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NUR 631 Advanced Health Assessment Exam 2
Latest 2026/2027 Comprehensive Test Bank
Questions with Verified Answers and Rationales
Question 1: The nurse knows that a normal finding when assessing the
respiratory system of an older adult is:
A. increased thoracic expansion
B. decreased mobility of the thorax
C. decreased anteroposterior diameter
D. bronchovesicular breath sounds throughout the lungs
Correct Answer: B. decreased mobility of the thorax
Rationale:
1. Costal cartilage becomes calcified with aging, leading to decreased chest wall
mobility.
2. The anteroposterior diameter increases with aging (barrel chest), not
decreases.
3. Bronchovesicular breath sounds are not heard throughout the lungs in
normal older adults.
4. This is a standard geriatric respiratory assessment question.
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Question 2: Which of these statements is true regarding the vertebra
prominens? The vertebra prominens is:
A. The spinous process of C7
B. Usually nonpalpable in most individuals
C. Opposite the interior border of the scapula
D. Located next to the manubrium of the sternum
Correct Answer: A. The spinous process of C7
Rationale:
1. The vertebra prominens (C7) is a landmark for counting ribs posteriorly.
2. It is palpable in most individuals when the neck is flexed.
3. The interior border of the scapula is at the level of T7, not C7.
4. This is a standard anatomy landmark question.
Question 3: When performing a respiratory assessment on a patient, the
nurse notices a costal angle of approximately 90 degrees. This
characteristic is:
A. Observed in patients with kyphosis
B. Indicative of pectus excavatum
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C. A normal finding in a healthy adult
D. An expected finding in a patient with barrel chest
Correct Answer: C. A normal finding in a healthy adult
Rationale:
1. The normal costal angle is approximately 90 degrees.
2. A costal angle greater than 90 degrees is seen in barrel chest (COPD).
3. Pectus excavatum is a congenital depression of the sternum.
4. This is a standard respiratory assessment question.
Question 4: When assessing a patient's lungs, the nurse recalls that the
left lung:
A. Consists of two lobes
B. Is divided by the horizontal fissure
C. Primarily consists of an upper lobe on the posterior chest
D. Is shorter than the right lung because of the underlying stomach
Correct Answer: A. Consists of two lobes
Rationale:
1. The left lung has two lobes (upper and lower); the right lung has three lobes.
2. The horizontal fissure is present only on the right lung.
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3. The right lung is shorter than the left due to the underlying liver.
4. This is a standard lung anatomy question.
Question 5: Which statement about the apices of the lungs is true?
A. Are at the level of the second rib anteriorly
B. Extend 3-4 cm above the inner third of the clavicles
C. Are located at the sixth rib anteriorly and eighth rib laterally
D. Rest on the diaphragm at the fifth ICS in the midclavicular line
Correct Answer: B. Extend 3-4 cm above the inner third of the clavicles
Rationale:
1. The lung apices extend above the clavicles into the neck.
2. The apices are at the level of the first rib anteriorly.
3. This is a standard lung anatomy question.
Question 6: During an examination of the anterior thorax, the nurse is
aware that the trachea bifurcates anteriorly at the:
A. Costal angle
B. Sternal angle
C. Xiphoid process
D. Suprasternal notch
NUR 631 Advanced Health Assessment Exam 2
Latest 2026/2027 Comprehensive Test Bank
Questions with Verified Answers and Rationales
Question 1: The nurse knows that a normal finding when assessing the
respiratory system of an older adult is:
A. increased thoracic expansion
B. decreased mobility of the thorax
C. decreased anteroposterior diameter
D. bronchovesicular breath sounds throughout the lungs
Correct Answer: B. decreased mobility of the thorax
Rationale:
1. Costal cartilage becomes calcified with aging, leading to decreased chest wall
mobility.
2. The anteroposterior diameter increases with aging (barrel chest), not
decreases.
3. Bronchovesicular breath sounds are not heard throughout the lungs in
normal older adults.
4. This is a standard geriatric respiratory assessment question.
,2|Page
Question 2: Which of these statements is true regarding the vertebra
prominens? The vertebra prominens is:
A. The spinous process of C7
B. Usually nonpalpable in most individuals
C. Opposite the interior border of the scapula
D. Located next to the manubrium of the sternum
Correct Answer: A. The spinous process of C7
Rationale:
1. The vertebra prominens (C7) is a landmark for counting ribs posteriorly.
2. It is palpable in most individuals when the neck is flexed.
3. The interior border of the scapula is at the level of T7, not C7.
4. This is a standard anatomy landmark question.
Question 3: When performing a respiratory assessment on a patient, the
nurse notices a costal angle of approximately 90 degrees. This
characteristic is:
A. Observed in patients with kyphosis
B. Indicative of pectus excavatum
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C. A normal finding in a healthy adult
D. An expected finding in a patient with barrel chest
Correct Answer: C. A normal finding in a healthy adult
Rationale:
1. The normal costal angle is approximately 90 degrees.
2. A costal angle greater than 90 degrees is seen in barrel chest (COPD).
3. Pectus excavatum is a congenital depression of the sternum.
4. This is a standard respiratory assessment question.
Question 4: When assessing a patient's lungs, the nurse recalls that the
left lung:
A. Consists of two lobes
B. Is divided by the horizontal fissure
C. Primarily consists of an upper lobe on the posterior chest
D. Is shorter than the right lung because of the underlying stomach
Correct Answer: A. Consists of two lobes
Rationale:
1. The left lung has two lobes (upper and lower); the right lung has three lobes.
2. The horizontal fissure is present only on the right lung.
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3. The right lung is shorter than the left due to the underlying liver.
4. This is a standard lung anatomy question.
Question 5: Which statement about the apices of the lungs is true?
A. Are at the level of the second rib anteriorly
B. Extend 3-4 cm above the inner third of the clavicles
C. Are located at the sixth rib anteriorly and eighth rib laterally
D. Rest on the diaphragm at the fifth ICS in the midclavicular line
Correct Answer: B. Extend 3-4 cm above the inner third of the clavicles
Rationale:
1. The lung apices extend above the clavicles into the neck.
2. The apices are at the level of the first rib anteriorly.
3. This is a standard lung anatomy question.
Question 6: During an examination of the anterior thorax, the nurse is
aware that the trachea bifurcates anteriorly at the:
A. Costal angle
B. Sternal angle
C. Xiphoid process
D. Suprasternal notch
