STRUCTURE & FUNCTION OF THE BODY
16TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)KEVIN T. PATTON; GARY
A. THIBODEAU
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Levels of Organization &
Clinical Correlation
Question Stem
A 68-year-old man is admitted after a fall with a deep fascial
tear exposing muscle and partial disruption of small blood
vessels within the wound. Which level of biological organization
is most directly required to restore tissue perfusion and begin
coordinated repair processes?
A. Cellular level
B. Tissue level
C. Organ level
D. System level
Correct Answer
B. Tissue level
,Rationales
Correct (B): Tissue-level organization (e.g., muscle, connective
tissue, blood vessels) provides the immediate structural and
functional unit that must be re-established for perfusion and
coordinated repair; healing requires interactions among
multiple cell types within the tissue matrix and reformation of
microvasculature. Clinically, nurses monitor tissue perfusion
(capillary refill, bleeding) and support wound environment to
promote tissue regeneration.
Incorrect (A): Cellular processes are necessary (e.g., fibroblast
proliferation) but these occur within and must be coordinated
across the tissue; cellular level alone does not restore the
organized structure needed for perfusion.
Incorrect (C): Organs coordinate functions of many tissues, but
the immediate priority in wound repair is reconstitution of the
damaged tissue itself.
Incorrect (D): Organ systems (e.g., cardiovascular) influence
perfusion globally, but localized tissue repair requires tissue-
level reorganization first.
Teaching Point
Tissue organization permits coordinated cellular activities
(repair, angiogenesis) necessary for local function.
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 — Language of Science &
Anatomical Directions
Question Stem
A nurse documents a laceration as located 5 cm proximal to the
patient’s wrist on the lateral forearm. A junior student asks
whether "proximal" refers to toward or away from the trunk.
Which explanation best uses anatomical directional language to
resolve the student’s confusion?
A. “Proximal means closer to the trunk; the laceration is nearer
the elbow than the hand.”
B. “Proximal means toward the head; the laceration is higher
than the wrist.”
C. “Proximal means on the back (dorsal) surface; lateral
describes side-to-side only.”
D. “Proximal means toward the midline; lateral means away
from the midline.”
Correct Answer
A. “Proximal means closer to the trunk; the laceration is nearer
the elbow than the hand.”
Rationales
Correct (A): In limb terminology, proximal means nearer to the
trunk of the body; this clarifies that an injury described as
proximal to the wrist is closer to the elbow. Nurses must use
, consistent directional terms for accurate documentation and
handoff.
Incorrect (B): Proximal does not mean toward the head (that
term is superior/cranial). This would confuse cephalad/caudal
terminology.
Incorrect (C): Proximal is not a surface descriptor; dorsal
describes the back surface. Lateral vs medial describes distance
from midline, not proximity to the trunk.
Incorrect (D): Proximal is not synonymous with toward the
midline; medial is toward the midline while lateral is away from
it.
Teaching Point
Proximal = closer to trunk; distal = farther from trunk — vital for
precise documentation.
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 — Anatomical Position &
Planes of the Body
Question Stem
A CT scan is ordered for a patient with suspected liver
laceration. The radiologist reports a coronal plane image shows
16TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)KEVIN T. PATTON; GARY
A. THIBODEAU
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Levels of Organization &
Clinical Correlation
Question Stem
A 68-year-old man is admitted after a fall with a deep fascial
tear exposing muscle and partial disruption of small blood
vessels within the wound. Which level of biological organization
is most directly required to restore tissue perfusion and begin
coordinated repair processes?
A. Cellular level
B. Tissue level
C. Organ level
D. System level
Correct Answer
B. Tissue level
,Rationales
Correct (B): Tissue-level organization (e.g., muscle, connective
tissue, blood vessels) provides the immediate structural and
functional unit that must be re-established for perfusion and
coordinated repair; healing requires interactions among
multiple cell types within the tissue matrix and reformation of
microvasculature. Clinically, nurses monitor tissue perfusion
(capillary refill, bleeding) and support wound environment to
promote tissue regeneration.
Incorrect (A): Cellular processes are necessary (e.g., fibroblast
proliferation) but these occur within and must be coordinated
across the tissue; cellular level alone does not restore the
organized structure needed for perfusion.
Incorrect (C): Organs coordinate functions of many tissues, but
the immediate priority in wound repair is reconstitution of the
damaged tissue itself.
Incorrect (D): Organ systems (e.g., cardiovascular) influence
perfusion globally, but localized tissue repair requires tissue-
level reorganization first.
Teaching Point
Tissue organization permits coordinated cellular activities
(repair, angiogenesis) necessary for local function.
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 — Language of Science &
Anatomical Directions
Question Stem
A nurse documents a laceration as located 5 cm proximal to the
patient’s wrist on the lateral forearm. A junior student asks
whether "proximal" refers to toward or away from the trunk.
Which explanation best uses anatomical directional language to
resolve the student’s confusion?
A. “Proximal means closer to the trunk; the laceration is nearer
the elbow than the hand.”
B. “Proximal means toward the head; the laceration is higher
than the wrist.”
C. “Proximal means on the back (dorsal) surface; lateral
describes side-to-side only.”
D. “Proximal means toward the midline; lateral means away
from the midline.”
Correct Answer
A. “Proximal means closer to the trunk; the laceration is nearer
the elbow than the hand.”
Rationales
Correct (A): In limb terminology, proximal means nearer to the
trunk of the body; this clarifies that an injury described as
proximal to the wrist is closer to the elbow. Nurses must use
, consistent directional terms for accurate documentation and
handoff.
Incorrect (B): Proximal does not mean toward the head (that
term is superior/cranial). This would confuse cephalad/caudal
terminology.
Incorrect (C): Proximal is not a surface descriptor; dorsal
describes the back surface. Lateral vs medial describes distance
from midline, not proximity to the trunk.
Incorrect (D): Proximal is not synonymous with toward the
midline; medial is toward the midline while lateral is away from
it.
Teaching Point
Proximal = closer to trunk; distal = farther from trunk — vital for
precise documentation.
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 — Anatomical Position &
Planes of the Body
Question Stem
A CT scan is ordered for a patient with suspected liver
laceration. The radiologist reports a coronal plane image shows
