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ADVANCED ASSESSMENT STUDY GUIDE: MODULE 5 SKIN, HAIR,
NAILS & LYMPHATICS EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Advanced Assessment Study Guide: Module 5 Skin, Hair, Nails & Lymphatics Exam
Bank
250 Questions with Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE SKIN (Questions 1-30)
Question 1
The nurse is reviewing the layers of the skin. Place the following layers in order from
outermost to innermost.
A) Epidermis, Dermis, Subcutaneous
B) Dermis, Epidermis, Subcutaneous
C) Subcutaneous, Dermis, Epidermis
D) Epidermis, Subcutaneous, Dermis
Answer: A
Rationale: The three primary layers of the skin, from outermost to innermost, are the
epidermis (avascular outer layer), the dermis (provides turgor and contains sebaceous
glands), and the subcutaneous layer (composed mainly of fat and loose connective tissue).
Question 2
Which layer of the skin provides storage of caloric reserves, insulation, and cushioning
against external forces?
A) Epidermis
B) Dermis
C) Subcutaneous layer
D) Stratum corneum
Answer: C
Rationale: The subcutaneous layer (hypodermis) is composed mainly of fat and loose
connective tissue. It provides storage of caloric reserves, contributes to skin mobility,
provides insulation, and cushions against external forces.
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Question 3
The nurse understands that the epidermis has which characteristic?
A) Contains sebaceous glands
B) Provides the turgor of the skin
C) Has no blood supply
D) Contains apocrine glands
Answer: C
Rationale: The epidermis is the avascular outer layer of the skin. It has no blood supply and
receives nutrients through diffusion from the underlying dermis. The dermis contains
sebaceous glands and provides turgor.
Question 4
Which layer of the skin contains sebaceous glands?
A) Epidermis
B) Dermis
C) Subcutaneous layer
D) Stratum corneum
Answer: B
Rationale: The dermis contains sebaceous glands (which secrete sebum), hair follicles, sweat
glands, and connective tissue. Sebum assists with moisture retention and friction protection.
Question 5
Eccrine glands are most numerous on which areas of the body?
A) Axillae and genital areas
B) Palms and soles
C) Scalp and face
D) Trunk and back
Answer: B
Rationale: Eccrine glands cover most of the body, with the exception of the nail beds, lip
margins, glans penis, and labia minora. They are most numerous on the palms and soles.
Question 6
Apocrine glands secrete a thicker, milky sweat that produces a musky odor when mixed
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with bacterial flora. These glands are located in which areas?
A) Palms and soles
B) Axillae and genital areas
C) Forehead and scalp
D) Chest and back
Answer: B
Rationale: Apocrine glands are located in the axillae and genital areas. They secrete a
thicker, milky sweat that produces a musky odor when mixed with bacterial flora on the skin.
Their function decreases with aging.
Question 7
Which gland type is located throughout the body except the palms and soles?
A) Eccrine glands
B) Apocrine glands
C) Sebaceous glands
D) Ceruminous glands
Answer: C
Rationale: Sebaceous glands are located throughout the body, except the palms and soles.
They secrete sebum, which assists with moisture retention and friction protection.
SECTION 2: SKIN LESIONS AND TERMINOLOGY (Questions 8-40)
Question 8
The nurse documents a lesion as a "linear crack or break in the skin that is often
painful." This describes which type of lesion?
A) Scale
B) Fissure
C) Crust
D) Excoriation
Answer: B
Rationale: A fissure is a linear crack or break in the skin, often painful. It may be moist or
dry. Examples include athlete's foot and anal fissures.
Question 9
Flakes or plates of desquamated skin that may be thin or thick, oily or dry, are
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documented as:
A) Crust
B) Lichenification
C) Scale
D) Excoriation
Answer: C
Rationale: Scale refers to flakes or plates of desquamated skin that may be thin or thick, oily
or dry. This is seen in seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, or after a drug reaction.
Question 10
Dried serum, blood, or pus on the skin surface is documented as:
A) Scale
B) Crust
C) Excoriation
D) Lichenification
Answer: B
Rationale: Crust consists of dried serum, blood, or pus on the skin surface. It is slightly
elevated, varies in size, and may be red, black, tan, or straw-colored. Examples include scab
from a healing wound, impetigo, and eczema.
Question 11
Rough thickening and hardening of the skin with prominent skin markings secondary
to persistent rubbing, itching, or skin irritation is known as:
A) Lichenification
B) Excoriation
C) Atrophy
D) Keloid
Answer: A
Rationale: Lichenification is rough thickening and hardening of the skin with prominent skin
markings secondary to persistent rubbing, itching, or skin irritation. It often involves flexor
surfaces of the extremities and is seen in chronic eczema and atopic dermatitis.
Question 12
A thin to thick fibrous tissue replacing normal skin after injury or surgery is
ADVANCED ASSESSMENT STUDY GUIDE: MODULE 5 SKIN, HAIR,
NAILS & LYMPHATICS EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Advanced Assessment Study Guide: Module 5 Skin, Hair, Nails & Lymphatics Exam
Bank
250 Questions with Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE SKIN (Questions 1-30)
Question 1
The nurse is reviewing the layers of the skin. Place the following layers in order from
outermost to innermost.
A) Epidermis, Dermis, Subcutaneous
B) Dermis, Epidermis, Subcutaneous
C) Subcutaneous, Dermis, Epidermis
D) Epidermis, Subcutaneous, Dermis
Answer: A
Rationale: The three primary layers of the skin, from outermost to innermost, are the
epidermis (avascular outer layer), the dermis (provides turgor and contains sebaceous
glands), and the subcutaneous layer (composed mainly of fat and loose connective tissue).
Question 2
Which layer of the skin provides storage of caloric reserves, insulation, and cushioning
against external forces?
A) Epidermis
B) Dermis
C) Subcutaneous layer
D) Stratum corneum
Answer: C
Rationale: The subcutaneous layer (hypodermis) is composed mainly of fat and loose
connective tissue. It provides storage of caloric reserves, contributes to skin mobility,
provides insulation, and cushions against external forces.
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Question 3
The nurse understands that the epidermis has which characteristic?
A) Contains sebaceous glands
B) Provides the turgor of the skin
C) Has no blood supply
D) Contains apocrine glands
Answer: C
Rationale: The epidermis is the avascular outer layer of the skin. It has no blood supply and
receives nutrients through diffusion from the underlying dermis. The dermis contains
sebaceous glands and provides turgor.
Question 4
Which layer of the skin contains sebaceous glands?
A) Epidermis
B) Dermis
C) Subcutaneous layer
D) Stratum corneum
Answer: B
Rationale: The dermis contains sebaceous glands (which secrete sebum), hair follicles, sweat
glands, and connective tissue. Sebum assists with moisture retention and friction protection.
Question 5
Eccrine glands are most numerous on which areas of the body?
A) Axillae and genital areas
B) Palms and soles
C) Scalp and face
D) Trunk and back
Answer: B
Rationale: Eccrine glands cover most of the body, with the exception of the nail beds, lip
margins, glans penis, and labia minora. They are most numerous on the palms and soles.
Question 6
Apocrine glands secrete a thicker, milky sweat that produces a musky odor when mixed
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with bacterial flora. These glands are located in which areas?
A) Palms and soles
B) Axillae and genital areas
C) Forehead and scalp
D) Chest and back
Answer: B
Rationale: Apocrine glands are located in the axillae and genital areas. They secrete a
thicker, milky sweat that produces a musky odor when mixed with bacterial flora on the skin.
Their function decreases with aging.
Question 7
Which gland type is located throughout the body except the palms and soles?
A) Eccrine glands
B) Apocrine glands
C) Sebaceous glands
D) Ceruminous glands
Answer: C
Rationale: Sebaceous glands are located throughout the body, except the palms and soles.
They secrete sebum, which assists with moisture retention and friction protection.
SECTION 2: SKIN LESIONS AND TERMINOLOGY (Questions 8-40)
Question 8
The nurse documents a lesion as a "linear crack or break in the skin that is often
painful." This describes which type of lesion?
A) Scale
B) Fissure
C) Crust
D) Excoriation
Answer: B
Rationale: A fissure is a linear crack or break in the skin, often painful. It may be moist or
dry. Examples include athlete's foot and anal fissures.
Question 9
Flakes or plates of desquamated skin that may be thin or thick, oily or dry, are
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documented as:
A) Crust
B) Lichenification
C) Scale
D) Excoriation
Answer: C
Rationale: Scale refers to flakes or plates of desquamated skin that may be thin or thick, oily
or dry. This is seen in seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, or after a drug reaction.
Question 10
Dried serum, blood, or pus on the skin surface is documented as:
A) Scale
B) Crust
C) Excoriation
D) Lichenification
Answer: B
Rationale: Crust consists of dried serum, blood, or pus on the skin surface. It is slightly
elevated, varies in size, and may be red, black, tan, or straw-colored. Examples include scab
from a healing wound, impetigo, and eczema.
Question 11
Rough thickening and hardening of the skin with prominent skin markings secondary
to persistent rubbing, itching, or skin irritation is known as:
A) Lichenification
B) Excoriation
C) Atrophy
D) Keloid
Answer: A
Rationale: Lichenification is rough thickening and hardening of the skin with prominent skin
markings secondary to persistent rubbing, itching, or skin irritation. It often involves flexor
surfaces of the extremities and is seen in chronic eczema and atopic dermatitis.
Question 12
A thin to thick fibrous tissue replacing normal skin after injury or surgery is
