Chapter 16: Nose, Mouth, and Throat
Jarvis: Physical Examination & Health
Assessment, 7th Edition questions and
answers
The primary purpose of the ciliated mucous membrane in the nose is to:
a. Warm the inhaled air.
b. Filter out dust and bacteria.
c. Filter coarse particles from inhaled air.
d. Facilitate the movement of air through the nares. - correct answer-ANS: B
The nasal hairs filter the coarsest matter from inhaled air, whereas the mucous blanket filters
out dust and bacteria. The rich blood supply of the nasal mucosa warms the inhaled air.
The projections in the nasal cavity that increase the surface area are called the:
a. Meatus.
b. Septum.
c. Turbinates.
d. Kiesselbach plexus. - correct answer-ANS: C
The lateral walls of each nasal cavity contain three parallel bony projections: the superior,
middle, and inferior turbinates. These increase the surface area, making more blood vessels
and mucous membrane available to warm, humidify, and filter the inhaled air.
The nurse is reviewing the development of the newborn infant. Regarding the sinuses, which
statement is true in relation to a newborn infant?
a. Sphenoid sinuses are full size at birth.
b. Maxillary sinuses reach full size after puberty.
c. Frontal sinuses are fairly well developed at birth.
d. Maxillary and ethmoid sinuses are the only sinuses present at birth. - correct answer-ANS:
D
Only the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses are present at birth. The sphenoid sinuses are
minute at birth and develop after puberty. The frontal sinuses are absent at birth, are fairly
well developed at age 7 to 8 years, and reach full size after puberty.
The tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth is the:
a. Uvula.
b. Palate.
c. Papillae.
d. Frenulum. - correct answer-ANS: D
The frenulum is a midline fold of tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth.
The uvula is the free projection hanging down from the middle of the soft palate. The palate
is the arching roof of the mouth. Papillae are the rough, bumpy elevations on the tongue's
dorsal surface.
, The salivary gland that is the largest and located in the cheek in front of the ear is the
_________ gland.
a. Parotid
b. Stensen's
c. Sublingual
d. Submandibular - correct answer-ANS: A
The mouth contains three pairs of salivary glands. The largest, the parotid gland, lies within
the cheeks in front of the ear extending from the zygomatic arch down to the angle of the
jaw. The Stensen's duct (not gland) drains the parotid gland onto the buccal mucosa
opposite the second molar. The sublingual gland is located within the floor of the mouth
under the tongue. The submandibular gland lies beneath the mandible at the angle of the
jaw.
In assessing the tonsils of a 30 year old, the nurse notices that they are involuted, granular
in appearance, and appear to have deep crypts. What is correct response to these findings?
a. Refer the patient to a throat specialist.
b. No response is needed; this appearance is normal for the tonsils.
c. Continue with the assessment, looking for any other abnormal findings.
d. Obtain a throat culture on the patient for possible streptococcal (strep) infection. - correct
answer-ANS: B
The tonsils are the same color as the surrounding mucous membrane, although they look
more granular and their surface shows deep crypts. Tonsillar tissue enlarges during
childhood until puberty and then involutes.
The nurse is obtaining a health history on a 3-month-old infant. During the interview, the
mother states, "I think she is getting her first tooth because she has started drooling a lot."
The nurse's best response would be:
a. "You're right, drooling is usually a sign of the first tooth."
b. "It would be unusual for a 3 month old to be getting her first tooth."
c. "This could be the sign of a problem with the salivary glands."
d. "She is just starting to salivate and hasn't learned to swallow the saliva." - correct
answer-ANS: D
In the infant, salivation starts at 3 months. The baby will drool for a few months before
learning to swallow the saliva. This drooling does not herald the eruption of the first tooth,
although many parents think it does.
The nurse is assessing an 80-year-old patient. Which of these findings would be expected
for this patient?
a. Hypertrophy of the gums
b. Increased production of saliva
c.Decreased ability to identify odors
d. Finer and less prominent nasal hair - correct answer-ANS: C
The sense of smell may be reduced because of a decrease in the number of olfactory nerve
fibers. Nasal hairs grow coarser and stiffer with aging. The gums may recede with aging, not
hypertrophy, and saliva production decreases.
Jarvis: Physical Examination & Health
Assessment, 7th Edition questions and
answers
The primary purpose of the ciliated mucous membrane in the nose is to:
a. Warm the inhaled air.
b. Filter out dust and bacteria.
c. Filter coarse particles from inhaled air.
d. Facilitate the movement of air through the nares. - correct answer-ANS: B
The nasal hairs filter the coarsest matter from inhaled air, whereas the mucous blanket filters
out dust and bacteria. The rich blood supply of the nasal mucosa warms the inhaled air.
The projections in the nasal cavity that increase the surface area are called the:
a. Meatus.
b. Septum.
c. Turbinates.
d. Kiesselbach plexus. - correct answer-ANS: C
The lateral walls of each nasal cavity contain three parallel bony projections: the superior,
middle, and inferior turbinates. These increase the surface area, making more blood vessels
and mucous membrane available to warm, humidify, and filter the inhaled air.
The nurse is reviewing the development of the newborn infant. Regarding the sinuses, which
statement is true in relation to a newborn infant?
a. Sphenoid sinuses are full size at birth.
b. Maxillary sinuses reach full size after puberty.
c. Frontal sinuses are fairly well developed at birth.
d. Maxillary and ethmoid sinuses are the only sinuses present at birth. - correct answer-ANS:
D
Only the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses are present at birth. The sphenoid sinuses are
minute at birth and develop after puberty. The frontal sinuses are absent at birth, are fairly
well developed at age 7 to 8 years, and reach full size after puberty.
The tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth is the:
a. Uvula.
b. Palate.
c. Papillae.
d. Frenulum. - correct answer-ANS: D
The frenulum is a midline fold of tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth.
The uvula is the free projection hanging down from the middle of the soft palate. The palate
is the arching roof of the mouth. Papillae are the rough, bumpy elevations on the tongue's
dorsal surface.
, The salivary gland that is the largest and located in the cheek in front of the ear is the
_________ gland.
a. Parotid
b. Stensen's
c. Sublingual
d. Submandibular - correct answer-ANS: A
The mouth contains three pairs of salivary glands. The largest, the parotid gland, lies within
the cheeks in front of the ear extending from the zygomatic arch down to the angle of the
jaw. The Stensen's duct (not gland) drains the parotid gland onto the buccal mucosa
opposite the second molar. The sublingual gland is located within the floor of the mouth
under the tongue. The submandibular gland lies beneath the mandible at the angle of the
jaw.
In assessing the tonsils of a 30 year old, the nurse notices that they are involuted, granular
in appearance, and appear to have deep crypts. What is correct response to these findings?
a. Refer the patient to a throat specialist.
b. No response is needed; this appearance is normal for the tonsils.
c. Continue with the assessment, looking for any other abnormal findings.
d. Obtain a throat culture on the patient for possible streptococcal (strep) infection. - correct
answer-ANS: B
The tonsils are the same color as the surrounding mucous membrane, although they look
more granular and their surface shows deep crypts. Tonsillar tissue enlarges during
childhood until puberty and then involutes.
The nurse is obtaining a health history on a 3-month-old infant. During the interview, the
mother states, "I think she is getting her first tooth because she has started drooling a lot."
The nurse's best response would be:
a. "You're right, drooling is usually a sign of the first tooth."
b. "It would be unusual for a 3 month old to be getting her first tooth."
c. "This could be the sign of a problem with the salivary glands."
d. "She is just starting to salivate and hasn't learned to swallow the saliva." - correct
answer-ANS: D
In the infant, salivation starts at 3 months. The baby will drool for a few months before
learning to swallow the saliva. This drooling does not herald the eruption of the first tooth,
although many parents think it does.
The nurse is assessing an 80-year-old patient. Which of these findings would be expected
for this patient?
a. Hypertrophy of the gums
b. Increased production of saliva
c.Decreased ability to identify odors
d. Finer and less prominent nasal hair - correct answer-ANS: C
The sense of smell may be reduced because of a decrease in the number of olfactory nerve
fibers. Nasal hairs grow coarser and stiffer with aging. The gums may recede with aging, not
hypertrophy, and saliva production decreases.
