor loss and contralateral sensory loss occur. This pattern results from damage to which spinal cord region?

19. A T10 spinal cord injury results in paraplegia. Which body systems remain primarily intact?

20. Which classification describes a spinal cord injury with preserved motor and sensory function in the lowest sacral segments but loss above?

5. Posterior cord syndrome results in loss of _ and _ sensation while preserving motor and pain sensation.