GRAY'S ANATOMY FOR STUDENTS
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)RICHARD L. DRAKE
TEST BANK
1)
Reference: Ch. 1 — What is anatomy?
Stem: A 45-year-old trauma patient is placed supine for
assessment after a motor vehicle collision. The trauma team
documents injuries relative to the midline and mentions a
“contralateral” rib fracture. Which anatomical interpretation
best explains the clinical usefulness of midline/contralateral
terminology in acute care?
A. It indicates absolute distances from the heart used for chest
tube placement.
B. It provides consistent relational descriptors to communicate
side and location despite patient positioning.
C. It replaces regional terms (e.g., “thoracic”) when imaging is
unavailable.
D. It denotes dermatomal levels for sensory testing.
,Correct answer: B
Correct Answer Rationale (3–4 sentences): Using midline and
contralateral descriptors provides consistent left/right relational
information that is independent of superficial landmarks and
accommodates variable patient positioning. In trauma settings
clear side-to-side terms reduce ambiguity when rapidly
communicating findings between clinicians and imaging. This
reflects the anatomical principle that directional terms are
relational tools for reproducible localization.
Incorrect Answer Rationales (1–3 sentences each):
A. Midline/contralateral do not indicate absolute distances or
specific measurements for procedures.
C. They do not replace regional terms but complement them;
both are useful whether imaging is present or not.
D. Dermatomal levels refer to spinal nerve maps and are not
described by midline/contralateral labels.
Teaching Point: Directional terms (e.g., midline, contralateral)
give consistent relational location.
Citation: Drake, R. L. (2024). Gray’s Anatomy for Students (5th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
2)
Reference: Ch. 1 — Body systems
Stem: A patient has progressive muscle weakness and is
thought to have a disorder affecting multiple body systems. The
,clinician must explain how dysfunction in one system can cause
secondary effects in others. Which explanation best
demonstrates the integrative nature of body systems?
A. The musculoskeletal system stores hormones that regulate
the endocrine system.
B. Cardiac output changes (cardiovascular) alter tissue
perfusion and therefore cellular metabolism (cellular/organ
systems).
C. The lymphatic system independently controls bone growth
without other system input.
D. The integumentary system directly produces enzymes that
digest nutrients for the digestive system.
Correct answer: B
Correct Answer Rationale (3–4 sentences): Cardiac output from
the cardiovascular system directly affects tissue perfusion,
thereby influencing cellular oxygenation and metabolic function
across organ systems. This demonstrates how a primary
dysfunction in one system (heart) can produce widespread
physiological consequences. Gray’s framework emphasizes that
body systems are integrated, with one system’s performance
often necessary for the homeostasis of others.
Incorrect Answer Rationales (1–3 sentences each):
A. Bones store minerals (e.g., calcium) but not hormones in the
sense implied; endocrine regulation is multi-source.
C. The lymphatic system supports immune and fluid balance but
does not independently control bone growth.
, D. The integumentary system has metabolic roles (e.g., vitamin
D synthesis) but does not produce digestive enzymes.
Teaching Point: Body systems interact; cardiovascular output
modulates systemic cellular metabolism.
Citation: Drake, R. L. (2024). Gray’s Anatomy for Students (5th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
3)
Reference: Ch. 1 — Imaging
Stem: A suspected intracerebral hemorrhage requires rapid
imaging. The emergency physician chooses CT over MRI for
initial assessment. From an anatomical and imaging standpoint,
why is CT preferred acutely?
A. CT best differentiates gray vs. white matter in the brain.
B. CT is highly sensitive to acute blood due to its attenuation
differences, enabling quick localization.
C. CT exposes tissues to magnetic fields that reduce motion
artifact.
D. CT has superior soft-tissue contrast compared with MRI for
subtle lesions.
Correct answer: B
Correct Answer Rationale (3–4 sentences): CT detects acute
hemorrhage because freshly extravasated blood has higher
radiodensity than surrounding brain parenchyma, producing
clear attenuation changes. CT is rapid and widely available in
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)RICHARD L. DRAKE
TEST BANK
1)
Reference: Ch. 1 — What is anatomy?
Stem: A 45-year-old trauma patient is placed supine for
assessment after a motor vehicle collision. The trauma team
documents injuries relative to the midline and mentions a
“contralateral” rib fracture. Which anatomical interpretation
best explains the clinical usefulness of midline/contralateral
terminology in acute care?
A. It indicates absolute distances from the heart used for chest
tube placement.
B. It provides consistent relational descriptors to communicate
side and location despite patient positioning.
C. It replaces regional terms (e.g., “thoracic”) when imaging is
unavailable.
D. It denotes dermatomal levels for sensory testing.
,Correct answer: B
Correct Answer Rationale (3–4 sentences): Using midline and
contralateral descriptors provides consistent left/right relational
information that is independent of superficial landmarks and
accommodates variable patient positioning. In trauma settings
clear side-to-side terms reduce ambiguity when rapidly
communicating findings between clinicians and imaging. This
reflects the anatomical principle that directional terms are
relational tools for reproducible localization.
Incorrect Answer Rationales (1–3 sentences each):
A. Midline/contralateral do not indicate absolute distances or
specific measurements for procedures.
C. They do not replace regional terms but complement them;
both are useful whether imaging is present or not.
D. Dermatomal levels refer to spinal nerve maps and are not
described by midline/contralateral labels.
Teaching Point: Directional terms (e.g., midline, contralateral)
give consistent relational location.
Citation: Drake, R. L. (2024). Gray’s Anatomy for Students (5th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
2)
Reference: Ch. 1 — Body systems
Stem: A patient has progressive muscle weakness and is
thought to have a disorder affecting multiple body systems. The
,clinician must explain how dysfunction in one system can cause
secondary effects in others. Which explanation best
demonstrates the integrative nature of body systems?
A. The musculoskeletal system stores hormones that regulate
the endocrine system.
B. Cardiac output changes (cardiovascular) alter tissue
perfusion and therefore cellular metabolism (cellular/organ
systems).
C. The lymphatic system independently controls bone growth
without other system input.
D. The integumentary system directly produces enzymes that
digest nutrients for the digestive system.
Correct answer: B
Correct Answer Rationale (3–4 sentences): Cardiac output from
the cardiovascular system directly affects tissue perfusion,
thereby influencing cellular oxygenation and metabolic function
across organ systems. This demonstrates how a primary
dysfunction in one system (heart) can produce widespread
physiological consequences. Gray’s framework emphasizes that
body systems are integrated, with one system’s performance
often necessary for the homeostasis of others.
Incorrect Answer Rationales (1–3 sentences each):
A. Bones store minerals (e.g., calcium) but not hormones in the
sense implied; endocrine regulation is multi-source.
C. The lymphatic system supports immune and fluid balance but
does not independently control bone growth.
, D. The integumentary system has metabolic roles (e.g., vitamin
D synthesis) but does not produce digestive enzymes.
Teaching Point: Body systems interact; cardiovascular output
modulates systemic cellular metabolism.
Citation: Drake, R. L. (2024). Gray’s Anatomy for Students (5th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
3)
Reference: Ch. 1 — Imaging
Stem: A suspected intracerebral hemorrhage requires rapid
imaging. The emergency physician chooses CT over MRI for
initial assessment. From an anatomical and imaging standpoint,
why is CT preferred acutely?
A. CT best differentiates gray vs. white matter in the brain.
B. CT is highly sensitive to acute blood due to its attenuation
differences, enabling quick localization.
C. CT exposes tissues to magnetic fields that reduce motion
artifact.
D. CT has superior soft-tissue contrast compared with MRI for
subtle lesions.
Correct answer: B
Correct Answer Rationale (3–4 sentences): CT detects acute
hemorrhage because freshly extravasated blood has higher
radiodensity than surrounding brain parenchyma, producing
clear attenuation changes. CT is rapid and widely available in
