Chapter 23: Musculoskeletal System
Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 8th Edition by
Carolyn Jarvis
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient is being assessed for range-of-joint movement. The nurse asks him to move his
arm in toward the center of his body. This movement is called:
a. Flexion.
b. Abduction.
c. Adduction.
d. Extension.
ANS: C
Moving a limb toward themidline of thebody is called adduction; moving a limb
away from themidline of thebody is called abduction. Flexion is bending a limb at
a joint; and extension is straightening a limb at a joint.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
MSC: Client Needs: Physiologic Integrity: Physiologic Adaptation
2. A patient tells thenurse that she is having a hard time bringing her hand to her mouth
when she eats or tries to brush her teeth. thenurse knows that for her to move her hand to
her mouth, she must perform which movement?
a. Flexion
b. Abduction
c. Adduction
d. Extension
ANS: A
Flexion, or bending a limb at a joint, is required to move the hand to the mouth.
Extension is straightening a limb at a joint. Moving a limb toward the midline of
thebody is called adduction; abduction is moving a limb away from themidline of
thebody.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
MSC: Client Needs: Physiologic Integrity: Physiologic Adaptation
3. The functional units of themusculoskeletal system are the:
a. Joints.
b. Bones.
c. Muscles.
d. Tendons.
, ANS: A
Joints are thefunctional units of themusculoskeletal system because they permit
themobility needed to perform theactivities of daily living. theskeleton (bones) is
theframework of thebody. theother options are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
MSC: Client Needs: General
4. When reviewing themusculoskeletal system, thenurse recalls that hematopoiesis takes
place in the:
a. Liver.
b. Spleen.
c. Kidneys.
d. Bone marrow.
ANS: D
The musculoskeletal system functions to encase and protect theinner vital organs,
to support thebody, to produce red blood cells in thebone marrow (hematopoiesis),
and to store minerals. theother options are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
MSC: Client Needs: General
5. Fibrous bands running directly from one bone to another that strengthen thejoint and
help prevent movement in undesirable directions are called:
a. Bursa.
b. Tendons.
c. Cartilage.
d. Ligaments.
ANS: D
Fibrous bands running directly from one bone to another that strengthen thejoint
and help prevent movement in undesirable directions are called ligaments.
theother options are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
MSC: Client Needs: General
6. The nurse notices that a woman in an exercise class is unable to jump rope. thenurse is
aware that to jump rope, ones shoulder has to be capable of:
a. Inversion.
b. Supination.
c. Protraction.
d. Circumduction.
ANS: D
Circumduction is defined as moving thearm in a circle around theshoulder.
, theother options are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)
MSC: Client Needs: Physiologic Integrity: Physiologic Adaptation
7. The articulation of themandible and thetemporal bone is known as the:
a. Intervertebral foramen.
b. Condyle of themandible.
c. Temporomandibular joint.
d. Zygomatic arch of thetemporal bone.
ANS: C
The articulation of themandible and thetemporal bone is thetemporomandibular
joint. theother responses are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
MSC: Client Needs: General
8. To palpate the temporomandibular joint, the nurses fingers should be placed in the
depression of the ear.
a. Distal to thehelix
b. Proximal to thehelix
c. Anterior to thetragus
d. Posterior to thetragus
ANS: C
The temporomandibular joint can be felt in thedepression anterior to thetragus of
theear. theother locations are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
9. Of the33 vertebrae in thespinal column, there are:
a. 5 lumbar.
b. 5 thoracic.
c. 7 sacral.
d. 12 cervical.
ANS: A
There are 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 3 to 4 coccygeal
vertebrae in thespinal column.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
MSC: Client Needs: General
10. An imaginary line connecting thehighest point on each iliac crest would cross the
vertebra.
Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 8th Edition by
Carolyn Jarvis
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient is being assessed for range-of-joint movement. The nurse asks him to move his
arm in toward the center of his body. This movement is called:
a. Flexion.
b. Abduction.
c. Adduction.
d. Extension.
ANS: C
Moving a limb toward themidline of thebody is called adduction; moving a limb
away from themidline of thebody is called abduction. Flexion is bending a limb at
a joint; and extension is straightening a limb at a joint.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
MSC: Client Needs: Physiologic Integrity: Physiologic Adaptation
2. A patient tells thenurse that she is having a hard time bringing her hand to her mouth
when she eats or tries to brush her teeth. thenurse knows that for her to move her hand to
her mouth, she must perform which movement?
a. Flexion
b. Abduction
c. Adduction
d. Extension
ANS: A
Flexion, or bending a limb at a joint, is required to move the hand to the mouth.
Extension is straightening a limb at a joint. Moving a limb toward the midline of
thebody is called adduction; abduction is moving a limb away from themidline of
thebody.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
MSC: Client Needs: Physiologic Integrity: Physiologic Adaptation
3. The functional units of themusculoskeletal system are the:
a. Joints.
b. Bones.
c. Muscles.
d. Tendons.
, ANS: A
Joints are thefunctional units of themusculoskeletal system because they permit
themobility needed to perform theactivities of daily living. theskeleton (bones) is
theframework of thebody. theother options are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
MSC: Client Needs: General
4. When reviewing themusculoskeletal system, thenurse recalls that hematopoiesis takes
place in the:
a. Liver.
b. Spleen.
c. Kidneys.
d. Bone marrow.
ANS: D
The musculoskeletal system functions to encase and protect theinner vital organs,
to support thebody, to produce red blood cells in thebone marrow (hematopoiesis),
and to store minerals. theother options are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
MSC: Client Needs: General
5. Fibrous bands running directly from one bone to another that strengthen thejoint and
help prevent movement in undesirable directions are called:
a. Bursa.
b. Tendons.
c. Cartilage.
d. Ligaments.
ANS: D
Fibrous bands running directly from one bone to another that strengthen thejoint
and help prevent movement in undesirable directions are called ligaments.
theother options are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
MSC: Client Needs: General
6. The nurse notices that a woman in an exercise class is unable to jump rope. thenurse is
aware that to jump rope, ones shoulder has to be capable of:
a. Inversion.
b. Supination.
c. Protraction.
d. Circumduction.
ANS: D
Circumduction is defined as moving thearm in a circle around theshoulder.
, theother options are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)
MSC: Client Needs: Physiologic Integrity: Physiologic Adaptation
7. The articulation of themandible and thetemporal bone is known as the:
a. Intervertebral foramen.
b. Condyle of themandible.
c. Temporomandibular joint.
d. Zygomatic arch of thetemporal bone.
ANS: C
The articulation of themandible and thetemporal bone is thetemporomandibular
joint. theother responses are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
MSC: Client Needs: General
8. To palpate the temporomandibular joint, the nurses fingers should be placed in the
depression of the ear.
a. Distal to thehelix
b. Proximal to thehelix
c. Anterior to thetragus
d. Posterior to thetragus
ANS: C
The temporomandibular joint can be felt in thedepression anterior to thetragus of
theear. theother locations are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
9. Of the33 vertebrae in thespinal column, there are:
a. 5 lumbar.
b. 5 thoracic.
c. 7 sacral.
d. 12 cervical.
ANS: A
There are 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 3 to 4 coccygeal
vertebrae in thespinal column.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
MSC: Client Needs: General
10. An imaginary line connecting thehighest point on each iliac crest would cross the
vertebra.
