STRUCTURE & FUNCTION OF THE BODY
16TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)KEVIN T. PATTON; GARY
A. THIBODEAU
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Anatomical Position & Anatomical Directions
Question Stem
A confused stroke patient is found supine with his right arm
across his chest and the palm facing posteriorly. The nurse
documents extremity position to the provider. Which phrase
correctly communicates the arm’s position relative to standard
anatomical orientation and will best guide the on-call
physician’s assessment?
,A. Right arm pronated and medial to chest
B. Right arm in anatomical position, lateral to thorax
C. Right arm supinated and anterior to thorax
D. Right arm flexed with palm directed posteriorly, crossing
midline
Correct Answer
D
Rationales
Correct (D): The arm is flexed across the chest and the palm
faces posteriorly — describing flexion, crossing the midline, and
posteriorly directed palm gives the physician a clear
functional/anatomical description for neurological and
musculoskeletal assessment. This links positional terminology
to expected muscle tone and possible corticospinal
involvement, guiding further exam and imaging.
Incorrect (A): “Pronated” is rotation of the forearm so the palm
faces posteriorly — this part fits, but “medial to chest” is vague;
it omits flexion and crossing midline specifics.
Incorrect (B): The arm is not in anatomical position (palm
should face anteriorly); “lateral to thorax” contradicts the arm
crossing the chest.
Incorrect (C): “Supinated” would make the palm face anteriorly;
palm is posterior here, so supinated is wrong.
Teaching Point
Describe both rotation (pronation/supination) and relation to
midline for clarity.
,Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Planes of the Body
Question Stem
A patient with an acute spinal cord compression reports loss of
fine touch on the left side of the body and loss of pain and
temperature on the right below T6. The nurse recalls spinal
pathways cross in specific planes. Which statement best
explains this pattern using plane-based anatomy?
A. Hemisection produced damage in the frontal plane
disrupting crossed spinothalamic fibers.
B. A sagittal hemisection at T6 spared ipsilateral dorsal column
tracts in the coronal plane.
C. A transverse (horizontal) lesion at T6 would cause bilateral
loss of all modalities below the level.
D. A left-sided hemisection (sagittal plane) explains ipsilateral
dorsal column loss and contralateral spinothalamic loss.
Correct Answer
D
Rationales
Correct (D): A sagittal (hemisection) lesion on the left disrupts
, the left dorsal columns (fine touch/proprioception) and the
right spinothalamic tracts (which cross near their entry),
producing ipsilateral loss of fine touch and contralateral loss of
pain/temperature below the lesion. This applies plane anatomy
to neurophysiology and guides focused nursing neurologic
assessments.
Incorrect (A): “Frontal plane” is not the typical descriptor for a
hemisection; spinothalamic fibers cross near entry in the spinal
cord, but the frontal-plane phrasing is imprecise.
Incorrect (B): Combining “sagittal hemisection” and “coronal
plane” is contradictory — dorsal columns would be affected
ipsilaterally by a sagittal lesion.
Incorrect (C): A transverse (horizontal) lesion would cause
bilateral deficits, not the asymmetric pattern described.
Teaching Point
Sagittal hemisection → ipsilateral dorsal column loss,
contralateral spinothalamic loss.
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Body Cavities
16TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)KEVIN T. PATTON; GARY
A. THIBODEAU
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Anatomical Position & Anatomical Directions
Question Stem
A confused stroke patient is found supine with his right arm
across his chest and the palm facing posteriorly. The nurse
documents extremity position to the provider. Which phrase
correctly communicates the arm’s position relative to standard
anatomical orientation and will best guide the on-call
physician’s assessment?
,A. Right arm pronated and medial to chest
B. Right arm in anatomical position, lateral to thorax
C. Right arm supinated and anterior to thorax
D. Right arm flexed with palm directed posteriorly, crossing
midline
Correct Answer
D
Rationales
Correct (D): The arm is flexed across the chest and the palm
faces posteriorly — describing flexion, crossing the midline, and
posteriorly directed palm gives the physician a clear
functional/anatomical description for neurological and
musculoskeletal assessment. This links positional terminology
to expected muscle tone and possible corticospinal
involvement, guiding further exam and imaging.
Incorrect (A): “Pronated” is rotation of the forearm so the palm
faces posteriorly — this part fits, but “medial to chest” is vague;
it omits flexion and crossing midline specifics.
Incorrect (B): The arm is not in anatomical position (palm
should face anteriorly); “lateral to thorax” contradicts the arm
crossing the chest.
Incorrect (C): “Supinated” would make the palm face anteriorly;
palm is posterior here, so supinated is wrong.
Teaching Point
Describe both rotation (pronation/supination) and relation to
midline for clarity.
,Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Planes of the Body
Question Stem
A patient with an acute spinal cord compression reports loss of
fine touch on the left side of the body and loss of pain and
temperature on the right below T6. The nurse recalls spinal
pathways cross in specific planes. Which statement best
explains this pattern using plane-based anatomy?
A. Hemisection produced damage in the frontal plane
disrupting crossed spinothalamic fibers.
B. A sagittal hemisection at T6 spared ipsilateral dorsal column
tracts in the coronal plane.
C. A transverse (horizontal) lesion at T6 would cause bilateral
loss of all modalities below the level.
D. A left-sided hemisection (sagittal plane) explains ipsilateral
dorsal column loss and contralateral spinothalamic loss.
Correct Answer
D
Rationales
Correct (D): A sagittal (hemisection) lesion on the left disrupts
, the left dorsal columns (fine touch/proprioception) and the
right spinothalamic tracts (which cross near their entry),
producing ipsilateral loss of fine touch and contralateral loss of
pain/temperature below the lesion. This applies plane anatomy
to neurophysiology and guides focused nursing neurologic
assessments.
Incorrect (A): “Frontal plane” is not the typical descriptor for a
hemisection; spinothalamic fibers cross near entry in the spinal
cord, but the frontal-plane phrasing is imprecise.
Incorrect (B): Combining “sagittal hemisection” and “coronal
plane” is contradictory — dorsal columns would be affected
ipsilaterally by a sagittal lesion.
Incorrect (C): A transverse (horizontal) lesion would cause
bilateral deficits, not the asymmetric pattern described.
Teaching Point
Sagittal hemisection → ipsilateral dorsal column loss,
contralateral spinothalamic loss.
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Body Cavities
