OpenStax Clinical Nursing Skills Test Bank
Chapter 25: Assessment of the Musculoskeletal System
OpenStax Clinical Nursing Skills
Nursing Test Bank
Chapter 25: Assessment of the Musculoskeletal System
Review Questions
Multiple Choice
1. An older adult is slowly recovering from an ankle fracture and experiencing swelling,
difficulty walking even with the ankle boot, inability to shower and drive independently, and
trouble sleeping. Which of these factors is related to psychological effects?
A. difficulty walking
B. inability to shower independently
C. swelling
D. trouble sleeping*
LO: 25.1.3
Difficulty: Difficult
Blooms: Application
AACN: 2.5e
2. What structure allows bones to glide over each other?
A. cartilage*
B. ligament
C. marrow
D. tendon
LO: 25.1.1
Difficulty: Easy
Blooms: Understanding
AACN:1.2a
3. Following an injury, a patient’s bicep is partially disconnected from the radius. Which
structure is injured?
A. cartilage
B. ligament
C. muscle
D. tendon*
LO: 25.1.1
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1 1/29/2026
, OpenStax Clinical Nursing Skills Test Bank
Chapter 25: Assessment of the Musculoskeletal System
Difficulty: Moderate
Blooms: Application
AACN: 1.2a
4. What is the purpose of calcium storage in bones?
A. assist with hematopoiesis
B. maintain serum levels*
C. production of cartilage
D. provide a reservoir of energy
LO: 25.1.2
Difficulty: Moderate
Blooms: Understanding
AACN: 1.2a
5. A patient is ordered partial weight bearing on the right lower extremity. The nurse knows
this means what?
A. It permits the person to stand with body weight evenly supported by both feet but no
walking.*
B. Patient can independently choose the weight supported by the extremity based on their
tolerance and the circumstances.
C. Right leg can support 100 percent of a person’s body weight, and walking is permitted.
D. The foot or toes may touch the floor to maintain balance only, but no weight should be
placed on the right leg.
LO: 25.2.1
Difficulty: Moderate
Blooms: Understanding
AACN: 2.8a
6. A nurse is receiving report on a patient and notes that the upper extremity muscle strength
is a 4 while the lower extremity muscle strength is a 3. What is the meaning of these
numbers?
A. The patient’s upper extremities can actively move only when gravity is eliminated, but the
lower extremities only have minimal muscle contraction such as twitching.
B. The patient’s upper extremities can actively move against gravity and some resistance, but
the lower extremities are only able to actively move when gravity is eliminated.
C. The patient’s upper extremities can actively move against gravity and some resistance, but
the lower extremities are only able to actively move against gravity but not resistance.*
D. The patient’s upper extremities can actively move against gravity and full resistance, but the
lower extremities are only able to actively move against gravity and some resistance.
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
2 1/29/2026
Chapter 25: Assessment of the Musculoskeletal System
OpenStax Clinical Nursing Skills
Nursing Test Bank
Chapter 25: Assessment of the Musculoskeletal System
Review Questions
Multiple Choice
1. An older adult is slowly recovering from an ankle fracture and experiencing swelling,
difficulty walking even with the ankle boot, inability to shower and drive independently, and
trouble sleeping. Which of these factors is related to psychological effects?
A. difficulty walking
B. inability to shower independently
C. swelling
D. trouble sleeping*
LO: 25.1.3
Difficulty: Difficult
Blooms: Application
AACN: 2.5e
2. What structure allows bones to glide over each other?
A. cartilage*
B. ligament
C. marrow
D. tendon
LO: 25.1.1
Difficulty: Easy
Blooms: Understanding
AACN:1.2a
3. Following an injury, a patient’s bicep is partially disconnected from the radius. Which
structure is injured?
A. cartilage
B. ligament
C. muscle
D. tendon*
LO: 25.1.1
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
1 1/29/2026
, OpenStax Clinical Nursing Skills Test Bank
Chapter 25: Assessment of the Musculoskeletal System
Difficulty: Moderate
Blooms: Application
AACN: 1.2a
4. What is the purpose of calcium storage in bones?
A. assist with hematopoiesis
B. maintain serum levels*
C. production of cartilage
D. provide a reservoir of energy
LO: 25.1.2
Difficulty: Moderate
Blooms: Understanding
AACN: 1.2a
5. A patient is ordered partial weight bearing on the right lower extremity. The nurse knows
this means what?
A. It permits the person to stand with body weight evenly supported by both feet but no
walking.*
B. Patient can independently choose the weight supported by the extremity based on their
tolerance and the circumstances.
C. Right leg can support 100 percent of a person’s body weight, and walking is permitted.
D. The foot or toes may touch the floor to maintain balance only, but no weight should be
placed on the right leg.
LO: 25.2.1
Difficulty: Moderate
Blooms: Understanding
AACN: 2.8a
6. A nurse is receiving report on a patient and notes that the upper extremity muscle strength
is a 4 while the lower extremity muscle strength is a 3. What is the meaning of these
numbers?
A. The patient’s upper extremities can actively move only when gravity is eliminated, but the
lower extremities only have minimal muscle contraction such as twitching.
B. The patient’s upper extremities can actively move against gravity and some resistance, but
the lower extremities are only able to actively move when gravity is eliminated.
C. The patient’s upper extremities can actively move against gravity and some resistance, but
the lower extremities are only able to actively move against gravity but not resistance.*
D. The patient’s upper extremities can actively move against gravity and full resistance, but the
lower extremities are only able to actively move against gravity and some resistance.
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
2 1/29/2026
