Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Test

The correct answer is that 41 degrees C is the critical temperature threshold that can cause damage to neural tissue. At this temperature, physiological processes begin to be disrupted, and neuron function can be impaired. Prolonged exposure to temperatures above this threshold can lead to detrimental effects such as cell death, impaired neurotransmission, and other neurotoxic effects.

When neural tissue is exposed to temperatures around or above this threshold, processes like metabolism and protein synthesis can become compromised, severely impacting the nervous system's function. It is crucial to understand that while temperatures such as 39 degrees C and 43 degrees C may indicate fever or elevated body temperature, it is specifically around 41 degrees C where more severe and direct neurotoxic effects begin to manifest. Temperatures above 45 degrees C are typically associated with severe thermal injury or necrosis, indicating that the range leading to neural tissue damage is narrower than one might assume when considering extreme heat.