STRUCTURE & FUNCTION OF THE BODY
16TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)KEVIN T. PATTON; GARY
A. THIBODEAU
TEST BANK
1)
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Anatomical Position &
Directions
Question Stem
A confused, post-op patient is found lying face up with the head
turned to the right. A nurse documents the patient's position
for the medical record. Which description best preserves
standard anatomical terminology and avoids confusion for
other caregivers?
,A. Supine, head rotated to the patient's right
B. Prone, head rotated to the patient’s right
C. Supine, head rotated to the observer’s left
D. Lateral recumbent, head rotated to the patient's left
Correct Answer
A
Rationales
Correct (A): Standard anatomical position uses patient-centered
directional language; “supine” describes lying face up and
“right” refers to the patient’s right, making documentation clear
for clinicians. This preserves consistent orientation for
assessment and imaging comparisons.
Incorrect (B): “Prone” is face down and therefore anatomically
incorrect for a face-up patient.
Incorrect (C): Using the observer’s left confuses orientation;
anatomical directions are always referenced to the patient.
Incorrect (D): “Lateral recumbent” implies side-lying; this does
not match the described position.
Teaching Point
Always use patient-centered anatomical terms (e.g., patient’s
right/left, supine/prone).
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
,2)
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Planes of the Body
Question Stem
A patient undergoes an abdominal CT scan. The radiology
report states that an axial image shows a lesion anterior to the
vertebral column. Which anatomical plane produced this axial
CT image, and how should the nurse interpret “anterior” on
that image?
A. Transverse plane; anterior = toward the image top (ventral)
B. Sagittal plane; anterior = toward the image viewer’s right
C. Transverse plane; anterior = toward the front of the patient
(ventral)
D. Coronal plane; anterior = toward the patient’s left (lateral)
Correct Answer
C
Rationales
Correct (C): Axial CT images are cross-sections in the transverse
plane. “Anterior” refers to the ventral surface of the patient—
toward the front—so the lesion lies ventral to the vertebral
column. Nurses should correlate image orientation with patient
anatomy when planning assessments.
Incorrect (A): While transverse plane is correct, “image top” is
not a reliable universal marker for anterior because image
orientation can vary; patient-centric anatomical terms are
, preferred.
Incorrect (B): Sagittal plane produces side-view slices; this does
not create axial images.
Incorrect (D): Coronal plane divides anterior/posterior but
“patient’s left” is lateral, not an anterior descriptor.
Teaching Point
Relate imaging planes to patient anatomy: transverse = cross-
section; anterior = ventral/front.
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
3)
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Levels of Organization
Question Stem
A nurse educator asks students to explain why oxygen deficit at
the tissue level first impairs cellular ATP production before
whole-organ function changes are obvious. Which explanation
best links levels of organization to the clinical timeline?
A. Cells require ATP for membrane function; cellular failure
precedes measurable organ dysfunction.
B. Organs are more sensitive than cells to oxygen deficits;
organs fail first.
C. Systems compensate via homeostasis so cells are unaffected
16TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)KEVIN T. PATTON; GARY
A. THIBODEAU
TEST BANK
1)
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Anatomical Position &
Directions
Question Stem
A confused, post-op patient is found lying face up with the head
turned to the right. A nurse documents the patient's position
for the medical record. Which description best preserves
standard anatomical terminology and avoids confusion for
other caregivers?
,A. Supine, head rotated to the patient's right
B. Prone, head rotated to the patient’s right
C. Supine, head rotated to the observer’s left
D. Lateral recumbent, head rotated to the patient's left
Correct Answer
A
Rationales
Correct (A): Standard anatomical position uses patient-centered
directional language; “supine” describes lying face up and
“right” refers to the patient’s right, making documentation clear
for clinicians. This preserves consistent orientation for
assessment and imaging comparisons.
Incorrect (B): “Prone” is face down and therefore anatomically
incorrect for a face-up patient.
Incorrect (C): Using the observer’s left confuses orientation;
anatomical directions are always referenced to the patient.
Incorrect (D): “Lateral recumbent” implies side-lying; this does
not match the described position.
Teaching Point
Always use patient-centered anatomical terms (e.g., patient’s
right/left, supine/prone).
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
,2)
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Planes of the Body
Question Stem
A patient undergoes an abdominal CT scan. The radiology
report states that an axial image shows a lesion anterior to the
vertebral column. Which anatomical plane produced this axial
CT image, and how should the nurse interpret “anterior” on
that image?
A. Transverse plane; anterior = toward the image top (ventral)
B. Sagittal plane; anterior = toward the image viewer’s right
C. Transverse plane; anterior = toward the front of the patient
(ventral)
D. Coronal plane; anterior = toward the patient’s left (lateral)
Correct Answer
C
Rationales
Correct (C): Axial CT images are cross-sections in the transverse
plane. “Anterior” refers to the ventral surface of the patient—
toward the front—so the lesion lies ventral to the vertebral
column. Nurses should correlate image orientation with patient
anatomy when planning assessments.
Incorrect (A): While transverse plane is correct, “image top” is
not a reliable universal marker for anterior because image
orientation can vary; patient-centric anatomical terms are
, preferred.
Incorrect (B): Sagittal plane produces side-view slices; this does
not create axial images.
Incorrect (D): Coronal plane divides anterior/posterior but
“patient’s left” is lateral, not an anterior descriptor.
Teaching Point
Relate imaging planes to patient anatomy: transverse = cross-
section; anterior = ventral/front.
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
3)
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Levels of Organization
Question Stem
A nurse educator asks students to explain why oxygen deficit at
the tissue level first impairs cellular ATP production before
whole-organ function changes are obvious. Which explanation
best links levels of organization to the clinical timeline?
A. Cells require ATP for membrane function; cellular failure
precedes measurable organ dysfunction.
B. Organs are more sensitive than cells to oxygen deficits;
organs fail first.
C. Systems compensate via homeostasis so cells are unaffected
