Question 1

The nurse documents hearing a 'click' when performing the McMurray test.The nurse is aware that this signifies:

Accepted Answer

A click is the positive result of the McMurray test and signifies a torn meniscus.

Question 2

The nurse is planning to measure a patient's angles of joint flexion.What instrument will be used?

Accepted Answer

A goniometer is used to measure the angles of joint flexion accurately.

Question 3

The nurse is assessing a 1-week-old infant and testing his muscle strength.The nurse lifts the infant with her hands under the axillae,and notes that the infant starts to "slip" between her hands.The nurse should:

Accepted Answer

An infant who starts to "slip" between the hands shows weakness of the shoulder muscles.

Question 4

A patient has been diagnosed with a ganglion cyst over the dorsum of his left wrist.He asks the nurse,"What is this thing?" The nurse's best answer is:

Accepted Answer

A ganglionic cyst is a common benign tumour;it does not become malignant.

Question 5

The nurse is examining a 6-month-old baby and places the baby's feet flat on the table and flexes his knees up.The nurse notes that the right knee is significantly lower than the left.Which of the following is true of this finding?

Accepted Answer

Finding one knee significantly lower than the other is a positive Allis sign and suggests hip dislocation.

Question 6

Which test should the nurse use to check for large amounts of fluid around the patella?

Accepted Answer

Ballottement of the patella is reliable when larger amounts of fluid are present.

Question 7

A patient's annual physical examination reveals a lateral curvature of the thoracic and lumbar segments of his spine;however,this curvature disappears with forward bending.The nurse knows that this abnormality of the spine is called:

Accepted Answer

Functional scoliosis is flexible;it is apparent with standing and disappears with forward bending.

Question 8

A man who has had gout for several years comes to the clinic with a "problem with my toe." On examination,the nurse notes the presence of hard,painless nodules over the great toe;one has burst open and released a chalky discharge.This finding is known as:

Accepted Answer

Tophi are collections of sodium urate crystals due to chronic gout in and around the joint that cause extreme swelling and joint deformity.They appear as hard,painless nodules (tophi)over the metatarsophalangeal joint of the first toe,and they sometimes burst with a chalky discharge.

Question 9

The nurse knows that another term for "knock knees" is:

Accepted Answer

Genu valgum is also known as "knock knees" and is present when there are more than 2.5 cm between the medial malleoli when the knees are together.

Question 10

When performing a musculoskeletal assessment,the nurse knows that the correct approach for the examination should be head to toe and:

Accepted Answer

The musculoskeletal assessment should be done in an orderly approach,head to toe,proximal to distal.

Question 11

The nurse is assessing the joints of a woman who has stated,"I have a long family history of arthritis,and my joints hurt." The nurse suspects that she has osteoarthritis.Which of the following are symptoms of osteoarthritis? (Select all that apply. )

Accepted Answer

In osteoarthritis,asymmetrical joint involvement commonly affects hands,knees,hips,and lumbar and cervical segments of the spine.Affected joints have stiffness,swelling with hard bony protuberances,pain with motion,and limitation of motion.

Question 12

A 14-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter disease reports painful swelling just below the knee for the past 5 months.Which response by the nurse is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Osgood-Schlatter disease is painful swelling of the tibial tubercle just below the knee.It is most likely due to repeated stress on the patellar tendon.It is usually self-limited,occurring during rapid growth and most often in males.The symptoms resolve with rest.

Quiz 24: Musculoskeletal System