Herniated Nucleus Pulposus NCLEX
Questions and Answers
During an examination, the nurse asks a patient to bend forward from the waist and
notices that the patient has lateral tilting. When his leg is raised straight up, the
patient complains of a pain going down his buttock into his leg. The nurse suspects:
a. Scoliosis.
b. Meniscus tear.
c. Herniated nucleus pulposus.
d. Spasm of paravertebral muscles. - ANSWER-c. Herniated nucleus pulposus.
A patients annual physical examination reveals a lateral curvature of the thoracic and
lumbar segments of his spine; however, this curvature disappears with forward
bending. The nurse knows that this abnormality of the spine is called:
a. Structural scoliosis.
b. Functional scoliosis.
c. Herniated nucleus pulposus.
d. Dislocated hip. - ANSWER-b. Functional scoliosis.
When assessing for the presence of a herniated nucleus pulposus, the examiner
would:
a. raise each of the patient's legs straight while keeping the knee extended.
b. ask the patient to bend over and touch the floor while keeping the legs straight.
c. instruct the patient to do a knee bend.
d. abduct and adduct the patient's legs while keeping the knee extended. -
ANSWER-a. raise each of the patient's legs straight while keeping the knee
extended.
The straight leg-raising (Lasègue) test reproduces back and leg pain and helps
confirm the presence of a herniated nucleus pulposus. The examiner raises each leg
straight while keeping the knee in extension. To assess for a spinal curvature, the
examiner has the person bend over and touch the toes with the knee in extension.
Muscle extension can be assessed by instructing the person to rise from a squatting
Questions and Answers
During an examination, the nurse asks a patient to bend forward from the waist and
notices that the patient has lateral tilting. When his leg is raised straight up, the
patient complains of a pain going down his buttock into his leg. The nurse suspects:
a. Scoliosis.
b. Meniscus tear.
c. Herniated nucleus pulposus.
d. Spasm of paravertebral muscles. - ANSWER-c. Herniated nucleus pulposus.
A patients annual physical examination reveals a lateral curvature of the thoracic and
lumbar segments of his spine; however, this curvature disappears with forward
bending. The nurse knows that this abnormality of the spine is called:
a. Structural scoliosis.
b. Functional scoliosis.
c. Herniated nucleus pulposus.
d. Dislocated hip. - ANSWER-b. Functional scoliosis.
When assessing for the presence of a herniated nucleus pulposus, the examiner
would:
a. raise each of the patient's legs straight while keeping the knee extended.
b. ask the patient to bend over and touch the floor while keeping the legs straight.
c. instruct the patient to do a knee bend.
d. abduct and adduct the patient's legs while keeping the knee extended. -
ANSWER-a. raise each of the patient's legs straight while keeping the knee
extended.
The straight leg-raising (Lasègue) test reproduces back and leg pain and helps
confirm the presence of a herniated nucleus pulposus. The examiner raises each leg
straight while keeping the knee in extension. To assess for a spinal curvature, the
examiner has the person bend over and touch the toes with the knee in extension.
Muscle extension can be assessed by instructing the person to rise from a squatting
