NU 518 Exam 3 Practice Questions & Answers:
Specialized Systems (Verified Update)
This comprehensive study guide covers the core domains tested on NU 518 Exam
3: Specialized Systems at the University of South Alabama. It includes original
practice questions with detailed rationales, organized by topic: Skin, Hair, and Nail
Assessment, Primary and Secondary Skin Lesions, Common Dermatologic
Conditions, Nail Disorders, Hair Disorders, and Systemic Disorders with Skin
Manifestations.
The exam evaluates focused examinations of the skin, hair, nails, and related
systemic disorders. This unit focuses on the integumentary system and its role in
identifying underlying systemic disease.
Section 1: Skin, Hair, and Nail Assessment – Foundations
Q1. Which layer of the epidermis is mostly found in the skin on
the hands and feet?
A. Stratum corneum
B. Stratum lucidum
C. Stratum granulosum
D. Stratum germinativum
Answer: B
Rationale: The stratum lucidum is a translucent layer found only
in thick skin such as the palms and soles. It provides additional
,protection in high-friction areas, which is crucial in advanced
skin assessment .
Q2. Most hair follicles originate in which level of the skin?
A. Epidermis
B. Subcutaneous layer
C. Adipose layer
D. Dermis
Answer: D
Rationale: Hair follicles are anchored in the dermis where they
are supplied by blood vessels and surrounded by sebaceous
glands. Recognizing dermal structures is key when assessing
wounds and inflammatory skin conditions .
Q3. A patient's chart mentions that their particular skin ailment
is confluent. What does this describe?
A. Morphology
B. Structure
C. Distribution
D. Turgor
Answer: C
Rationale: "Confluent" describes how lesions merge or run
together, which is a pattern of distribution rather than lesion
type. Accurate terminology about distribution supports precise
dermatologic documentation in advanced assessment .
,Q4. Which of the following is the correct sequence for a
comprehensive skin examination?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection and palpation only
C. Palpation, inspection, percussion
D. Auscultation, inspection, palpation
Answer: B
Rationale: The skin examination involves inspection (visual
examination of the skin, hair, and nails) and palpation (assessing
texture, temperature, moisture, and turgor). Percussion and
auscultation are not used in dermatologic assessment.
Q5. A patient presents with a skin lesion described as a flat,
non-palpable change in skin color. Which term correctly
describes this lesion?
A. Macule
B. Papule
C. Nodule
D. Plaque
Answer: A
Rationale: A macule is a flat, non-palpable lesion that differs in
color from the surrounding skin. A papule is a palpable elevated
lesion <1 cm, a nodule is >1 cm, and a plaque is a flat-topped
palpable lesion .
, Q6. What is the primary function of eccrine sweat glands?
A. Thermoregulation
B. Production of melanin
C. Production of sebum
D. Sensory perception
Answer: A
Rationale: Eccrine sweat glands are primarily responsible for
thermoregulation through sweat production. They are
distributed widely across the body surface.
Q7. Which cell type in the epidermis is responsible for
producing melanin?
A. Keratinocytes
B. Melanocytes
C. Langerhans cells
D. Merkel cells
Answer: B
Rationale: Melanocytes are the pigment-producing cells located
in the basal layer of the epidermis. They produce melanin,
which provides protection against ultraviolet radiation .
Q8. What is the correct term for a lesion that is elevated,
circumscribed, and filled with liquid or semisolid fluid?
A. Macule
B. Papule
Specialized Systems (Verified Update)
This comprehensive study guide covers the core domains tested on NU 518 Exam
3: Specialized Systems at the University of South Alabama. It includes original
practice questions with detailed rationales, organized by topic: Skin, Hair, and Nail
Assessment, Primary and Secondary Skin Lesions, Common Dermatologic
Conditions, Nail Disorders, Hair Disorders, and Systemic Disorders with Skin
Manifestations.
The exam evaluates focused examinations of the skin, hair, nails, and related
systemic disorders. This unit focuses on the integumentary system and its role in
identifying underlying systemic disease.
Section 1: Skin, Hair, and Nail Assessment – Foundations
Q1. Which layer of the epidermis is mostly found in the skin on
the hands and feet?
A. Stratum corneum
B. Stratum lucidum
C. Stratum granulosum
D. Stratum germinativum
Answer: B
Rationale: The stratum lucidum is a translucent layer found only
in thick skin such as the palms and soles. It provides additional
,protection in high-friction areas, which is crucial in advanced
skin assessment .
Q2. Most hair follicles originate in which level of the skin?
A. Epidermis
B. Subcutaneous layer
C. Adipose layer
D. Dermis
Answer: D
Rationale: Hair follicles are anchored in the dermis where they
are supplied by blood vessels and surrounded by sebaceous
glands. Recognizing dermal structures is key when assessing
wounds and inflammatory skin conditions .
Q3. A patient's chart mentions that their particular skin ailment
is confluent. What does this describe?
A. Morphology
B. Structure
C. Distribution
D. Turgor
Answer: C
Rationale: "Confluent" describes how lesions merge or run
together, which is a pattern of distribution rather than lesion
type. Accurate terminology about distribution supports precise
dermatologic documentation in advanced assessment .
,Q4. Which of the following is the correct sequence for a
comprehensive skin examination?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection and palpation only
C. Palpation, inspection, percussion
D. Auscultation, inspection, palpation
Answer: B
Rationale: The skin examination involves inspection (visual
examination of the skin, hair, and nails) and palpation (assessing
texture, temperature, moisture, and turgor). Percussion and
auscultation are not used in dermatologic assessment.
Q5. A patient presents with a skin lesion described as a flat,
non-palpable change in skin color. Which term correctly
describes this lesion?
A. Macule
B. Papule
C. Nodule
D. Plaque
Answer: A
Rationale: A macule is a flat, non-palpable lesion that differs in
color from the surrounding skin. A papule is a palpable elevated
lesion <1 cm, a nodule is >1 cm, and a plaque is a flat-topped
palpable lesion .
, Q6. What is the primary function of eccrine sweat glands?
A. Thermoregulation
B. Production of melanin
C. Production of sebum
D. Sensory perception
Answer: A
Rationale: Eccrine sweat glands are primarily responsible for
thermoregulation through sweat production. They are
distributed widely across the body surface.
Q7. Which cell type in the epidermis is responsible for
producing melanin?
A. Keratinocytes
B. Melanocytes
C. Langerhans cells
D. Merkel cells
Answer: B
Rationale: Melanocytes are the pigment-producing cells located
in the basal layer of the epidermis. They produce melanin,
which provides protection against ultraviolet radiation .
Q8. What is the correct term for a lesion that is elevated,
circumscribed, and filled with liquid or semisolid fluid?
A. Macule
B. Papule
