Question 1

The nurse is teaching a class on preventing osteoporosis to a group of perimenopausal women.Which of these actions is the best way to prevent or delay bone loss in this group?

Accepted Answer

A) Taking calcium and vitamin D supplements 
B) Taking medications to prevent osteoporosis 
C) Performing physical activity, such as fast walking 
D) Assessing bone density annually

Question 2

To palpate the temporomandibular joint,the nurse's fingers should be placed in the depression __________ of the ear.

Accepted Answer

A) Distal to the helix 
B) Proximal to the helix 
C) Anterior to the tragus 
D) Posterior to the tragus

Question 3

The nurse is explaining to a patient that there are shock absorbers in his back to cushion the spine and to help it move.The nurse is referring to his:

Accepted Answer

A) Vertebral column. 
B) Nucleus pulposus. 
C) Vertebral foramen. 
D) Intervertebral disks.

Question 4

The nurse should use which test to check for large amounts of fluid around the patella?

Accepted Answer

A) Ballottement 
B) Tinel sign 
C) Phalen test 
D) McMurray test

Question 5

A young swimmer comes to the sports clinic complaining of a very sore shoulder.He was running at the pool,slipped on some wet concrete,and tried to catch himself with his outstretched hand.He landed on his outstretched hand and has not been able to move his shoulder since.The nurse suspects:

Accepted Answer

A) Joint effusion. 
B) Tear of rotator cuff. 
C) Adhesive capsulitis. 
D) Dislocated shoulder.

Question 6

The nurse is assessing a 1-week-old infant and is testing his muscle strength.The nurse lifts the infant with hands under the axillae and notices that the infant starts to "slip" between the hands.The nurse should:

Accepted Answer

A) Suspect a fractured clavicle. 
B) Suspect that the infant may have a deformity of the spine. 
C) Suspect that the infant may have weakness of the shoulder muscles. 
D) Conclude that this is a normal finding because the musculature of an infant at this age is undeveloped.

Question 7

A 14-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter disease reports painful swelling just below the knee for the past 5 months.Which response by the nurse is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A) "If these symptoms persist, you may need arthroscopic surgery." 
B) "You are experiencing degeneration of your knee, which may not resolve." 
C) "Your disease is due to repeated stress on the patellar tendon. It is usually self-limited, and your symptoms should resolve with rest." 
D) "Increasing your activity and performing knee-strengthening exercises will help decrease the inflammation and maintain mobility in the knee."

Question 8

A patient is complaining of pain in his joints that is worse in the morning,better after he moves around for a while,and then gets worse again if he sits for long periods.The nurse should assess for other signs of what problem?

Accepted Answer

A) Tendinitis 
B) Osteoarthritis 
C) Rheumatoid arthritis 
D) Intermittent claudication

Question 9

A woman who has had rheumatoid arthritis for years is starting to notice that her fingers are drifting to the side.The nurse knows that this condition is commonly referred to as:

Accepted Answer

A) Radial drift. 
B) Ulnar deviation. 
C) Swan-neck deformity. 
D) Dupuytren contracture.

Question 10

The nurse has completed the musculoskeletal examination of a patient's knee and has found a positive bulge sign.The nurse interprets this finding to indicate:

Accepted Answer

A) Irregular bony margins. 
B) Soft-tissue swelling in the joint. 
C) Swelling from fluid in the epicondyle. 
D) Swelling from fluid in the suprapatellar pouch.

Question 11

A teenage girl has arrived complaining of pain in her left wrist.She was playing basketball when she fell and landed on her left hand.The nurse examines her hand and would expect a fracture if the girl complains of a:

Accepted Answer

A) Dull ache. 
B) Deep pain in her wrist. 
C) Sharp pain that increases with movement. 
D) Dull throbbing pain that increases with rest.

Question 12

During an examination,the nurse asks a patient to bend forward from the waist and notices that the patient has lateral tilting.When his leg is raised straight up,the patient complains of a pain going down his buttock into his leg.The nurse suspects:

Accepted Answer

A) Scoliosis. 
B) Meniscus tear. 
C) Herniated nucleus pulposus. 
D) Spasm of paravertebral muscles.

Question 13

A 68-year-old woman has come in for an assessment of her rheumatoid arthritis,and the nurse notices raised,firm,nontender nodules at the olecranon bursa and along the ulna.These nodules are most commonly diagnosed as:

Accepted Answer

A) Epicondylitis. 
B) Gouty arthritis. 
C) Olecranon bursitis. 
D) Subcutaneous nodules.

Question 14

The functional units of the musculoskeletal system are the:

Accepted Answer

A) Joints. 
B) Bones. 
C) Muscles. 
D) Tendons.

Question 15

A mother brings her newborn baby boy in for a checkup; she tells the nurse that he does not seem to be moving his right arm as much as his left and that he seems to have pain when she lifts him up under the arms.The nurse suspects a fractured clavicle and would observe for:

Accepted Answer

A) Negative Allis test. 
B) Positive Ortolani sign. 
C) Limited range of motion during the Moro reflex. 
D) Limited range of motion during Lasègue test.

Question 16

The nurse is explaining the mechanism of the growth of long bones to a mother of a toddler.Where does lengthening of the bones occur?

Accepted Answer

A) Bursa 
B) Calcaneus 
C) Epiphyses 
D) Tuberosities

Question 17

During a neonatal examination,the nurse notices that the newborn infant has six toes.This finding is documented as:

Accepted Answer

A) Unidactyly. 
B) Syndactyly. 
C) Polydactyly. 
D) Multidactyly.

Question 18

A patient is being assessed for range-of-joint movement.The nurse asks him to move his arm in toward the center of his body.This movement is called:

Accepted Answer

A) Flexion. 
B) Abduction. 
C) Adduction. 
D) Extension.

Question 19

A patient tells the nurse that she is having a hard time bringing her hand to her mouth when she eats or tries to brush her teeth.The nurse knows that for her to move her hand to her mouth,she must perform which movement?

Accepted Answer

A) Flexion 
B) Abduction 
C) Adduction 
D) Extension

Question 20

When assessing muscle strength,the nurse observes that a patient has complete range of motion against gravity with full resistance.What grade of muscle strength should the nurse record using a 0- to 5-point scale?

Accepted Answer

A) 2 
B) 3 
C) 4 
D) 5

Exam 22: Musculoskeletal System