Health Assessment Jarvis Ch 13: Skin, Hair,
& Nails (Answered With Rationale)
Because hair for humans is no longer needed for protection from cold or trauma,
it is called:
vestigial.
Hair is vestigial for humans. It no longer is needed for protection from cold or trauma.
The nurse educator is preparing an education module for the nursing staff on the
epidermal layer of skin. Which of these statements would be included in the
module? The epidermis is:
a. Contains mostly fat cells.
b. Consists mostly of keratin.
c. Is replaced every 4 weeks.
d. Contains sensory receptors.
replaced every 4 weeks.
The epidermis is thin yet tough, replaced every 4 weeks, avascular, and stratified into
several zones.
The nurse educator is preparing an education module for the nursing staff on the
dermis layer of skin. Which of these statements would be included in the
module? The dermis:
a. Contains mostly fat cells.
b. Consists mostly of keratin.
c. Is replaced every 4 weeks.
d. Contains sensory receptors.
contains sensory receptors.
The dermis consists mostly of collagen, has resilient elastic tissue that allows the skin to
stretch, and contains nerves, sensory receptors, blood vessels, and lymphatics. It is not
replaced every 4 weeks.
The nurse is discussing epidermal appendages with a newly graduated nurse.
Which of these would be included in the discussion?
Sweat glands
Epidermal appendages include hair, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, and nails.
The nurse is examining a patient who tells the nurse, "I sure sweat a lot,
especially on my face and feet but it doesn't have an odor." The nurse knows that
this could be related to:
a. Eccrine glands.
b. Apocrine glands.
c. Disorder of the stratum corneum.
d. Disorder of the stratum germinativum.
eccrine glands.
,The eccrine glands are coiled tubules that open directly onto the skin surface and
produce a dilute saline solution called sweat. Apocrine glands are located mainly in the
axillae, anogenital area, nipples, and naval and mix with bacterial flora to produce a
characteristic musky body odor. The patient's statement is not related to disorders of the
stratum corneum or the stratum germinativum.
A newborn infant is in the clinic for a well-baby check. The nurse observes the
infant for the possibility of fluid loss because of which of these factors?
a. Subcutaneous fat deposits are high in the newborn.
b. Sebaceous glands are over productive in the newborn.
c. The newborns skin is more permeable than that of the adult.
d. The amount of vernix caseosa dramatically rises in the newborn.
The newborn's skin is more permeable than that of the adult.
The newborn's skin is thin, smooth, and elastic and is relatively more permeable than
that of the adult, so the infant is at greater risk for fluid loss. The subcutaneous layer in
the infant is inefficient, not thick, and the sebaceous glands are present but decrease in
size and production. Vernix caseosa is not produced after birth.
The nurse is bathing an 80-year-old man and notices that his skin is wrinkled,
thin, lax, and dry. This finding would be related to which factor?
a. Increased vascularity of the skin
b. Increased numbers of sweat and sebaceous glands
c. An increase in elastin and a decrease in subcutaneous fat
d. An increased loss of elastin and a decrease in subcutaneous fat
An increased loss of elastin and a decrease in subcutaneous fat in the elderly
An accumulation of factors place the aging person at risk for skin disease and
breakdown: the thinning of the skin, the decrease in vascularity and nutrients, the loss
of protective cushioning of the subcutaneous layer, a lifetime of environmental trauma to
skin, the social changes of aging, the increasingly sedentary lifestyle, and the chance of
immobility.
During the aging process, the hair can look gray or white and begin to feel thin
and fine. The nurse knows that this occurs because of a decrease in the number
of functioning:
a. Metrocytes.
b. Fungacytes.
c. Phagocytes.
d. Melanocytes.
melanocytes.
In the aging hair matrix, the number of functioning melanocytes decreases so the hair
looks gray or white and feels thin and fine. The other options are not correct.
An Inuit visiting Nevada from Anchorage has come to the clinic in July during the
hottest part of the day. It so happens that the clinic's air conditioning is broken
and the temperature is very hot. The nurse knows that which of these statements
is true about the Inuit sweating tendencies?
, They will sweat more on their faces and less on their trunks and extremities.
Inuits have made an interesting environmental adaptation whereby they sweat less than
whites on their trunks and extremities but more on their faces.
The nurse is caring for a black child who has been diagnosed with marasmus.
The nurse would expect to find the:
ANS: hair to be less kinky and to be a copper-red color.
The hair of black children with severe malnutrition (e.g., marasmus) frequently changes
not only in texture but in color—the child's hair becomes less kinky and assumes a
copper-red color. The other findings are not present with marasmus.
During an examination, the nurse finds that a patient has excessive dryness of
the skin. The best term to describe this condition is:
a. Xerosis.
b. Pruritus.
c. Alopecia.
d. Seborrhea.
xerosis.
Xerosis is the term used to describe skin that is excessively dry. Pruritus refers to
itching, alopecia refers to hair loss, and seborrhea refers to oily skin.
A 22-year-old woman comes to the clinic because of a severe sunburn and states,
"I was just out in the sun for a couple of minutes." The nurse begins a medication
review with her, paying special attention to which medication class?
a. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs for pain
b. Tetracyclines for acne
c. Proton pump inhibitors for heartburn
d. Thyroid replacement hormone for hypothyroidism
Tetracyclines for acne
Drugs that may increase sunlight sensitivity and give a burn response include
sulfonamides, thiazide diuretics, oral hypoglycemic agents, and tetracycline.
A woman is leaving on a trip to Hawaii and has come in for a checkup. During the
examination the nurse notices that she is diabetic and takes oral hypoglycemic
agents. The patient needs to be concerned about which possible effect of her
medications?
a. Increased possibility of bruising
b. Skin sensitivity as a result of exposure to salt water
c. Lack of availability of glucose-monitoring supplies
d. Importance of sunscreen and avoiding direct sunlight
importance of sunscreen and avoiding direct sunlight
Drugs that may increase sunlight sensitivity and give a burn response include
sulfonamides, thiazide diuretics, oral hypoglycemic agents, and tetracycline.
A 13-year old girl is interested in obtaining information about the cause of her
acne. The nurse would share with her that acne:
& Nails (Answered With Rationale)
Because hair for humans is no longer needed for protection from cold or trauma,
it is called:
vestigial.
Hair is vestigial for humans. It no longer is needed for protection from cold or trauma.
The nurse educator is preparing an education module for the nursing staff on the
epidermal layer of skin. Which of these statements would be included in the
module? The epidermis is:
a. Contains mostly fat cells.
b. Consists mostly of keratin.
c. Is replaced every 4 weeks.
d. Contains sensory receptors.
replaced every 4 weeks.
The epidermis is thin yet tough, replaced every 4 weeks, avascular, and stratified into
several zones.
The nurse educator is preparing an education module for the nursing staff on the
dermis layer of skin. Which of these statements would be included in the
module? The dermis:
a. Contains mostly fat cells.
b. Consists mostly of keratin.
c. Is replaced every 4 weeks.
d. Contains sensory receptors.
contains sensory receptors.
The dermis consists mostly of collagen, has resilient elastic tissue that allows the skin to
stretch, and contains nerves, sensory receptors, blood vessels, and lymphatics. It is not
replaced every 4 weeks.
The nurse is discussing epidermal appendages with a newly graduated nurse.
Which of these would be included in the discussion?
Sweat glands
Epidermal appendages include hair, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, and nails.
The nurse is examining a patient who tells the nurse, "I sure sweat a lot,
especially on my face and feet but it doesn't have an odor." The nurse knows that
this could be related to:
a. Eccrine glands.
b. Apocrine glands.
c. Disorder of the stratum corneum.
d. Disorder of the stratum germinativum.
eccrine glands.
,The eccrine glands are coiled tubules that open directly onto the skin surface and
produce a dilute saline solution called sweat. Apocrine glands are located mainly in the
axillae, anogenital area, nipples, and naval and mix with bacterial flora to produce a
characteristic musky body odor. The patient's statement is not related to disorders of the
stratum corneum or the stratum germinativum.
A newborn infant is in the clinic for a well-baby check. The nurse observes the
infant for the possibility of fluid loss because of which of these factors?
a. Subcutaneous fat deposits are high in the newborn.
b. Sebaceous glands are over productive in the newborn.
c. The newborns skin is more permeable than that of the adult.
d. The amount of vernix caseosa dramatically rises in the newborn.
The newborn's skin is more permeable than that of the adult.
The newborn's skin is thin, smooth, and elastic and is relatively more permeable than
that of the adult, so the infant is at greater risk for fluid loss. The subcutaneous layer in
the infant is inefficient, not thick, and the sebaceous glands are present but decrease in
size and production. Vernix caseosa is not produced after birth.
The nurse is bathing an 80-year-old man and notices that his skin is wrinkled,
thin, lax, and dry. This finding would be related to which factor?
a. Increased vascularity of the skin
b. Increased numbers of sweat and sebaceous glands
c. An increase in elastin and a decrease in subcutaneous fat
d. An increased loss of elastin and a decrease in subcutaneous fat
An increased loss of elastin and a decrease in subcutaneous fat in the elderly
An accumulation of factors place the aging person at risk for skin disease and
breakdown: the thinning of the skin, the decrease in vascularity and nutrients, the loss
of protective cushioning of the subcutaneous layer, a lifetime of environmental trauma to
skin, the social changes of aging, the increasingly sedentary lifestyle, and the chance of
immobility.
During the aging process, the hair can look gray or white and begin to feel thin
and fine. The nurse knows that this occurs because of a decrease in the number
of functioning:
a. Metrocytes.
b. Fungacytes.
c. Phagocytes.
d. Melanocytes.
melanocytes.
In the aging hair matrix, the number of functioning melanocytes decreases so the hair
looks gray or white and feels thin and fine. The other options are not correct.
An Inuit visiting Nevada from Anchorage has come to the clinic in July during the
hottest part of the day. It so happens that the clinic's air conditioning is broken
and the temperature is very hot. The nurse knows that which of these statements
is true about the Inuit sweating tendencies?
, They will sweat more on their faces and less on their trunks and extremities.
Inuits have made an interesting environmental adaptation whereby they sweat less than
whites on their trunks and extremities but more on their faces.
The nurse is caring for a black child who has been diagnosed with marasmus.
The nurse would expect to find the:
ANS: hair to be less kinky and to be a copper-red color.
The hair of black children with severe malnutrition (e.g., marasmus) frequently changes
not only in texture but in color—the child's hair becomes less kinky and assumes a
copper-red color. The other findings are not present with marasmus.
During an examination, the nurse finds that a patient has excessive dryness of
the skin. The best term to describe this condition is:
a. Xerosis.
b. Pruritus.
c. Alopecia.
d. Seborrhea.
xerosis.
Xerosis is the term used to describe skin that is excessively dry. Pruritus refers to
itching, alopecia refers to hair loss, and seborrhea refers to oily skin.
A 22-year-old woman comes to the clinic because of a severe sunburn and states,
"I was just out in the sun for a couple of minutes." The nurse begins a medication
review with her, paying special attention to which medication class?
a. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs for pain
b. Tetracyclines for acne
c. Proton pump inhibitors for heartburn
d. Thyroid replacement hormone for hypothyroidism
Tetracyclines for acne
Drugs that may increase sunlight sensitivity and give a burn response include
sulfonamides, thiazide diuretics, oral hypoglycemic agents, and tetracycline.
A woman is leaving on a trip to Hawaii and has come in for a checkup. During the
examination the nurse notices that she is diabetic and takes oral hypoglycemic
agents. The patient needs to be concerned about which possible effect of her
medications?
a. Increased possibility of bruising
b. Skin sensitivity as a result of exposure to salt water
c. Lack of availability of glucose-monitoring supplies
d. Importance of sunscreen and avoiding direct sunlight
importance of sunscreen and avoiding direct sunlight
Drugs that may increase sunlight sensitivity and give a burn response include
sulfonamides, thiazide diuretics, oral hypoglycemic agents, and tetracycline.
A 13-year old girl is interested in obtaining information about the cause of her
acne. The nurse would share with her that acne:
