Orthopedic Nursing Exam Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025-2026
functions of the musculoskeletal system - Answers Protection of vital organs
Mobility and movement
Facilitate return of blood to the heart
Production of blood cells (hematopoiesis)
Reservoir for immature blood cells
Reservoir for vital minerals
What is the shaft of a bone called - Answers diaphysis
What is the end of a long bone called - Answers epiphyses
What is the thin covering over long bones called - Answers endostem
What is the fibrous membrane, provides attatchments for bones and ligaments - Answers perio
Where does fracture healing occur - Answers bone marrow
List the 3 phases of bone healing - Answers phase 1: reactive phase
phase 2: reparative
phase 3: remodeling
What component builds up bone - Answers osteoblasts
What breaks down bone - Answers osteoclasts
What is the process of bone formation - Answers osteogenesis
What are the regulating factors in bone healing - Answers stress and weight bearing, vit D, parathyroid
hormone, blood supply, calcium
What is the role of vit D in bone healing - Answers helps with absorbing calcium(sunlight is a good
source)
what is the role of the parathyroid hormone in bone healing - Answers helps regulate the concentration
of calcium in our blood and calcitonin- helps absorbs calcium for gut/GI tract.
Which phase of bone healing is most painful for pt - Answers phase 1`
, Describe what happens in phase 1 - Answers fx occurs, bleeding into injured tissue, local
vasoconstriction, hematoma and inflammation, cytokines released, cells replicate, new blood vessels
grow, cartilage forms then calcifies then is removed, granulation tissue forms, bone formation.
What initiates the healing process - Answers cytokines
What happens in phase 2 of bone healing - Answers granulation tissue is replaced by callus fibrous
tissue, fibroblasts invade it and produces denser type of callus composed of fibrocartilage,
fibrocartilaginous callus replaced w denser bony callus, then it all calcifies over next few months.
What happens in phase 3 of bone healing - Answers necrotic bone is removed by osteoclasts, may take
months to years, thickened area is usually on surface on bone after healing.
Ball and socket joints: - Answers full movement, hip, shoulder.
Hinge joints: - Answers permit bending only in one direction - elbow, knee
What are Ligaments - Answers bind bone to bone
What are Tendons - Answers connect muscle to bone
What is Bursa - Answers sac filled with synovial fluid that cushions movement of tendons, ligaments, and
bones over bones (shoulder, elbow, hip, knee)
What does flaccid mean - Answers muscle is limp (could be due to lower motor neuron lesions)
What does spastic mean - Answers muscle with greater than normal tone (could be due to upper motor
neuron lesions)
What does hypertrophy mean - Answers increase in size of muscle fibers (exercise)
What does atrophy mean - Answers decrease in size of muscle (bedrest, immobility)
What fibrous tissue are muscles incased in - Answers fascia
What causes muscle movement - Answers contraction
What is the contractile unit of skeletal muscle that contains actin and myosin - Answers sarcomere
What do muscle cell fibers react to - Answers electrical stimulation
What provides energy for more strenuous muscle activity - Answers Anaerobic pathways using glucose
metabolized from stored glycogen
What is sensations of burning, tingling, or numbness could be caused by pressure on nerves or
circulatory impairment. - Answers paresthesias
At what age do bones become fragile and lose bone mass - Answers 30
functions of the musculoskeletal system - Answers Protection of vital organs
Mobility and movement
Facilitate return of blood to the heart
Production of blood cells (hematopoiesis)
Reservoir for immature blood cells
Reservoir for vital minerals
What is the shaft of a bone called - Answers diaphysis
What is the end of a long bone called - Answers epiphyses
What is the thin covering over long bones called - Answers endostem
What is the fibrous membrane, provides attatchments for bones and ligaments - Answers perio
Where does fracture healing occur - Answers bone marrow
List the 3 phases of bone healing - Answers phase 1: reactive phase
phase 2: reparative
phase 3: remodeling
What component builds up bone - Answers osteoblasts
What breaks down bone - Answers osteoclasts
What is the process of bone formation - Answers osteogenesis
What are the regulating factors in bone healing - Answers stress and weight bearing, vit D, parathyroid
hormone, blood supply, calcium
What is the role of vit D in bone healing - Answers helps with absorbing calcium(sunlight is a good
source)
what is the role of the parathyroid hormone in bone healing - Answers helps regulate the concentration
of calcium in our blood and calcitonin- helps absorbs calcium for gut/GI tract.
Which phase of bone healing is most painful for pt - Answers phase 1`
, Describe what happens in phase 1 - Answers fx occurs, bleeding into injured tissue, local
vasoconstriction, hematoma and inflammation, cytokines released, cells replicate, new blood vessels
grow, cartilage forms then calcifies then is removed, granulation tissue forms, bone formation.
What initiates the healing process - Answers cytokines
What happens in phase 2 of bone healing - Answers granulation tissue is replaced by callus fibrous
tissue, fibroblasts invade it and produces denser type of callus composed of fibrocartilage,
fibrocartilaginous callus replaced w denser bony callus, then it all calcifies over next few months.
What happens in phase 3 of bone healing - Answers necrotic bone is removed by osteoclasts, may take
months to years, thickened area is usually on surface on bone after healing.
Ball and socket joints: - Answers full movement, hip, shoulder.
Hinge joints: - Answers permit bending only in one direction - elbow, knee
What are Ligaments - Answers bind bone to bone
What are Tendons - Answers connect muscle to bone
What is Bursa - Answers sac filled with synovial fluid that cushions movement of tendons, ligaments, and
bones over bones (shoulder, elbow, hip, knee)
What does flaccid mean - Answers muscle is limp (could be due to lower motor neuron lesions)
What does spastic mean - Answers muscle with greater than normal tone (could be due to upper motor
neuron lesions)
What does hypertrophy mean - Answers increase in size of muscle fibers (exercise)
What does atrophy mean - Answers decrease in size of muscle (bedrest, immobility)
What fibrous tissue are muscles incased in - Answers fascia
What causes muscle movement - Answers contraction
What is the contractile unit of skeletal muscle that contains actin and myosin - Answers sarcomere
What do muscle cell fibers react to - Answers electrical stimulation
What provides energy for more strenuous muscle activity - Answers Anaerobic pathways using glucose
metabolized from stored glycogen
What is sensations of burning, tingling, or numbness could be caused by pressure on nerves or
circulatory impairment. - Answers paresthesias
At what age do bones become fragile and lose bone mass - Answers 30
