©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
MSK Exam Questions With Correct Answers
A+
A patient is being assessed for range of joint movement. The nurse asks him to move his arm in
toward the center of his body. This movement is called:
A) flexion.
B) abduction.
C) adduction.
D) extension. - Answer✔ANS: C
Moving a limb toward the midline of the body is called adduction; abduction is moving a limb
away from the midline of the body. Flexion is bending a limb at a joint; extension is
straightening a limb at a joint.
A patient tells the nurse that she is having a hard time bringing her hand to her mouth when she
eats or tries to brush her teeth. The nurse knows that for her to move her hand to her mouth, she
must perform which movement?
A) flexion.
B) abduction.
C) adduction.
D) extension. - Answer✔ANS: A
Flexion, or bending a limb at a joint, would be required to move the hand to the mouth.
Extension is straightening a limb at a joint. Moving a limb toward the midline of the body is
called adduction; abduction is moving a limb away from the midline of the body.
The functional units of the musculoskeletal system are the:
A) joints.
B) bones.
C) muscles.
D) tendons. - Answer✔ANS: A
1
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Joints are the functional units of the musculoskeletal system because they permit the mobility
needed for the activities of daily living. The skeleton (bones) is the framework of the body.
When reviewing the musculoskeletal system, the nurse recalls that hematopoiesis takes place in
the:
A) liver.
B) spleen.
C) kidneys.
D) bone marrow. - Answer✔ANS: D
The musculoskeletal system functions to encase and protect inner vital organs, support the body,
produce red blood cells in the bone marrow, and store minerals.
Fibrous bands running directly from one bone to another that strengthen the joint and help
prevent movement in undesirable directions are called:
A) bursa.
B) tendons.
C) cartilage.
D) ligaments. - Answer✔ANS: D
Fibrous bands running directly from one bone to another that strengthen the joint and help
prevent movement in undesirable directions are called ligaments.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
REF: Page: 566 MSC: Client Needs: General
The nurse notices that a woman in an exercise class is unable to jump rope. The nurse knows that
to jump rope, one's shoulder has to be capable of:
A) inversion.
B) supination.
C) protraction.
D) circumduction. - Answer✔ANS: D
Circumduction is defined as moving the arm in a circle around the shoulder.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)
2
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
REF: Page: 566 MSC: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
The articulation of the mandible and the temporal bone is known as the:
A) intervertebral foramen.
B) condyle of the mandible.
C) temporomandibular joint.
D) zygomatic arch of the temporal bone. - Answer✔ANS: C
The articulation of the mandible and the temporal bone is the temporomandibular joint. The
other responses are not correct.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
REF: Pages: 566-568 MSC: Client Needs: General
To palpate the temporomandibular joint, the nurse's fingers should be placed in the depression
_____ of the ear.
A) distal to the helix
B) proximal to the helix
C) anterior to the tragus
D) posterior to the tragus - Answer✔ANS: C
The temporomandibular joint can be felt in the depression anterior to the tragus of the ear. The
other locations are not correct.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
REF: Pages: 566-568
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
Of the 33 vertebrae in the spinal column, there are:
A) 5 lumbar.
B) 5 thoracic.
C) 7 sacral.
D) 12 cervical. - Answer✔ANS: A
There are 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 3 to 4 coccygeal vertebrae.
3
MSK Exam Questions With Correct Answers
A+
A patient is being assessed for range of joint movement. The nurse asks him to move his arm in
toward the center of his body. This movement is called:
A) flexion.
B) abduction.
C) adduction.
D) extension. - Answer✔ANS: C
Moving a limb toward the midline of the body is called adduction; abduction is moving a limb
away from the midline of the body. Flexion is bending a limb at a joint; extension is
straightening a limb at a joint.
A patient tells the nurse that she is having a hard time bringing her hand to her mouth when she
eats or tries to brush her teeth. The nurse knows that for her to move her hand to her mouth, she
must perform which movement?
A) flexion.
B) abduction.
C) adduction.
D) extension. - Answer✔ANS: A
Flexion, or bending a limb at a joint, would be required to move the hand to the mouth.
Extension is straightening a limb at a joint. Moving a limb toward the midline of the body is
called adduction; abduction is moving a limb away from the midline of the body.
The functional units of the musculoskeletal system are the:
A) joints.
B) bones.
C) muscles.
D) tendons. - Answer✔ANS: A
1
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Joints are the functional units of the musculoskeletal system because they permit the mobility
needed for the activities of daily living. The skeleton (bones) is the framework of the body.
When reviewing the musculoskeletal system, the nurse recalls that hematopoiesis takes place in
the:
A) liver.
B) spleen.
C) kidneys.
D) bone marrow. - Answer✔ANS: D
The musculoskeletal system functions to encase and protect inner vital organs, support the body,
produce red blood cells in the bone marrow, and store minerals.
Fibrous bands running directly from one bone to another that strengthen the joint and help
prevent movement in undesirable directions are called:
A) bursa.
B) tendons.
C) cartilage.
D) ligaments. - Answer✔ANS: D
Fibrous bands running directly from one bone to another that strengthen the joint and help
prevent movement in undesirable directions are called ligaments.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
REF: Page: 566 MSC: Client Needs: General
The nurse notices that a woman in an exercise class is unable to jump rope. The nurse knows that
to jump rope, one's shoulder has to be capable of:
A) inversion.
B) supination.
C) protraction.
D) circumduction. - Answer✔ANS: D
Circumduction is defined as moving the arm in a circle around the shoulder.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)
2
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
REF: Page: 566 MSC: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
The articulation of the mandible and the temporal bone is known as the:
A) intervertebral foramen.
B) condyle of the mandible.
C) temporomandibular joint.
D) zygomatic arch of the temporal bone. - Answer✔ANS: C
The articulation of the mandible and the temporal bone is the temporomandibular joint. The
other responses are not correct.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
REF: Pages: 566-568 MSC: Client Needs: General
To palpate the temporomandibular joint, the nurse's fingers should be placed in the depression
_____ of the ear.
A) distal to the helix
B) proximal to the helix
C) anterior to the tragus
D) posterior to the tragus - Answer✔ANS: C
The temporomandibular joint can be felt in the depression anterior to the tragus of the ear. The
other locations are not correct.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
REF: Pages: 566-568
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
Of the 33 vertebrae in the spinal column, there are:
A) 5 lumbar.
B) 5 thoracic.
C) 7 sacral.
D) 12 cervical. - Answer✔ANS: A
There are 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 3 to 4 coccygeal vertebrae.
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