NURS 120 ASSESSMENT 3 –
MUSCULOSKELETAL & WOUND CARE
NURSING (WCU, 2026) PRACTICE
QUIZ: 250 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
.
Section 1: Musculoskeletal System – Structure & Function
(Questions 1–25)
1. Which of the following correctly describes the composition of compact bone?
A) Spongy appearance with trabeculae
B) Dense, solid outer layer that provides strength and support
C) Soft, flexible tissue found in joints
D) Highly vascular tissue that produces red blood cells
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Compact bone forms the dense, solid outer layer of bones, providing
structural support and strength. Spongy (cancellous) bone has a trabecular appearance,
and bone marrow is responsible for hematopoiesis .
2. The type of joint that allows for the greatest range of motion is a:
A) Synarthrosis joint
B) Amphiarthrosis joint
C) Synovial joint
D) Cartilaginous joint
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Synovial joints (e.g., shoulder, hip, knee) are freely movable (diarthrotic) and
allow the greatest range of motion. Synarthrosis joints are immovable; amphiarthrosis
joints are slightly movable .
3. A patient has sustained an injury to a ligament. The nurse correctly identifies
this injury as a:
A) Fracture
B) Strain
C) Sprain
D) Dislocation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A sprain is an injury to a ligament, while a strain is an injury to a muscle or
tendon. A fracture involves a break in the bone, and a dislocation is displacement of a
bone from its normal position .
4. Which type of muscle tissue is under voluntary control?
A) Cardiac muscle
B) Smooth muscle
C) Skeletal muscle
D) Visceral muscle
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Skeletal muscle is under voluntary control, meaning it is consciously
controlled. Cardiac and smooth muscles are involuntary.
5. The function of a bursa is to:
A) Connect muscle to bone
B) Reduce friction between bones, tendons, and muscles
C) Produce red blood cells
D) Store calcium
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between moving structures
such as bones, tendons, and muscles.
6. Which of the following is a function of the skeletal system?
A) Production of red blood cells
B) Protection of internal organs
C) Storage of minerals
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The skeletal system functions in support, protection, movement, mineral
storage (calcium and phosphorus), and hematopoiesis (blood cell production).
7. The shaft of a long bone is called the:
A) Epiphysis
B) Diaphysis
C) Metaphysis
D) Periosteum
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The diaphysis is the shaft or central part of a long bone. The epiphyses are
the ends of the bone, and the metaphysis is the region where the epiphysis meets the
diaphysis.
8. Which of the following is a freely movable joint?
A) Sutures of the skull
B) Pubic symphysis
C) Knee joint
D) Vertebral joints
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The knee is a synovial joint and is freely movable. Sutures are immovable,
and the pubic symphysis and vertebral joints are slightly movable.
9. The type of bone that has a spongy, trabecular appearance is:
A) Compact bone
B) Cancellous bone
C) Cortical bone
D) Lamellar bone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cancellous (spongy) bone has a trabecular, honeycomb-like appearance and
is found in the interior of bones. Compact (cortical) bone is the dense outer layer.
10. Which structure connects muscle to bone?
A) Ligament
B) Tendon
C) Bursa
D) Cartilage
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tendons connect muscle to bone, while ligaments connect bone to bone.
11. The periosteum is:
A) The outer covering of bone
B) The inner lining of the bone marrow cavity
C) The cartilage at the end of long bones
D) The membrane lining the joint cavity
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The periosteum is a dense, fibrous membrane covering the outer surface of
bones, except at the joints where it is covered by articular cartilage.
MUSCULOSKELETAL & WOUND CARE
NURSING (WCU, 2026) PRACTICE
QUIZ: 250 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
.
Section 1: Musculoskeletal System – Structure & Function
(Questions 1–25)
1. Which of the following correctly describes the composition of compact bone?
A) Spongy appearance with trabeculae
B) Dense, solid outer layer that provides strength and support
C) Soft, flexible tissue found in joints
D) Highly vascular tissue that produces red blood cells
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Compact bone forms the dense, solid outer layer of bones, providing
structural support and strength. Spongy (cancellous) bone has a trabecular appearance,
and bone marrow is responsible for hematopoiesis .
2. The type of joint that allows for the greatest range of motion is a:
A) Synarthrosis joint
B) Amphiarthrosis joint
C) Synovial joint
D) Cartilaginous joint
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Synovial joints (e.g., shoulder, hip, knee) are freely movable (diarthrotic) and
allow the greatest range of motion. Synarthrosis joints are immovable; amphiarthrosis
joints are slightly movable .
3. A patient has sustained an injury to a ligament. The nurse correctly identifies
this injury as a:
A) Fracture
B) Strain
C) Sprain
D) Dislocation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A sprain is an injury to a ligament, while a strain is an injury to a muscle or
tendon. A fracture involves a break in the bone, and a dislocation is displacement of a
bone from its normal position .
4. Which type of muscle tissue is under voluntary control?
A) Cardiac muscle
B) Smooth muscle
C) Skeletal muscle
D) Visceral muscle
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Skeletal muscle is under voluntary control, meaning it is consciously
controlled. Cardiac and smooth muscles are involuntary.
5. The function of a bursa is to:
A) Connect muscle to bone
B) Reduce friction between bones, tendons, and muscles
C) Produce red blood cells
D) Store calcium
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between moving structures
such as bones, tendons, and muscles.
6. Which of the following is a function of the skeletal system?
A) Production of red blood cells
B) Protection of internal organs
C) Storage of minerals
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The skeletal system functions in support, protection, movement, mineral
storage (calcium and phosphorus), and hematopoiesis (blood cell production).
7. The shaft of a long bone is called the:
A) Epiphysis
B) Diaphysis
C) Metaphysis
D) Periosteum
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The diaphysis is the shaft or central part of a long bone. The epiphyses are
the ends of the bone, and the metaphysis is the region where the epiphysis meets the
diaphysis.
8. Which of the following is a freely movable joint?
A) Sutures of the skull
B) Pubic symphysis
C) Knee joint
D) Vertebral joints
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The knee is a synovial joint and is freely movable. Sutures are immovable,
and the pubic symphysis and vertebral joints are slightly movable.
9. The type of bone that has a spongy, trabecular appearance is:
A) Compact bone
B) Cancellous bone
C) Cortical bone
D) Lamellar bone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cancellous (spongy) bone has a trabecular, honeycomb-like appearance and
is found in the interior of bones. Compact (cortical) bone is the dense outer layer.
10. Which structure connects muscle to bone?
A) Ligament
B) Tendon
C) Bursa
D) Cartilage
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tendons connect muscle to bone, while ligaments connect bone to bone.
11. The periosteum is:
A) The outer covering of bone
B) The inner lining of the bone marrow cavity
C) The cartilage at the end of long bones
D) The membrane lining the joint cavity
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The periosteum is a dense, fibrous membrane covering the outer surface of
bones, except at the joints where it is covered by articular cartilage.
