NSG 3160 EXAM 4 | 81 ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS | NEW UPDATE 2025 PLUS RATIONALES/GRADE
A+ ASSURED
Question 1
Select the correct sequence of techniques used during an examination of the
abdomen.
A) percussion, inspection, palpation, auscultation
B) inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C) inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D) auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
E) palpation, auscultation, inspection, percussion
Correct Answer: C) inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: The correct sequence for abdominal examination is
inspection, auscultation, percussion, and then palpation.
Auscultation is performed before percussion and palpation to avoid
altering bowel sounds.
Question 2
Which of the following can be noted through inspection of a patient's
abdomen?
A) Fluid waves and abdominal rigidity.
B) Umbilical eversion and Murphy sign.
C) Venous pattern, peristaltic waves, and abdominal contour.
D) Peritoneal irritation, general tympany, and peristaltic waves.
E) Splenic dullness and rebound tenderness.
Correct Answer: C) Venous pattern, peristaltic waves, and abdominal
contour.
Rationale: Inspection allows direct visual observation of the
abdomen, noting aspects like venous patterns, visible peristaltic
waves, and the overall contour of the abdomen.
Question 3
Right upper quadrant (RUQ) tenderness may indicate pathology in the:
,A) Sigmoid colon, spleen, or rectum.
B) Appendix or ileocecal valves.
C) Liver, pancreas, or ascending colon.
D) Left ovary or descending colon.
E) Stomach and left kidney.
Correct Answer: A) Liver, pancreas, or ascending colon.
Rationale: The right upper quadrant contains organs such as the liver,
gallbladder, duodenum, head of the pancreas, right kidney, and a
portion of the ascending colon, so tenderness here may indicate
pathology in these areas.
Question 4
Hyperactive bowel sounds are:
A) High-pitched.
B) Rushing.
C) Tinkling.
D) All of the above.
E) Only low-pitched.
Correct Answer: D) All of the above.
Rationale: Hyperactive bowel sounds can be described as high-
pitched, rushing, and tinkling, often indicating increased peristaltic
activity.
Question 5
The absence of bowel sounds is established after listening for:
A) 1 full minute.
B) 3 full minutes.
C) 5 full minutes.
D) 15 seconds in each quadrant.
E) 2 full minutes.
Correct Answer: C) 5 full minutes.
Rationale: The absence of bowel sounds (silent abdomen) is a
,significant finding and is only established after listening
continuously for 5 full minutes in each quadrant.
Question 6
Auscultation of the abdomen may reveal bruits of the ___________ arteries.
A) Jugular, aortic, carotid, and femoral.
B) Pulmonic, aortic, and portal.
C) Renal, iliac, internal jugular, and basilic.
D) Aortic, renal, iliac, and femoral.
E) Subclavian, brachial, radial, and ulnar.
Correct Answer: A) Aortic, renal, iliac, and femoral.
Rationale: Auscultation of the abdomen is performed to listen for
vascular sounds, specifically bruits, over the aortic, renal, iliac, and
femoral arteries.
Question 7
The left upper quadrant (LUQ) contains the:
A) Liver.
B) Appendix.
C) Right ovary.
D) Spleen.
E) Sigmoid colon.
Correct Answer: D) Spleen.
Rationale: The left upper quadrant (LUQ) contains organs such as the
spleen, stomach, body and tail of the pancreas, left kidney, and
parts of the large intestine.
Question 8
Auscultating the abdomen is begun in the right lower quadrant (RLQ)
because:
A) This is the location of the pyloric sphincter.
B) Vascular sounds are best heard in this area.
C) Peristalsis through the descending colon is usually active.
, D) Bowel sounds are always normally present here, often due to the ileocecal
valve.
E) It is furthest from the heart.
Correct Answer: A) Bowel sounds are always normally present here.
Rationale: Auscultating the abdomen is typically begun in the right
lower quadrant (RLQ) because bowel sounds are usually active and
normally present here, making it a good starting point to assess
their presence.
Question 9
Shifting dullness is a test for:
A) Splenic enlargement.
B) Inflammation of the kidney.
C) Hepatomegaly.
D) Ascites.
E) Cholecystitis.
Correct Answer: A) Ascites.
Rationale: Shifting dullness is a physical examination technique used
to detect ascites (free fluid in the peritoneal cavity).
Question 10
Tenderness during abdominal palpation is expected when palpating the:
A) Lived edge.
B) Spleen.
C) Sigmoid colon.
D) Kidneys.
E) Gallbladder.
Correct Answer: C) Sigmoid colon.
Rationale: Tenderness during abdominal palpation is expected when
palpating the sigmoid colon due to its firm, tubular nature and
common stool content. Other organs listed, if tender, often indicate
pathology.
ANSWERS | NEW UPDATE 2025 PLUS RATIONALES/GRADE
A+ ASSURED
Question 1
Select the correct sequence of techniques used during an examination of the
abdomen.
A) percussion, inspection, palpation, auscultation
B) inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C) inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D) auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
E) palpation, auscultation, inspection, percussion
Correct Answer: C) inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: The correct sequence for abdominal examination is
inspection, auscultation, percussion, and then palpation.
Auscultation is performed before percussion and palpation to avoid
altering bowel sounds.
Question 2
Which of the following can be noted through inspection of a patient's
abdomen?
A) Fluid waves and abdominal rigidity.
B) Umbilical eversion and Murphy sign.
C) Venous pattern, peristaltic waves, and abdominal contour.
D) Peritoneal irritation, general tympany, and peristaltic waves.
E) Splenic dullness and rebound tenderness.
Correct Answer: C) Venous pattern, peristaltic waves, and abdominal
contour.
Rationale: Inspection allows direct visual observation of the
abdomen, noting aspects like venous patterns, visible peristaltic
waves, and the overall contour of the abdomen.
Question 3
Right upper quadrant (RUQ) tenderness may indicate pathology in the:
,A) Sigmoid colon, spleen, or rectum.
B) Appendix or ileocecal valves.
C) Liver, pancreas, or ascending colon.
D) Left ovary or descending colon.
E) Stomach and left kidney.
Correct Answer: A) Liver, pancreas, or ascending colon.
Rationale: The right upper quadrant contains organs such as the liver,
gallbladder, duodenum, head of the pancreas, right kidney, and a
portion of the ascending colon, so tenderness here may indicate
pathology in these areas.
Question 4
Hyperactive bowel sounds are:
A) High-pitched.
B) Rushing.
C) Tinkling.
D) All of the above.
E) Only low-pitched.
Correct Answer: D) All of the above.
Rationale: Hyperactive bowel sounds can be described as high-
pitched, rushing, and tinkling, often indicating increased peristaltic
activity.
Question 5
The absence of bowel sounds is established after listening for:
A) 1 full minute.
B) 3 full minutes.
C) 5 full minutes.
D) 15 seconds in each quadrant.
E) 2 full minutes.
Correct Answer: C) 5 full minutes.
Rationale: The absence of bowel sounds (silent abdomen) is a
,significant finding and is only established after listening
continuously for 5 full minutes in each quadrant.
Question 6
Auscultation of the abdomen may reveal bruits of the ___________ arteries.
A) Jugular, aortic, carotid, and femoral.
B) Pulmonic, aortic, and portal.
C) Renal, iliac, internal jugular, and basilic.
D) Aortic, renal, iliac, and femoral.
E) Subclavian, brachial, radial, and ulnar.
Correct Answer: A) Aortic, renal, iliac, and femoral.
Rationale: Auscultation of the abdomen is performed to listen for
vascular sounds, specifically bruits, over the aortic, renal, iliac, and
femoral arteries.
Question 7
The left upper quadrant (LUQ) contains the:
A) Liver.
B) Appendix.
C) Right ovary.
D) Spleen.
E) Sigmoid colon.
Correct Answer: D) Spleen.
Rationale: The left upper quadrant (LUQ) contains organs such as the
spleen, stomach, body and tail of the pancreas, left kidney, and
parts of the large intestine.
Question 8
Auscultating the abdomen is begun in the right lower quadrant (RLQ)
because:
A) This is the location of the pyloric sphincter.
B) Vascular sounds are best heard in this area.
C) Peristalsis through the descending colon is usually active.
, D) Bowel sounds are always normally present here, often due to the ileocecal
valve.
E) It is furthest from the heart.
Correct Answer: A) Bowel sounds are always normally present here.
Rationale: Auscultating the abdomen is typically begun in the right
lower quadrant (RLQ) because bowel sounds are usually active and
normally present here, making it a good starting point to assess
their presence.
Question 9
Shifting dullness is a test for:
A) Splenic enlargement.
B) Inflammation of the kidney.
C) Hepatomegaly.
D) Ascites.
E) Cholecystitis.
Correct Answer: A) Ascites.
Rationale: Shifting dullness is a physical examination technique used
to detect ascites (free fluid in the peritoneal cavity).
Question 10
Tenderness during abdominal palpation is expected when palpating the:
A) Lived edge.
B) Spleen.
C) Sigmoid colon.
D) Kidneys.
E) Gallbladder.
Correct Answer: C) Sigmoid colon.
Rationale: Tenderness during abdominal palpation is expected when
palpating the sigmoid colon due to its firm, tubular nature and
common stool content. Other organs listed, if tender, often indicate
pathology.
