2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS DOWNLOAD
Emory Wound Exam -1: 250 Q&A | Skin Anatomy, Pressure
Injury Staging, Braden Scale & Dressing Selection (WOCNEC
Prep)
1. Which layer of the skin is responsible for producing new keratinocytes?
A. Stratum corneum
B. Stratum lucidum
C. Stratum granulosum
D. Stratum basale
Rationale: The stratum basale (or germinativum) is the deepest epidermal layer
where continuous cell division (mitosis) occurs to replace lost skin cells.
2. Which cell type in the epidermis provides immune surveillance by capturing
antigens?
A. Melanocytes
B. Langerhans cells
C. Merkel cells
D. Keratinocytes
Rationale: Langerhans cells are dendritic cells that act as the first line of immune
defense in the skin.
3. What is the primary function of the basement membrane zone (BMZ)?
A. Nutrient storage
B. Anchoring the epidermis to the dermis
C. Pigment production
D. Thermoregulation
Rationale: The BMZ provides structural support and prevents the epidermis from
sliding off the dermis.
4. A wound that involves the epidermis and extends into, but not through, the
dermis is classified as:
A. Superficial
B. Partial thickness
,2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS DOWNLOAD
C. Full thickness
D. Stage 3
Rationale: Partial-thickness wounds involve the epidermis and part of the dermis
but do not penetrate the subcutaneous tissue.
5. Which phase of wound healing is characterized by the presence of neutrophils
and macrophages?
A. Hemostasis
B. Inflammation
C. Proliferation
D. Remodeling
Rationale: The inflammatory phase focuses on controlling bleeding and cleaning
the wound bed of bacteria and debris.
6. What type of tissue appears as "beefy red" and bumpy in a healing wound?
A. Slough
B. Eschar
C. Granulation tissue
D. Epithelial tissue
Rationale: Granulation tissue is composed of new blood vessels and connective
tissue, indicating a healthy proliferative phase.
7. The "brick and mortar" analogy of the skin refers to which layer?
A. Stratum corneum
B. Stratum spinosum
C. Papillary dermis
D. Hypodermis
Rationale: The stratum corneum consists of flattened keratinocytes (bricks) held
together by lipid bilayers (mortar) to form a barrier.
8. Which of the following is a sign of "reactive hyperemia" rather than a Stage 1
pressure injury?
A. Non-blanchable redness
B. Redness that blanches when pressed
C. Purple discoloration
D. Skin breakdown
Rationale: Reactive hyperemia is a normal physiological response where skin
blanches; non-blanchable erythema indicates Stage 1 damage.
,2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS DOWNLOAD
9. Which protein provides the skin with its tensile strength?
A. Elastin
B. Collagen
C. Keratin
D. Melanin
Rationale: Collagen fibers in the dermis provide the structural strength needed to
resist tearing.
10. A patient has a wound with 100% dry, black, leathery tissue. How should this
tissue be documented?
A. Slough
B. Eschar
C. Maceration
D. Dehisced
Rationale: Eschar is necrotic, devitalized tissue that is typically hard, dry, and
black or brown.
11. What is the primary goal of autolytic debridement?
A. Using the body's own enzymes to liquefy necrotic tissue
B. Using a scalpel to remove slough
C. Applying maggots to the wound bed
D. Scrubbing the wound with gauze
Rationale: Autolytic debridement uses moisture-retentive dressings to allow
endogenous enzymes to break down dead tissue.
12. Which of the following scores on the Braden Scale indicates a "high risk" for
pressure injuries?
A. 23
B. 19
C. 12
D. 16
Rationale: On the Braden Scale, lower scores indicate higher risk. A score of 12
is typically considered high risk.
13. "Maceration" is best described as:
A. Thickening of the skin due to friction
B. Softening and whitening of skin due to excessive moisture
C. Destruction of the epidermis by scratching
, 2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS DOWNLOAD
D. Blue discoloration from lack of oxygen
Rationale: Maceration occurs when periwound skin is overexposed to wound
exudate or sweat.
14. Which layer of the skin contains blood vessels, nerves, and hair follicles?
A. Epidermis
B. Dermis
C. Stratum lucidum
D. Stratum corneum
Rationale: The dermis is the vascular layer of the skin that supports the
appendages and provides nutrients to the epidermis.
15. What is the classic clinical sign of a Stage 2 pressure injury?
A. A shallow open ulcer with a red/pink wound bed without slough
B. Intact skin with non-blanchable redness
C. Full-thickness loss with visible fat
D. Purple or maroon localized area of intact skin
Rationale: Stage 2 involves partial-thickness loss of the dermis, often appearing
as a shallow ulcer or a serum-filled blister.
16. Which cell is the "master coordinator" of the proliferative phase?
A. Neutrophil
B. Keratinocyte
C. Fibroblast
D. Melanocyte
Rationale: Fibroblasts are responsible for synthesizing collagen and the
extracellular matrix during the proliferative phase.
17. A wound that is closed with sutures or staples heals by:
A. Primary intention
B. Secondary intention
C. Tertiary intention
D. Quaternary intention
Rationale: Primary intention occurs when wound edges are approximated
(brought together) surgically.
18. What is the defining characteristic of an Unstageable pressure injury?
A. Presence of tunneling
Emory Wound Exam -1: 250 Q&A | Skin Anatomy, Pressure
Injury Staging, Braden Scale & Dressing Selection (WOCNEC
Prep)
1. Which layer of the skin is responsible for producing new keratinocytes?
A. Stratum corneum
B. Stratum lucidum
C. Stratum granulosum
D. Stratum basale
Rationale: The stratum basale (or germinativum) is the deepest epidermal layer
where continuous cell division (mitosis) occurs to replace lost skin cells.
2. Which cell type in the epidermis provides immune surveillance by capturing
antigens?
A. Melanocytes
B. Langerhans cells
C. Merkel cells
D. Keratinocytes
Rationale: Langerhans cells are dendritic cells that act as the first line of immune
defense in the skin.
3. What is the primary function of the basement membrane zone (BMZ)?
A. Nutrient storage
B. Anchoring the epidermis to the dermis
C. Pigment production
D. Thermoregulation
Rationale: The BMZ provides structural support and prevents the epidermis from
sliding off the dermis.
4. A wound that involves the epidermis and extends into, but not through, the
dermis is classified as:
A. Superficial
B. Partial thickness
,2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS DOWNLOAD
C. Full thickness
D. Stage 3
Rationale: Partial-thickness wounds involve the epidermis and part of the dermis
but do not penetrate the subcutaneous tissue.
5. Which phase of wound healing is characterized by the presence of neutrophils
and macrophages?
A. Hemostasis
B. Inflammation
C. Proliferation
D. Remodeling
Rationale: The inflammatory phase focuses on controlling bleeding and cleaning
the wound bed of bacteria and debris.
6. What type of tissue appears as "beefy red" and bumpy in a healing wound?
A. Slough
B. Eschar
C. Granulation tissue
D. Epithelial tissue
Rationale: Granulation tissue is composed of new blood vessels and connective
tissue, indicating a healthy proliferative phase.
7. The "brick and mortar" analogy of the skin refers to which layer?
A. Stratum corneum
B. Stratum spinosum
C. Papillary dermis
D. Hypodermis
Rationale: The stratum corneum consists of flattened keratinocytes (bricks) held
together by lipid bilayers (mortar) to form a barrier.
8. Which of the following is a sign of "reactive hyperemia" rather than a Stage 1
pressure injury?
A. Non-blanchable redness
B. Redness that blanches when pressed
C. Purple discoloration
D. Skin breakdown
Rationale: Reactive hyperemia is a normal physiological response where skin
blanches; non-blanchable erythema indicates Stage 1 damage.
,2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS DOWNLOAD
9. Which protein provides the skin with its tensile strength?
A. Elastin
B. Collagen
C. Keratin
D. Melanin
Rationale: Collagen fibers in the dermis provide the structural strength needed to
resist tearing.
10. A patient has a wound with 100% dry, black, leathery tissue. How should this
tissue be documented?
A. Slough
B. Eschar
C. Maceration
D. Dehisced
Rationale: Eschar is necrotic, devitalized tissue that is typically hard, dry, and
black or brown.
11. What is the primary goal of autolytic debridement?
A. Using the body's own enzymes to liquefy necrotic tissue
B. Using a scalpel to remove slough
C. Applying maggots to the wound bed
D. Scrubbing the wound with gauze
Rationale: Autolytic debridement uses moisture-retentive dressings to allow
endogenous enzymes to break down dead tissue.
12. Which of the following scores on the Braden Scale indicates a "high risk" for
pressure injuries?
A. 23
B. 19
C. 12
D. 16
Rationale: On the Braden Scale, lower scores indicate higher risk. A score of 12
is typically considered high risk.
13. "Maceration" is best described as:
A. Thickening of the skin due to friction
B. Softening and whitening of skin due to excessive moisture
C. Destruction of the epidermis by scratching
, 2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS DOWNLOAD
D. Blue discoloration from lack of oxygen
Rationale: Maceration occurs when periwound skin is overexposed to wound
exudate or sweat.
14. Which layer of the skin contains blood vessels, nerves, and hair follicles?
A. Epidermis
B. Dermis
C. Stratum lucidum
D. Stratum corneum
Rationale: The dermis is the vascular layer of the skin that supports the
appendages and provides nutrients to the epidermis.
15. What is the classic clinical sign of a Stage 2 pressure injury?
A. A shallow open ulcer with a red/pink wound bed without slough
B. Intact skin with non-blanchable redness
C. Full-thickness loss with visible fat
D. Purple or maroon localized area of intact skin
Rationale: Stage 2 involves partial-thickness loss of the dermis, often appearing
as a shallow ulcer or a serum-filled blister.
16. Which cell is the "master coordinator" of the proliferative phase?
A. Neutrophil
B. Keratinocyte
C. Fibroblast
D. Melanocyte
Rationale: Fibroblasts are responsible for synthesizing collagen and the
extracellular matrix during the proliferative phase.
17. A wound that is closed with sutures or staples heals by:
A. Primary intention
B. Secondary intention
C. Tertiary intention
D. Quaternary intention
Rationale: Primary intention occurs when wound edges are approximated
(brought together) surgically.
18. What is the defining characteristic of an Unstageable pressure injury?
A. Presence of tunneling
