NSG 3160: CH.19: THORAX & LUNGS EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
. Which of these statements is true regarding the vertebra prominens?
a. It is the spinous process of C7.
b. It is nonpalpable in most individuals.
c. It is opposite the interior border of the scapula.
d. It is located next to the manubrium of the sternum. - ANSWER A
When performing a respiratory assessment on a patient, the nurse notices a costal
angle of approximately 90 degrees. What would the nurse recognize about this finding?
a. Observed in patients with kyphosis.
b. Indicative of pectus excavatum.
c. A normal finding in a healthy adult.
d. An expected finding in a patient with a barrel chest. - ANSWER C
. When assessing a patient's lungs, what would the nurse recall about 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 - ANSWER A
Which statement about the apices of the lungs is true?
a. Are at the level of the second rib anteriorly.
b. Extend 3 to 4 cm above the inner third of the clavicles.
c. Are located at the sixth rib anteriorly and the eighth rib laterally.
d. Rest on the diaphragm at the fifth intercostal space in the midclavicular line (MCL). -
ANSWER B
Where does the trachea bifurcate on the anterior chest?
a. Costal angle
b. Sternal angle
c. Xiphoid process
d. Suprasternal notch - ANSWER B
During an assessment, the nurse knows that expected assessment findings in the
normal adult lung include which findings?
a. Adventitious sounds and limited chest expansion
b. Muffled voice sounds and symmetric tactile fremitus
c. Increased tactile fremitus and dull percussion tones
d. Absent voice sounds and hyperresonant percussion tones - ANSWER B
, What are the primary muscles involved in normal respiration?
a. Diaphragm and intercostals
b. Sternomastoids and scaleni
c. Trapezii and rectus abdominis
d. External obliques and pectoralis major - ANSWER A
A 65-year-old patient with a history of heart failure comes to the clinic stating "I keep
waking up from sleep with shortness of breath." Which action by the nurse is most
appropriate?
a. Obtain a detailed health history of the patient's allergies and a history of asthma.
b. Tell the patient to sleep on his or her right side to facilitate ease of respirations.
c. Assess for other signs and symptoms of paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.
d. Assure the patient that paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is normal and will probably
resolve within the next week. - ANSWER C
When assessing tactile fremitus, the nurse recalls that it is normal to feel tactile fremitus
most intensely over which location?
a. Between the scapulae
b. Third intercostal space, MCL
c. Over the lower lobes, posterior side
d. Fifth intercostal space, midaxillary line (MAL) - ANSWER A
The nurse is reviewing the technique of palpating for tactile fremitus with a new
graduate. Which statement by the graduate nurse reflects a correct understanding of
tactile fremitus?
a. "Is caused by moisture in the alveoli."
b. "Is caused by sounds generated from the larynx."
c. "Reflects the blood flow through the pulmonary arteries."
d. "Indicates that air is present in the subcutaneous tissues." - ANSWER B
During percussion, the nurse hears a dull percussion note elicited over a lung lobe.
What is the most likely cause of this finding?
a. Shallow breathing
b. Normal lung tissue
c. Decreased adipose tissue
d. Increased density of lung tissue - ANSWER D
The nurse is observing the auscultation technique of a student nurse. What is the
correct method to use when progressing from one auscultatory site on the thorax to
another?
a. Side-to-side comparison
b. Top-to-bottom comparison
c. Posterior-to-anterior comparison
d. Interspace-by-interspace comparison - ANSWER A
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
. Which of these statements is true regarding the vertebra prominens?
a. It is the spinous process of C7.
b. It is nonpalpable in most individuals.
c. It is opposite the interior border of the scapula.
d. It is located next to the manubrium of the sternum. - ANSWER A
When performing a respiratory assessment on a patient, the nurse notices a costal
angle of approximately 90 degrees. What would the nurse recognize about this finding?
a. Observed in patients with kyphosis.
b. Indicative of pectus excavatum.
c. A normal finding in a healthy adult.
d. An expected finding in a patient with a barrel chest. - ANSWER C
. When assessing a patient's lungs, what would the nurse recall about 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 - ANSWER A
Which statement about the apices of the lungs is true?
a. Are at the level of the second rib anteriorly.
b. Extend 3 to 4 cm above the inner third of the clavicles.
c. Are located at the sixth rib anteriorly and the eighth rib laterally.
d. Rest on the diaphragm at the fifth intercostal space in the midclavicular line (MCL). -
ANSWER B
Where does the trachea bifurcate on the anterior chest?
a. Costal angle
b. Sternal angle
c. Xiphoid process
d. Suprasternal notch - ANSWER B
During an assessment, the nurse knows that expected assessment findings in the
normal adult lung include which findings?
a. Adventitious sounds and limited chest expansion
b. Muffled voice sounds and symmetric tactile fremitus
c. Increased tactile fremitus and dull percussion tones
d. Absent voice sounds and hyperresonant percussion tones - ANSWER B
, What are the primary muscles involved in normal respiration?
a. Diaphragm and intercostals
b. Sternomastoids and scaleni
c. Trapezii and rectus abdominis
d. External obliques and pectoralis major - ANSWER A
A 65-year-old patient with a history of heart failure comes to the clinic stating "I keep
waking up from sleep with shortness of breath." Which action by the nurse is most
appropriate?
a. Obtain a detailed health history of the patient's allergies and a history of asthma.
b. Tell the patient to sleep on his or her right side to facilitate ease of respirations.
c. Assess for other signs and symptoms of paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.
d. Assure the patient that paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is normal and will probably
resolve within the next week. - ANSWER C
When assessing tactile fremitus, the nurse recalls that it is normal to feel tactile fremitus
most intensely over which location?
a. Between the scapulae
b. Third intercostal space, MCL
c. Over the lower lobes, posterior side
d. Fifth intercostal space, midaxillary line (MAL) - ANSWER A
The nurse is reviewing the technique of palpating for tactile fremitus with a new
graduate. Which statement by the graduate nurse reflects a correct understanding of
tactile fremitus?
a. "Is caused by moisture in the alveoli."
b. "Is caused by sounds generated from the larynx."
c. "Reflects the blood flow through the pulmonary arteries."
d. "Indicates that air is present in the subcutaneous tissues." - ANSWER B
During percussion, the nurse hears a dull percussion note elicited over a lung lobe.
What is the most likely cause of this finding?
a. Shallow breathing
b. Normal lung tissue
c. Decreased adipose tissue
d. Increased density of lung tissue - ANSWER D
The nurse is observing the auscultation technique of a student nurse. What is the
correct method to use when progressing from one auscultatory site on the thorax to
another?
a. Side-to-side comparison
b. Top-to-bottom comparison
c. Posterior-to-anterior comparison
d. Interspace-by-interspace comparison - ANSWER A
