NURS 190 | Physical Assessment | Week 9 Quiz - Musculoskeletal and
Neurological Systems 2026 |WCU
1. During a musculoskeletal assessment, the nurse asks the patient to move
their arm away from the midline of the body. What is this movement called?
A. Adduction
B. Circumduction
C. Abduction
D. Extension
Answer: C
Rationale: Abduction is the movement of a limb away from the midline of the body, while
adduction is moving it toward the midline.
2. The nurse is assessing a patient for carpal tunnel syndrome. Which maneuver
involves having the patient hold their hands back-to-back while flexing the
wrists at 90 degrees for 60 seconds?
A. Tinel sign
B. Bulge sign
C. Lasegue test
D. Phalen test
Answer: D
Rationale: The Phalen test reproduces numbness and burning in a person with carpal
tunnel syndrome by flexing the wrists 90 degrees for 60 seconds.
,3. A patient exhibits ‘Heberden nodes.’ The nurse understands that these are
clinical manifestations of which condition?
A. Rheumatoid arthritis
B. Gouty arthritis
C. Ankylosing spondylitis
D. Osteoarthritis
Answer: D
Rationale: Heberden nodes are bony overgrowths of the distal interphalangeal joints and
are characteristic of osteoarthritis.
4. When assessing the spine, the nurse notes an exaggerated posterior
curvature of the thoracic spine. This is documented as:
A. Lordosis
B. Scoliosis
C. List
D. Kyphosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Kyphosis is an exaggerated outward (posterior) curvature of the thoracic spine,
commonly seen in older adults.
5. The nurse performs the Romberg test. The patient stands with feet together
and eyes closed, and begins to sway significantly and lose balance. How should
the nurse document this?
A. Negative Romberg
B. Cerebellar ataxia
C. Positive Romberg
D. Normal proprioception
Answer: C
, Rationale: A positive Romberg sign occurs when a patient loses balance when closing the
eyes, indicating a problem with sensory ataxia or vestibular function.
6. Which cranial nerve is being tested when the nurse asks the patient to shrug
their shoulders against resistance?
A. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. CN X (Vagus)
C. CN XI (Spinal Accessory)
D. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
E. C
Answer: C
Rationale: Cranial nerve XI, the spinal accessory nerve, innervates the trapezius and
sternomastoid muscles used for shrugging.
7. A patient is unable to differentiate between a key and a coin placed in their
hand with their eyes closed. This finding is known as:
A. Astereognosis
B. Agraphesthesia
C. Anesthesia
D. Ataxia
Answer: A
Rationale: Stereognosis is the ability to recognize objects by feel. Astereognosis is the
inability to do so, indicating a parietal lobe lesion.
Neurological Systems 2026 |WCU
1. During a musculoskeletal assessment, the nurse asks the patient to move
their arm away from the midline of the body. What is this movement called?
A. Adduction
B. Circumduction
C. Abduction
D. Extension
Answer: C
Rationale: Abduction is the movement of a limb away from the midline of the body, while
adduction is moving it toward the midline.
2. The nurse is assessing a patient for carpal tunnel syndrome. Which maneuver
involves having the patient hold their hands back-to-back while flexing the
wrists at 90 degrees for 60 seconds?
A. Tinel sign
B. Bulge sign
C. Lasegue test
D. Phalen test
Answer: D
Rationale: The Phalen test reproduces numbness and burning in a person with carpal
tunnel syndrome by flexing the wrists 90 degrees for 60 seconds.
,3. A patient exhibits ‘Heberden nodes.’ The nurse understands that these are
clinical manifestations of which condition?
A. Rheumatoid arthritis
B. Gouty arthritis
C. Ankylosing spondylitis
D. Osteoarthritis
Answer: D
Rationale: Heberden nodes are bony overgrowths of the distal interphalangeal joints and
are characteristic of osteoarthritis.
4. When assessing the spine, the nurse notes an exaggerated posterior
curvature of the thoracic spine. This is documented as:
A. Lordosis
B. Scoliosis
C. List
D. Kyphosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Kyphosis is an exaggerated outward (posterior) curvature of the thoracic spine,
commonly seen in older adults.
5. The nurse performs the Romberg test. The patient stands with feet together
and eyes closed, and begins to sway significantly and lose balance. How should
the nurse document this?
A. Negative Romberg
B. Cerebellar ataxia
C. Positive Romberg
D. Normal proprioception
Answer: C
, Rationale: A positive Romberg sign occurs when a patient loses balance when closing the
eyes, indicating a problem with sensory ataxia or vestibular function.
6. Which cranial nerve is being tested when the nurse asks the patient to shrug
their shoulders against resistance?
A. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. CN X (Vagus)
C. CN XI (Spinal Accessory)
D. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
E. C
Answer: C
Rationale: Cranial nerve XI, the spinal accessory nerve, innervates the trapezius and
sternomastoid muscles used for shrugging.
7. A patient is unable to differentiate between a key and a coin placed in their
hand with their eyes closed. This finding is known as:
A. Astereognosis
B. Agraphesthesia
C. Anesthesia
D. Ataxia
Answer: A
Rationale: Stereognosis is the ability to recognize objects by feel. Astereognosis is the
inability to do so, indicating a parietal lobe lesion.
