Musculoskeletal System Assessment
Questions Fully Solved 2026/2027 Set.
What does the nurse teach a patient with osteomalacia to include in the daily diet? - Answer
Vitamin D
Osteomalacia causes softening of the bone due to the decrease in vitamin D in the body. The
patient with osteomalacia should include vitamin D in the diet because it promotes the
absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the small intestine. The bone accounts for 99% of
the calcium and 90% of the phosphorus in the body. As the serum calcium levels rise, the serum
phosphorus levels decrease. Calcitonin produced by the thyroid gland decreases the serum
calcium concentration if it increases above its normal level; it inhibits the bone resorption and
increases the renal excretion of calcium and phosphorus. It is not necessary for the nurse to
instruct the patient to include vitamin A in the diet.
The nurse is assessing an older patient for changes in the musculoskeletal system. What does
the nurse teach the patient for proper self-care at home? - Answer Prevent pressure on bone
prominences.
The nurse should teach the patient to prevent pressure on bone prominences while sleeping or
sitting. Older patients have less soft tissue and are therefore prone to skin breakdown. The
patient should be encouraged to perform weight-bearing exercises such as walking which slows
bone loss. The patient with cartilage degeneration is advised to apply warm, moist compresses
to the joints to increase blood flow. The patient should perform isometric exercises to increase
muscle strength; increased activity and exercise can slow the progression of atrophy.
Which aspect of a musculoskeletal assessment will the physical therapist and the nurse plan to
collaborate on? - Answer The need for ambulatory devices
The nurse and the physical therapist assess and collaborate on the need for ambulatory devices.
It is the nurse's responsibility to assess which medications the patient is currently taking.
Nutritional assessment is performed by the nurse, but this might also involve a dietitian if
special needs exist. The nurse assesses the patient for all present medical conditions.
A nursing student is studying the skeletal system. Which statement indicates to the nursing
instructor that the student understands a normal physiologic function of the skeletal system? -
Answer "Hematopoiesis occurs in the red marrow, which is where blood cells are produced."
Hematopoiesis is the production of blood cells in the red marrow and is the correct statement.
Volkmann's canals connect bone marrow vessels with the haversian system. In the deepest layer
of the periosteum are osteogenic cells that differentiate into osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The
cortex is the outer layer of the bone that consists of dense, compact bone tissue. Deposits of
, inorganic calcium salts (carbonate and phosphate) in the matrix of the bone are what provide
the hardness of bone.
The nurse is assessing the skeletal system of an African-American patient. What must the nurse
know to assess the patient correctly? - Answer African Americans have a decreased incidence
of osteoporosis.
African Americans tend to have a decreased incidence of osteoporosis because they often have
greater bone density than Asians and other ethnic groups. Egyptian Americans often have a
shorter stature than African Americans. Irish Americans tend to have less bone density than
African Americans.
The nurse assessing a patient for spinal alignment observes a lateral curve of the spine. How
does the nurse document this finding? - Answer Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a lateral curve of the spine; this deformity is assessed when the patient flexes
forward from the hips. Lurch is an abnormal gait that occurs in the swing phase of walking; this
develops when the muscles in the buttocks or legs are too weak to allow the change of weight
from one foot to another. Lordosis is seen in patients with abdominal obesity. A patient with
kyphotic posture has a widened gait and a shift in the center of gravity; this is often observed in
older patients.
Which is an example of a flat bone that protects the vital organs? - Answer Scapula
The scapula is a flat bone that protects vital organs. The femur is a long bone with cylindrical
shape and rounded ends, and it bears weight. A phalange is a short bone that is small and bears
little or no weight. The patella is a sesamoid bone that develops within a tendon.
A diabetic patient is admitted to the health care facility with a foot ulcer. The nurse teaches
wound care to the patient and the caregiver to prevent the risk for which condition? - Answer
Osteomyelitis
The diabetic patient with a foot ulcer is at high risk for osteomyelitis or bone infection. Diabetes
also slows down the healing process. As a person ages, the cartilages at the synovial joints lose
their elasticity and become compressible which leads to osteoarthritis. Joint dislocations and
joint traumas also lead to osteoarthritis. Osteoporosis may occur due to age-related bone loss,
or decreased intake of calcium and vitamin D. Osteomalacia or softening of the bone is caused
by the deficiency of vitamin D in the body.
A patient experiencing kyphosis appears withdrawn and does not initiate any conversation with
the nurse when medications are given each day. Which statement by the nurse is most
Questions Fully Solved 2026/2027 Set.
What does the nurse teach a patient with osteomalacia to include in the daily diet? - Answer
Vitamin D
Osteomalacia causes softening of the bone due to the decrease in vitamin D in the body. The
patient with osteomalacia should include vitamin D in the diet because it promotes the
absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the small intestine. The bone accounts for 99% of
the calcium and 90% of the phosphorus in the body. As the serum calcium levels rise, the serum
phosphorus levels decrease. Calcitonin produced by the thyroid gland decreases the serum
calcium concentration if it increases above its normal level; it inhibits the bone resorption and
increases the renal excretion of calcium and phosphorus. It is not necessary for the nurse to
instruct the patient to include vitamin A in the diet.
The nurse is assessing an older patient for changes in the musculoskeletal system. What does
the nurse teach the patient for proper self-care at home? - Answer Prevent pressure on bone
prominences.
The nurse should teach the patient to prevent pressure on bone prominences while sleeping or
sitting. Older patients have less soft tissue and are therefore prone to skin breakdown. The
patient should be encouraged to perform weight-bearing exercises such as walking which slows
bone loss. The patient with cartilage degeneration is advised to apply warm, moist compresses
to the joints to increase blood flow. The patient should perform isometric exercises to increase
muscle strength; increased activity and exercise can slow the progression of atrophy.
Which aspect of a musculoskeletal assessment will the physical therapist and the nurse plan to
collaborate on? - Answer The need for ambulatory devices
The nurse and the physical therapist assess and collaborate on the need for ambulatory devices.
It is the nurse's responsibility to assess which medications the patient is currently taking.
Nutritional assessment is performed by the nurse, but this might also involve a dietitian if
special needs exist. The nurse assesses the patient for all present medical conditions.
A nursing student is studying the skeletal system. Which statement indicates to the nursing
instructor that the student understands a normal physiologic function of the skeletal system? -
Answer "Hematopoiesis occurs in the red marrow, which is where blood cells are produced."
Hematopoiesis is the production of blood cells in the red marrow and is the correct statement.
Volkmann's canals connect bone marrow vessels with the haversian system. In the deepest layer
of the periosteum are osteogenic cells that differentiate into osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The
cortex is the outer layer of the bone that consists of dense, compact bone tissue. Deposits of
, inorganic calcium salts (carbonate and phosphate) in the matrix of the bone are what provide
the hardness of bone.
The nurse is assessing the skeletal system of an African-American patient. What must the nurse
know to assess the patient correctly? - Answer African Americans have a decreased incidence
of osteoporosis.
African Americans tend to have a decreased incidence of osteoporosis because they often have
greater bone density than Asians and other ethnic groups. Egyptian Americans often have a
shorter stature than African Americans. Irish Americans tend to have less bone density than
African Americans.
The nurse assessing a patient for spinal alignment observes a lateral curve of the spine. How
does the nurse document this finding? - Answer Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a lateral curve of the spine; this deformity is assessed when the patient flexes
forward from the hips. Lurch is an abnormal gait that occurs in the swing phase of walking; this
develops when the muscles in the buttocks or legs are too weak to allow the change of weight
from one foot to another. Lordosis is seen in patients with abdominal obesity. A patient with
kyphotic posture has a widened gait and a shift in the center of gravity; this is often observed in
older patients.
Which is an example of a flat bone that protects the vital organs? - Answer Scapula
The scapula is a flat bone that protects vital organs. The femur is a long bone with cylindrical
shape and rounded ends, and it bears weight. A phalange is a short bone that is small and bears
little or no weight. The patella is a sesamoid bone that develops within a tendon.
A diabetic patient is admitted to the health care facility with a foot ulcer. The nurse teaches
wound care to the patient and the caregiver to prevent the risk for which condition? - Answer
Osteomyelitis
The diabetic patient with a foot ulcer is at high risk for osteomyelitis or bone infection. Diabetes
also slows down the healing process. As a person ages, the cartilages at the synovial joints lose
their elasticity and become compressible which leads to osteoarthritis. Joint dislocations and
joint traumas also lead to osteoarthritis. Osteoporosis may occur due to age-related bone loss,
or decreased intake of calcium and vitamin D. Osteomalacia or softening of the bone is caused
by the deficiency of vitamin D in the body.
A patient experiencing kyphosis appears withdrawn and does not initiate any conversation with
the nurse when medications are given each day. Which statement by the nurse is most
