Chapter 38. Endocrine System Function and Assessment
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Which hormone is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland?
a. Antidiuretic hormone
b. Thyroid hormone
c. Adrenocorticotropic hormone
d. Parathyroid hormone
2. Which two hormones work in opposition to regulate the blood glucose level?
a. Epinephrine and aldosterone
b. Insulin and glucagon
c. Thyroxine and aldosterone
d. Cortisol and calcitonin
3. Which hormone increases the rate of cell division?
a. Insulin
b. Thyroxine
c. Growth hormone
d. Cortisol
4. Which hormone lowers the blood glucose level by enabling cells to take in glucose?
a. Growth hormone
b. Cortisol
c. Glucagon
d. Insulin
5. Which hormone increases calcium absorption by the kidneys?
a. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
b. Parathyroid hormone
c. Calcitonin
d. Aldosterone
6. Which two hormones cause the liver to convert glycogen to glucose?
a. Thyroxine and insulin
b. Insulin and cortisol
c. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and oxytocin
d. Glucagon and epinephrine
7. Which explanation correctly describes a negative feedback mechanism for the secretion of a hormone?
a. The effect of the hormone reverses the initial stimulus.
b. The hormone has negative or decreasing effects on its target organ.
c. The effect of the hormone increases the initial stimulus.
d. The hormone stops a particular response by its target organ.
8. The hormones of the anterior pituitary gland are secreted in response to releasing hormones from which
structure?
a. Thyroid gland
b. Adrenal glands
c. Posterior pituitary
, d. Hypothalamus
9. A 62-year-old woman is being seen for a routine physical exam and states, “I’ve really slowed down this year;
I’m feeling my age.” Which of the following comments by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. “Mild diabetes often develops with age; I’ll see if the doctor wants me to check your
blood sugar.”
b. “Aging causes the basal metabolic rate to change, and it’s often normal to have
less energy, but you should still mention it to the doctor.”
c. “You’re probably feeling tired because your body increases the release of growth
hormone as you age.”
d. “A decrease in parathyroid hormone secretion occurs with age, and that can make you
feel tired. The doctor may want to check your calcium levels.”
10. Which endocrine gland is palpable?
a. Pancreas
b. Thyroid
c. Adrenal
d. Pituitary
11. A physician is palpating a patient’s thyroid gland. How can the nurse assist with this procedure?
a. Assist the patient to a supine position.
b. Ask the patient to extend the neck.
c. Give the patient a sip of water.
d. Have the patient take a deep breath.
12. The nurse should never palpate the thyroid gland of a patient with which disorder?
a. Hypothyroidism
b. Hyperthyroidism
c. Goiter
d. Hypoparathyroidism
13. The nurse must collect a 24-hour urine specimen for cortisol. The patient is incontinent. How can the nurse
collect the specimen?
a. Place an incontinence brief on the patient, and record the weight of each brief.
b. Place an incontinence brief on the patient, and send all briefs to the laboratory.
c. Keep the patient on a bedpan at all times during the test.
d. Obtain an order for an indwelling catheter for the duration of the test.
14. The nurse is preparing a patient for a thyroid scan. Which explanation by the nurse is appropriate?
a. “Sound waves will be used to create a picture of your thyroid gland.”
b. “A thyroid scan is simply an x-ray of your thyroid gland.”
c. “You will be given radioactive iodine, and a special camera will take pictures of
your thyroid gland.”
d. “You will be placed in a large instrument that uses magnetic energy to create an image
of your thyroid gland.”
15. A patient is having a thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test. After injection of TRH, what
response would the nurse expect in a patient with normal thyroid function?
a. Elevated T3 and T4
b. Decreased T3 and T4
c. Elevated calcitonin
d. Decreased calcitonin
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Which hormone is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland?
a. Antidiuretic hormone
b. Thyroid hormone
c. Adrenocorticotropic hormone
d. Parathyroid hormone
2. Which two hormones work in opposition to regulate the blood glucose level?
a. Epinephrine and aldosterone
b. Insulin and glucagon
c. Thyroxine and aldosterone
d. Cortisol and calcitonin
3. Which hormone increases the rate of cell division?
a. Insulin
b. Thyroxine
c. Growth hormone
d. Cortisol
4. Which hormone lowers the blood glucose level by enabling cells to take in glucose?
a. Growth hormone
b. Cortisol
c. Glucagon
d. Insulin
5. Which hormone increases calcium absorption by the kidneys?
a. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
b. Parathyroid hormone
c. Calcitonin
d. Aldosterone
6. Which two hormones cause the liver to convert glycogen to glucose?
a. Thyroxine and insulin
b. Insulin and cortisol
c. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and oxytocin
d. Glucagon and epinephrine
7. Which explanation correctly describes a negative feedback mechanism for the secretion of a hormone?
a. The effect of the hormone reverses the initial stimulus.
b. The hormone has negative or decreasing effects on its target organ.
c. The effect of the hormone increases the initial stimulus.
d. The hormone stops a particular response by its target organ.
8. The hormones of the anterior pituitary gland are secreted in response to releasing hormones from which
structure?
a. Thyroid gland
b. Adrenal glands
c. Posterior pituitary
, d. Hypothalamus
9. A 62-year-old woman is being seen for a routine physical exam and states, “I’ve really slowed down this year;
I’m feeling my age.” Which of the following comments by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. “Mild diabetes often develops with age; I’ll see if the doctor wants me to check your
blood sugar.”
b. “Aging causes the basal metabolic rate to change, and it’s often normal to have
less energy, but you should still mention it to the doctor.”
c. “You’re probably feeling tired because your body increases the release of growth
hormone as you age.”
d. “A decrease in parathyroid hormone secretion occurs with age, and that can make you
feel tired. The doctor may want to check your calcium levels.”
10. Which endocrine gland is palpable?
a. Pancreas
b. Thyroid
c. Adrenal
d. Pituitary
11. A physician is palpating a patient’s thyroid gland. How can the nurse assist with this procedure?
a. Assist the patient to a supine position.
b. Ask the patient to extend the neck.
c. Give the patient a sip of water.
d. Have the patient take a deep breath.
12. The nurse should never palpate the thyroid gland of a patient with which disorder?
a. Hypothyroidism
b. Hyperthyroidism
c. Goiter
d. Hypoparathyroidism
13. The nurse must collect a 24-hour urine specimen for cortisol. The patient is incontinent. How can the nurse
collect the specimen?
a. Place an incontinence brief on the patient, and record the weight of each brief.
b. Place an incontinence brief on the patient, and send all briefs to the laboratory.
c. Keep the patient on a bedpan at all times during the test.
d. Obtain an order for an indwelling catheter for the duration of the test.
14. The nurse is preparing a patient for a thyroid scan. Which explanation by the nurse is appropriate?
a. “Sound waves will be used to create a picture of your thyroid gland.”
b. “A thyroid scan is simply an x-ray of your thyroid gland.”
c. “You will be given radioactive iodine, and a special camera will take pictures of
your thyroid gland.”
d. “You will be placed in a large instrument that uses magnetic energy to create an image
of your thyroid gland.”
15. A patient is having a thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test. After injection of TRH, what
response would the nurse expect in a patient with normal thyroid function?
a. Elevated T3 and T4
b. Decreased T3 and T4
c. Elevated calcitonin
d. Decreased calcitonin
