, NURS 3320 EXAM 3
Holistic Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
100-Question Original Practice Examination
2026/2027 Edition
Practice focus: head and neck with lymphatics, eye assessment and visual screening, ear and hearing assessment, nose
and sinus examination, mouth and throat assessment, normal versus abnormal findings, and age-specific examination
technique across the lifespan.
1. Which lymph nodes are palpated just anterior to the ear?
A) Preauricular nodes.
B) Posterior cervical nodes.
C) Supraclavicular nodes.
D) Submental nodes.
Correct Answer: Preauricular nodes.
Rationale:
Preauricular lymph nodes lie immediately in front of the ear and may enlarge with infections of the eye, scalp, or adjacent
structures.
2. Which lymph nodes are found at the angle of the mandible?
A) Epitrochlear nodes.
B) Popliteal nodes.C) Tonsillar nodes.
D) Occipital nodes.
Correct Answer: Tonsillar nodes.
Rationale:
Tonsillar, or jugulodigastric, nodes are palpated near the angle of the mandible and may become enlarged with pharyngeal or
tonsillar infection.
3. Which cervical lymph-node finding is most concerning?
A) A small mobile tender node during an acute URI.
B) A soft node that decreases after infection.
C) A hard, fixed, nontender node.
D) A mildly tender node under the jaw.
Correct Answer: A hard, fixed, nontender node.
Rationale:
Hard, fixed, nontender nodes are concerning for malignancy, whereas tender mobile nodes are more often reactive to infection.
4. Which thyroid finding is considered normal?
A) A gland that does not move with swallowing.
B) Marked tenderness.
C) A smooth, symmetric gland that moves upward with swallowing.
D) A hard fixed nodule.
Correct Answer: A smooth, symmetric gland that moves upward with swallowing.
Rationale:
The thyroid normally moves with swallowing because of its attachment to the trachea. A hard fixed nodule or marked tenderness
requires further evaluation.
5. Why is the trachea assessed during a neck examination?
NURS 3320 Exam 3 Practice Examination 1 2026/2027 Edition
, A) To assess hearing acuity.
B) To test pupillary reaction.
C) To determine visual fields.
D) To determine whether it is midline.
Correct Answer: To determine whether it is midline.
Rationale:
The trachea should be midline. Deviation can occur with masses, tension pneumothorax, or significant thoracic pathology.
6. Which muscle is primarily assessed when the patient turns the head against resistance?
A) Trapezius only.
B) Masseter.
C) Sternocleidomastoid.
D) Temporalis.
Correct Answer: Sternocleidomastoid.
Rationale:
The sternocleidomastoid contributes to head rotation and is assessed with cranial nerve XI function by having the patient turn the
head against resistance.
7. Shoulder shrug against resistance primarily evaluates which cranial nerve?
A) Cranial nerve II.
B) Cranial nerve VIII.
C) Cranial nerve V.
D) Cranial nerve XI.
Correct Answer: Cranial nerve XI.
Rationale:
Cranial nerve XI innervates the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles and is assessed with shoulder shrug and head rotation
against resistance.
8. Which finding is expected in a normal adult head assessment?
A) Marked scalp edema.
B) Unequal skull contour from acute trauma.
C) Normocephalic skull without tenderness or lesions.
D) Diffuse scalp tenderness.
Correct Answer: Normocephalic skull without tenderness or lesions.
Rationale:
A normal adult head is symmetric, normocephalic, and free of tenderness, masses, or lesions.
9. A patient reports jaw pain while chewing. Which artery is especially important to palpate in an older adult
with suspected giant-cell arteritis?
A) Carotid artery only.
B) Temporal artery.
C) Brachial artery.
D) Radial artery.
Correct Answer: Temporal artery.
Rationale:
Temporal artery tenderness or thickening can occur in giant-cell arteritis, particularly with new headache, jaw claudication, or visual
symptoms.
10. Which examination technique is appropriate for the carotid arteries?
A) Compress each artery firmly for 30 seconds.
NURS 3320 Exam 3 Practice Examination 2 2026/2027 Edition
Holistic Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
100-Question Original Practice Examination
2026/2027 Edition
Practice focus: head and neck with lymphatics, eye assessment and visual screening, ear and hearing assessment, nose
and sinus examination, mouth and throat assessment, normal versus abnormal findings, and age-specific examination
technique across the lifespan.
1. Which lymph nodes are palpated just anterior to the ear?
A) Preauricular nodes.
B) Posterior cervical nodes.
C) Supraclavicular nodes.
D) Submental nodes.
Correct Answer: Preauricular nodes.
Rationale:
Preauricular lymph nodes lie immediately in front of the ear and may enlarge with infections of the eye, scalp, or adjacent
structures.
2. Which lymph nodes are found at the angle of the mandible?
A) Epitrochlear nodes.
B) Popliteal nodes.C) Tonsillar nodes.
D) Occipital nodes.
Correct Answer: Tonsillar nodes.
Rationale:
Tonsillar, or jugulodigastric, nodes are palpated near the angle of the mandible and may become enlarged with pharyngeal or
tonsillar infection.
3. Which cervical lymph-node finding is most concerning?
A) A small mobile tender node during an acute URI.
B) A soft node that decreases after infection.
C) A hard, fixed, nontender node.
D) A mildly tender node under the jaw.
Correct Answer: A hard, fixed, nontender node.
Rationale:
Hard, fixed, nontender nodes are concerning for malignancy, whereas tender mobile nodes are more often reactive to infection.
4. Which thyroid finding is considered normal?
A) A gland that does not move with swallowing.
B) Marked tenderness.
C) A smooth, symmetric gland that moves upward with swallowing.
D) A hard fixed nodule.
Correct Answer: A smooth, symmetric gland that moves upward with swallowing.
Rationale:
The thyroid normally moves with swallowing because of its attachment to the trachea. A hard fixed nodule or marked tenderness
requires further evaluation.
5. Why is the trachea assessed during a neck examination?
NURS 3320 Exam 3 Practice Examination 1 2026/2027 Edition
, A) To assess hearing acuity.
B) To test pupillary reaction.
C) To determine visual fields.
D) To determine whether it is midline.
Correct Answer: To determine whether it is midline.
Rationale:
The trachea should be midline. Deviation can occur with masses, tension pneumothorax, or significant thoracic pathology.
6. Which muscle is primarily assessed when the patient turns the head against resistance?
A) Trapezius only.
B) Masseter.
C) Sternocleidomastoid.
D) Temporalis.
Correct Answer: Sternocleidomastoid.
Rationale:
The sternocleidomastoid contributes to head rotation and is assessed with cranial nerve XI function by having the patient turn the
head against resistance.
7. Shoulder shrug against resistance primarily evaluates which cranial nerve?
A) Cranial nerve II.
B) Cranial nerve VIII.
C) Cranial nerve V.
D) Cranial nerve XI.
Correct Answer: Cranial nerve XI.
Rationale:
Cranial nerve XI innervates the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles and is assessed with shoulder shrug and head rotation
against resistance.
8. Which finding is expected in a normal adult head assessment?
A) Marked scalp edema.
B) Unequal skull contour from acute trauma.
C) Normocephalic skull without tenderness or lesions.
D) Diffuse scalp tenderness.
Correct Answer: Normocephalic skull without tenderness or lesions.
Rationale:
A normal adult head is symmetric, normocephalic, and free of tenderness, masses, or lesions.
9. A patient reports jaw pain while chewing. Which artery is especially important to palpate in an older adult
with suspected giant-cell arteritis?
A) Carotid artery only.
B) Temporal artery.
C) Brachial artery.
D) Radial artery.
Correct Answer: Temporal artery.
Rationale:
Temporal artery tenderness or thickening can occur in giant-cell arteritis, particularly with new headache, jaw claudication, or visual
symptoms.
10. Which examination technique is appropriate for the carotid arteries?
A) Compress each artery firmly for 30 seconds.
NURS 3320 Exam 3 Practice Examination 2 2026/2027 Edition
