NSG 3160 EXAM 4
HEALTH ASSESSMENT
ACTUAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS /2026-2027
1. Select the sequence of techniques used during an examination of the abdomen.
A. Percussion, inspection, palpation, auscultation
B. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Correct Answer: C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Expert Rationale: The abdomen is examined in this order because palpation and percussion can alter
bowel sounds. Therefore, inspection is followed by auscultation, then percussion and palpation.
2. Which of the following can be noted through inspection of a patient's abdomen?
A. Fluid waves and abdominal rigidity
B. Umbilical eversion and Murphy sign
C. Venous pattern, peristaltic waves, and abdominal contour
D. Peritoneal irritation, general tympany, and peristaltic waves
Correct Answer: C. Venous pattern, peristaltic waves, and abdominal contour
Expert Rationale: Inspection allows the examiner to assess the abdominal contour, skin and venous
patterns, scars, distention, masses, and visible peristaltic movements.
,3. Right upper quadrant tenderness may indicate pathology in the:
A. Liver, pancreas, or ascending colon
B. Liver and stomach
C. Sigmoid colon, spleen, or rectum
D. Appendix or ileocecal valves
Correct Answer: A. Liver, pancreas, or ascending colon
Expert Rationale: The right upper quadrant contains major portions of the liver and other abdominal
structures; pathology involving these structures can produce right-upper-quadrant tenderness.
4. Hyperactive bowel sounds are:
A. High-pitched
B. Rushing
C. Tinkling
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D. All of the above
Expert Rationale: Hyperactive bowel sounds may become increased in frequency and can be described
as high-pitched, rushing, or tinkling sounds.
5. The absence of bowel sounds is established after listening for:
A. 1 full minute
B. 3 full minutes
C. 5 full minutes
D. None of the above
Correct Answer: C. 5 full minutes
, Expert Rationale: Bowel sounds can be intermittent. The source specifies listening for 5 full minutes
before determining that bowel sounds are absent.
6. Auscultation of the abdomen may reveal bruits of the ______ arteries.
A. Aortic, renal, iliac, and femoral
B. Jugular, aortic, carotid, and femoral
C. Pulmonic, aortic, and portal
D. Renal, iliac, internal jugular, and basilic
Correct Answer: A. Aortic, renal, iliac, and femoral
Expert Rationale: Vascular bruits can be assessed over major abdominal and pelvic vessels, including the
aorta, renal, iliac, and femoral arteries.
7. The left upper quadrant (LUQ) contains the:
A. Liver
B. Appendix
C. Left ovary
D. Spleen
Correct Answer: D. Spleen
Expert Rationale: The spleen is located primarily in the left upper quadrant beneath the left rib cage.
8. Auscultating the abdomen is begun in the right lower quadrant (RLQ) because:
A. Bowel sounds are always normally present here
B. Peristalsis through the descending colon is usually active
C. This is the location of the pyloric sphincter
HEALTH ASSESSMENT
ACTUAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS /2026-2027
1. Select the sequence of techniques used during an examination of the abdomen.
A. Percussion, inspection, palpation, auscultation
B. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Correct Answer: C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Expert Rationale: The abdomen is examined in this order because palpation and percussion can alter
bowel sounds. Therefore, inspection is followed by auscultation, then percussion and palpation.
2. Which of the following can be noted through inspection of a patient's abdomen?
A. Fluid waves and abdominal rigidity
B. Umbilical eversion and Murphy sign
C. Venous pattern, peristaltic waves, and abdominal contour
D. Peritoneal irritation, general tympany, and peristaltic waves
Correct Answer: C. Venous pattern, peristaltic waves, and abdominal contour
Expert Rationale: Inspection allows the examiner to assess the abdominal contour, skin and venous
patterns, scars, distention, masses, and visible peristaltic movements.
,3. Right upper quadrant tenderness may indicate pathology in the:
A. Liver, pancreas, or ascending colon
B. Liver and stomach
C. Sigmoid colon, spleen, or rectum
D. Appendix or ileocecal valves
Correct Answer: A. Liver, pancreas, or ascending colon
Expert Rationale: The right upper quadrant contains major portions of the liver and other abdominal
structures; pathology involving these structures can produce right-upper-quadrant tenderness.
4. Hyperactive bowel sounds are:
A. High-pitched
B. Rushing
C. Tinkling
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D. All of the above
Expert Rationale: Hyperactive bowel sounds may become increased in frequency and can be described
as high-pitched, rushing, or tinkling sounds.
5. The absence of bowel sounds is established after listening for:
A. 1 full minute
B. 3 full minutes
C. 5 full minutes
D. None of the above
Correct Answer: C. 5 full minutes
, Expert Rationale: Bowel sounds can be intermittent. The source specifies listening for 5 full minutes
before determining that bowel sounds are absent.
6. Auscultation of the abdomen may reveal bruits of the ______ arteries.
A. Aortic, renal, iliac, and femoral
B. Jugular, aortic, carotid, and femoral
C. Pulmonic, aortic, and portal
D. Renal, iliac, internal jugular, and basilic
Correct Answer: A. Aortic, renal, iliac, and femoral
Expert Rationale: Vascular bruits can be assessed over major abdominal and pelvic vessels, including the
aorta, renal, iliac, and femoral arteries.
7. The left upper quadrant (LUQ) contains the:
A. Liver
B. Appendix
C. Left ovary
D. Spleen
Correct Answer: D. Spleen
Expert Rationale: The spleen is located primarily in the left upper quadrant beneath the left rib cage.
8. Auscultating the abdomen is begun in the right lower quadrant (RLQ) because:
A. Bowel sounds are always normally present here
B. Peristalsis through the descending colon is usually active
C. This is the location of the pyloric sphincter
