NR 304 Exam 3 Study Set
Which statement concerning the anal canal is true? The anal canal:
A. Is approximately 2 cm long in the adult.
B. Slants backward toward the sacrum.
C. Contains hair and sebaceous glands.
D. Is the outlet for the gastrointestinal tract. - answerD
"The anal canal is the outlet of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract; it is about 3.8 cm long in
the adult. It is lined with modified skin (having no hair or sebaceous glands) that merges
with rectal mucosa at the anorectal junction."
(Text, pg 721)
Which statement concerning the sphincters is correct?
A. The internal sphincter is under voluntary control.
B. The external sphincter is under voluntary control.
C. Both sphincters remain slightly relaxed at all times.
D. The internal sphincter surrounds the external sphincter. - answerB
"The anal canal is surrounded by two concentric layers of muscle, the sphincters (Fig.
25-1). The internal sphincter is under involuntary control by the autonomic nervous
system. The external sphincter surrounds the internal sphincter but also has a small
section overriding the tip of the internal sphincter at the opening. It is under voluntary
control."
Text, pg 721
The nurse is performing an examination of the anus and rectum. Which of these
statements is correct and important to remember during this examination?
A. The rectum is approximately 8 cm long.
B. The anorectal junction cannot be palpated.
C. Above the anal canal, the rectum turns anteriorly.
D. No sensory nerves are in the anal canal or rectum. - answerB
"The anal columns (or columns of Morgagni) are folds of mucosa. These extend
vertically down from the rectum and end in the anorectal junction (also called the
mucocutaneous junction, pectinate, or dentate line). This junction is not palpable, but it
is visible on proctoscopy."
(Text, pg 721)
The structure that secretes a thin, milky alkaline fluid to enhance the viability of sperm is
the:
A. Cowper gland.
B. Prostate gland.
C. Median sulcus.
D. Bulbourethral gland. - answerB
"The prostate secretes a thin, milky, alkaline fluid that helps sperm viability."
, (Text, pg 722)
A 46-year-old man requires an assessment of his sigmoid colon. Which instrument or
technique is most appropriate for this examination?
A. Proctoscope
B. Ultrasound
C. Colonoscope
D. Rectal examination with an examining finger - answerC
"The sigmoid colon is named from its S-shaped course in the pelvic cavity. It extends
from the iliac flexure of the descending colon and ends at the rectum. It is 40 cm long
and is accessible to examination only through the colonoscope. The flexible fiberoptic
scope in current use provides a view of the entire mucosal surface of the sigmoid and
the colon."
(Text, pg 722)
The nurse is caring for a newborn infant. Thirty hours after birth, the infant passes a
dark green meconium stool. The nurse recognizes this is important because the:
A. Stool indicates anal patency.
B. Dark green color indicates occult blood in the stool.
C. Meconium stool can be reflective of distress in the newborn.
D. Newborn should have passed the first stool within 12 hours after birth. - answerA
"The first stool passed by the newborn is dark green meconium and occurs within 24 to
48 hours of birth, indicating anal patency. From that time on the infant usually has a
stool after each feeding. This response to eating is a wave of peristalsis called the
gastrocolic reflex. It continues throughout life, although children and adults usually
produce no more than one or two stools per day."
(Text, pg 723)
During the assessment of an 18-month-old infant, the mother expresses concern to the
nurse about the infant's inability to toilet train. What would be the nurse's best
response?
A. "Some children are just more difficult to train, so I wouldn't worry about it yet."
B. "Have you considered reading any of the books on toilet training? They can be very
helpful."
C. "This could mean that there is a problem in your baby's development. We'll watch her
closely for the next few months."
D. "The nerves that will allow your baby to have control over the passing of stools are
not developed until at least 18 to 24 months of age." - answerD
"The infant passes stools by reflex. Voluntary control of the external anal sphincter
cannot occur until the nerves supplying the area have become fully myelinated, usually
around image to 2 years of age. Toilet training usually starts after age 2 years."
(Text, pg 723)
A 60-year-old man has just been told that he has benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).
He has a friend who just died from cancer of the prostate. He is concerned this will
happen to him. How should the nurse respond?
Which statement concerning the anal canal is true? The anal canal:
A. Is approximately 2 cm long in the adult.
B. Slants backward toward the sacrum.
C. Contains hair and sebaceous glands.
D. Is the outlet for the gastrointestinal tract. - answerD
"The anal canal is the outlet of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract; it is about 3.8 cm long in
the adult. It is lined with modified skin (having no hair or sebaceous glands) that merges
with rectal mucosa at the anorectal junction."
(Text, pg 721)
Which statement concerning the sphincters is correct?
A. The internal sphincter is under voluntary control.
B. The external sphincter is under voluntary control.
C. Both sphincters remain slightly relaxed at all times.
D. The internal sphincter surrounds the external sphincter. - answerB
"The anal canal is surrounded by two concentric layers of muscle, the sphincters (Fig.
25-1). The internal sphincter is under involuntary control by the autonomic nervous
system. The external sphincter surrounds the internal sphincter but also has a small
section overriding the tip of the internal sphincter at the opening. It is under voluntary
control."
Text, pg 721
The nurse is performing an examination of the anus and rectum. Which of these
statements is correct and important to remember during this examination?
A. The rectum is approximately 8 cm long.
B. The anorectal junction cannot be palpated.
C. Above the anal canal, the rectum turns anteriorly.
D. No sensory nerves are in the anal canal or rectum. - answerB
"The anal columns (or columns of Morgagni) are folds of mucosa. These extend
vertically down from the rectum and end in the anorectal junction (also called the
mucocutaneous junction, pectinate, or dentate line). This junction is not palpable, but it
is visible on proctoscopy."
(Text, pg 721)
The structure that secretes a thin, milky alkaline fluid to enhance the viability of sperm is
the:
A. Cowper gland.
B. Prostate gland.
C. Median sulcus.
D. Bulbourethral gland. - answerB
"The prostate secretes a thin, milky, alkaline fluid that helps sperm viability."
, (Text, pg 722)
A 46-year-old man requires an assessment of his sigmoid colon. Which instrument or
technique is most appropriate for this examination?
A. Proctoscope
B. Ultrasound
C. Colonoscope
D. Rectal examination with an examining finger - answerC
"The sigmoid colon is named from its S-shaped course in the pelvic cavity. It extends
from the iliac flexure of the descending colon and ends at the rectum. It is 40 cm long
and is accessible to examination only through the colonoscope. The flexible fiberoptic
scope in current use provides a view of the entire mucosal surface of the sigmoid and
the colon."
(Text, pg 722)
The nurse is caring for a newborn infant. Thirty hours after birth, the infant passes a
dark green meconium stool. The nurse recognizes this is important because the:
A. Stool indicates anal patency.
B. Dark green color indicates occult blood in the stool.
C. Meconium stool can be reflective of distress in the newborn.
D. Newborn should have passed the first stool within 12 hours after birth. - answerA
"The first stool passed by the newborn is dark green meconium and occurs within 24 to
48 hours of birth, indicating anal patency. From that time on the infant usually has a
stool after each feeding. This response to eating is a wave of peristalsis called the
gastrocolic reflex. It continues throughout life, although children and adults usually
produce no more than one or two stools per day."
(Text, pg 723)
During the assessment of an 18-month-old infant, the mother expresses concern to the
nurse about the infant's inability to toilet train. What would be the nurse's best
response?
A. "Some children are just more difficult to train, so I wouldn't worry about it yet."
B. "Have you considered reading any of the books on toilet training? They can be very
helpful."
C. "This could mean that there is a problem in your baby's development. We'll watch her
closely for the next few months."
D. "The nerves that will allow your baby to have control over the passing of stools are
not developed until at least 18 to 24 months of age." - answerD
"The infant passes stools by reflex. Voluntary control of the external anal sphincter
cannot occur until the nerves supplying the area have become fully myelinated, usually
around image to 2 years of age. Toilet training usually starts after age 2 years."
(Text, pg 723)
A 60-year-old man has just been told that he has benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).
He has a friend who just died from cancer of the prostate. He is concerned this will
happen to him. How should the nurse respond?
