,Galen NSG 3160 Exam 4 | Health Assessment (2026)
Actual Q&A PDF
1. Which of the following best describes the correct sequence for performing an abdominal
assessment?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: Auscultation is performed before percussion and palpation to avoid artificially
stimulating bowel sounds that were not originally present. The correct order is inspection,
auscultation, percussion, and palpation. This sequence is unique to the abdominal assessment.
2. What is the primary function of the liver in the gastrointestinal system?
A) Secretion of insulin
B) Production of bile and detoxification of blood
C) Filtration of urine
D) Production of red blood cells
Correct Answer: Production of bile and detoxification of blood
Rationale: The liver produces bile for fat digestion, detoxifies blood, stores glycogen, and
synthesizes proteins. Insulin is produced by the pancreas, urine is filtered by the kidneys, and
red blood cells are produced in bone marrow.
3. According to the framework of abdominal assessment, what sound is expected when
percussing over the stomach?
A) Dullness
,B) Tympany
C) Resonance
D) Flatness
Correct Answer: Tympany
Rationale: Tympany is a drumlike, high-pitched sound heard over the stomach because of air
in the gastrointestinal tract. Dullness is heard over solid organs such as the liver, and
resonance is heard over normal lung tissue.
4. What is the most likely outcome if a nurse palpates the abdomen deeply before
auscultating?
A) Increased bowel sounds that were not originally present
B) Decreased bowel sounds due to relaxation
C) No change in bowel sounds
D) Immediate detection of a bruit
Correct Answer: Increased bowel sounds that were not originally present
Rationale: Palpation and percussion can stimulate bowel motility and artificially increase
bowel sounds. Auscultation must be performed before these techniques to accurately assess
bowel sound frequency and character.
5. Which principle explains the rationale for listening for bowel sounds in all four quadrants?
A) Bowel sounds are uniform throughout the abdomen
B) Bowel sounds may be absent in one quadrant while present in others
C) Bowel sounds are loudest in the right upper quadrant
D) Bowel sounds are only present after eating
Correct Answer: Bowel sounds may be absent in one quadrant while present in others
, Rationale: Bowel sounds are assessed in all four quadrants because motility may be unequal.
Absent bowel sounds in one quadrant may indicate localized ileus or obstruction, requiring
further evaluation.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient with suspected appendicitis. Which finding is most consistent
with this condition?
A) Tenderness in the left upper quadrant
B) Tenderness at McBurney’s point in the right lower quadrant
C) Tenderness at the xiphoid process
D) Tenderness in the left lower quadrant
Correct Answer: Tenderness at McBurney’s point in the right lower quadrant
Rationale: McBurney’s point is located in the right lower quadrant and is the classic location
of tenderness in appendicitis. The left upper quadrant contains the spleen and stomach, the
xiphoid area relates to the epigastrium, and the left lower quadrant contains the sigmoid
colon.
7. In the context of gastrointestinal assessment, which term refers to black, tarry stools
indicating upper gastrointestinal bleeding?
A) Hematochezia
B) Melena
C) Steatorrhea
D) Hematuria
Correct Answer: Melena
Rationale: Melena is black, tarry stool caused by digested blood from upper gastrointestinal
bleeding. Hematochezia is bright red blood in stool from lower GI bleeding, steatorrhea is
fatty stool, and hematuria is blood in urine.
8. What is the primary function of the spleen?
Actual Q&A PDF
1. Which of the following best describes the correct sequence for performing an abdominal
assessment?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: Auscultation is performed before percussion and palpation to avoid artificially
stimulating bowel sounds that were not originally present. The correct order is inspection,
auscultation, percussion, and palpation. This sequence is unique to the abdominal assessment.
2. What is the primary function of the liver in the gastrointestinal system?
A) Secretion of insulin
B) Production of bile and detoxification of blood
C) Filtration of urine
D) Production of red blood cells
Correct Answer: Production of bile and detoxification of blood
Rationale: The liver produces bile for fat digestion, detoxifies blood, stores glycogen, and
synthesizes proteins. Insulin is produced by the pancreas, urine is filtered by the kidneys, and
red blood cells are produced in bone marrow.
3. According to the framework of abdominal assessment, what sound is expected when
percussing over the stomach?
A) Dullness
,B) Tympany
C) Resonance
D) Flatness
Correct Answer: Tympany
Rationale: Tympany is a drumlike, high-pitched sound heard over the stomach because of air
in the gastrointestinal tract. Dullness is heard over solid organs such as the liver, and
resonance is heard over normal lung tissue.
4. What is the most likely outcome if a nurse palpates the abdomen deeply before
auscultating?
A) Increased bowel sounds that were not originally present
B) Decreased bowel sounds due to relaxation
C) No change in bowel sounds
D) Immediate detection of a bruit
Correct Answer: Increased bowel sounds that were not originally present
Rationale: Palpation and percussion can stimulate bowel motility and artificially increase
bowel sounds. Auscultation must be performed before these techniques to accurately assess
bowel sound frequency and character.
5. Which principle explains the rationale for listening for bowel sounds in all four quadrants?
A) Bowel sounds are uniform throughout the abdomen
B) Bowel sounds may be absent in one quadrant while present in others
C) Bowel sounds are loudest in the right upper quadrant
D) Bowel sounds are only present after eating
Correct Answer: Bowel sounds may be absent in one quadrant while present in others
, Rationale: Bowel sounds are assessed in all four quadrants because motility may be unequal.
Absent bowel sounds in one quadrant may indicate localized ileus or obstruction, requiring
further evaluation.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient with suspected appendicitis. Which finding is most consistent
with this condition?
A) Tenderness in the left upper quadrant
B) Tenderness at McBurney’s point in the right lower quadrant
C) Tenderness at the xiphoid process
D) Tenderness in the left lower quadrant
Correct Answer: Tenderness at McBurney’s point in the right lower quadrant
Rationale: McBurney’s point is located in the right lower quadrant and is the classic location
of tenderness in appendicitis. The left upper quadrant contains the spleen and stomach, the
xiphoid area relates to the epigastrium, and the left lower quadrant contains the sigmoid
colon.
7. In the context of gastrointestinal assessment, which term refers to black, tarry stools
indicating upper gastrointestinal bleeding?
A) Hematochezia
B) Melena
C) Steatorrhea
D) Hematuria
Correct Answer: Melena
Rationale: Melena is black, tarry stool caused by digested blood from upper gastrointestinal
bleeding. Hematochezia is bright red blood in stool from lower GI bleeding, steatorrhea is
fatty stool, and hematuria is blood in urine.
8. What is the primary function of the spleen?
