STRUCTURE & FUNCTION OF THE BODY
16TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)KEVIN T. PATTON; GARY
A. THIBODEAU
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Anatomical Position &
Directions
Question Stem
A 72-year-old patient is charted as having a pressure ulcer on
the patient’s “left lateral malleolus.” The nurse needs to
document the precise location for wound care orders. Using
standard anatomical terminology and the anatomical position
as reference, where should the nurse look to find the lesion?
,Options
A. The medial side of the left ankle.
B. The lateral side of the left ankle near the distal fibula.
C. The posterior aspect of the left heel.
D. The anterior distal tibia just above the ankle.
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct (B): The lateral malleolus is the bony prominence on
the distal end of the fibula located on the lateral side of the
ankle in the anatomical position; documenting lateral malleolus
indicates the site near the distal fibula, guiding wound care and
offloading.
Incorrect (A): The medial side is the location of the medial
malleolus (distal tibia), not the lateral malleolus.
Incorrect (C): The posterior heel (calcaneus) is posterior and
inferior to the malleoli and anatomically distinct.
Incorrect (D): The anterior distal tibia is more medial and
anterior; the lateral malleolus is lateral.
Teaching Point
Use anatomical position and directional terms to avoid
ambiguous wound-site documentation.
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
,2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Planes of the Body &
Imaging
Question Stem
A clinician reviews a CT scan labeled as a “sagittal
reconstruction” to evaluate a patient’s spinal alignment after
trauma. Which anatomical plane does the sagittal
reconstruction represent, and which structural relationship will
be best visualized on this plane?
Options
A. Frontal (coronal) plane — left versus right lateral
relationships of vertebral bodies.
B. Transverse (horizontal) plane — anterior versus posterior
displacement of vertebrae.
C. Sagittal plane — anterior–posterior curvature and alignment
of vertebral bodies.
D. Oblique plane — rotational deformities across multiple
vertebrae.
Correct Answer
C
Rationales
Correct (C): The sagittal plane divides the body into left and
right portions; sagittal imaging best displays anterior–posterior
, relationships and curvatures (kyphosis/lordosis) of the vertebral
column, essential after spinal trauma.
Incorrect (A): The frontal (coronal) plane separates anterior and
posterior; it is not primarily used to compare left vs. right in the
way sagittal does for midline structures.
Incorrect (B): The transverse plane divides superior and inferior;
it is less suited to evaluate overall anterior–posterior curvature.
Incorrect (D): Oblique images show complex angles but are not
the standard plane for anterior–posterior curvature
assessment.
Teaching Point
Match imaging plane to the anatomical relationship you need to
evaluate (sagittal = anterior–posterior).
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Body Cavities & Clinical
Assessment
Question Stem
A patient presents with shortness of breath and dull percussion
over the lower right thoracic area. The nurse suspects pleural
effusion. Based on body cavity anatomy, which cavity and
16TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)KEVIN T. PATTON; GARY
A. THIBODEAU
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Anatomical Position &
Directions
Question Stem
A 72-year-old patient is charted as having a pressure ulcer on
the patient’s “left lateral malleolus.” The nurse needs to
document the precise location for wound care orders. Using
standard anatomical terminology and the anatomical position
as reference, where should the nurse look to find the lesion?
,Options
A. The medial side of the left ankle.
B. The lateral side of the left ankle near the distal fibula.
C. The posterior aspect of the left heel.
D. The anterior distal tibia just above the ankle.
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct (B): The lateral malleolus is the bony prominence on
the distal end of the fibula located on the lateral side of the
ankle in the anatomical position; documenting lateral malleolus
indicates the site near the distal fibula, guiding wound care and
offloading.
Incorrect (A): The medial side is the location of the medial
malleolus (distal tibia), not the lateral malleolus.
Incorrect (C): The posterior heel (calcaneus) is posterior and
inferior to the malleoli and anatomically distinct.
Incorrect (D): The anterior distal tibia is more medial and
anterior; the lateral malleolus is lateral.
Teaching Point
Use anatomical position and directional terms to avoid
ambiguous wound-site documentation.
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
,2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Planes of the Body &
Imaging
Question Stem
A clinician reviews a CT scan labeled as a “sagittal
reconstruction” to evaluate a patient’s spinal alignment after
trauma. Which anatomical plane does the sagittal
reconstruction represent, and which structural relationship will
be best visualized on this plane?
Options
A. Frontal (coronal) plane — left versus right lateral
relationships of vertebral bodies.
B. Transverse (horizontal) plane — anterior versus posterior
displacement of vertebrae.
C. Sagittal plane — anterior–posterior curvature and alignment
of vertebral bodies.
D. Oblique plane — rotational deformities across multiple
vertebrae.
Correct Answer
C
Rationales
Correct (C): The sagittal plane divides the body into left and
right portions; sagittal imaging best displays anterior–posterior
, relationships and curvatures (kyphosis/lordosis) of the vertebral
column, essential after spinal trauma.
Incorrect (A): The frontal (coronal) plane separates anterior and
posterior; it is not primarily used to compare left vs. right in the
way sagittal does for midline structures.
Incorrect (B): The transverse plane divides superior and inferior;
it is less suited to evaluate overall anterior–posterior curvature.
Incorrect (D): Oblique images show complex angles but are not
the standard plane for anterior–posterior curvature
assessment.
Teaching Point
Match imaging plane to the anatomical relationship you need to
evaluate (sagittal = anterior–posterior).
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Body Cavities & Clinical
Assessment
Question Stem
A patient presents with shortness of breath and dull percussion
over the lower right thoracic area. The nurse suspects pleural
effusion. Based on body cavity anatomy, which cavity and
