MUSCULOSKELETAL TEST BANK – ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY &
CLINICAL 200 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
COVERING MOST TESTED QUESTIONS WTH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS
THE MUSCULOSKELETAL TEST BANK COVERS STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF
BONES, JOINTS, AND MUSCLES, AS WELL AS COMMON DISORDERS, INJURY
MECHANISMS, AND TREATMENT APPROACHES. IT PREPARES STUDENTS FOR
EXAMS THAT ASSESS CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE AND CRITICAL THINKING IN
ORTHOPEDIC AND PHYSICAL HEALTHCARE SETTINGS.
A 42-year-old male patient complains of shoulder pain when the nurse moves his arm behind the
back. Which question should the nurse ask?
a. Are you able to feed yourself without difficulty?
b. Do you have difficulty when you are putting on a shirt?
c. Are you able to sleep through the night without waking?
d. Do you ever have trouble lowering yourself to the toilet? - CORRECT ANSWER-b. Do you have
difficulty when you are putting on a shirt?
The patients pain will make it more difficult to accomplish tasks like putting on a shirt or jacket. This
pain should not affect the patients ability to feed himself or use the toilet because these tasks do not
involve moving the arm behind the patient. The arm will not usually be positioned behind the
patient during sleeping.
A patient with left knee pain is diagnosed with bursitis. The nurse will explain that bursitis is an
inflammation of
a. the synovial membrane that lines the joint.
b. a small, fluid-filled sac found at some joints.
c. the fibrocartilage that acts as a shock absorber in the knee joint.
d. any connective tissue that is found supporting the joints of the body. - CORRECT ANSWER-b.
a small, fluid-filled sac found at some joints.
Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints and bony prominences. Fibrocartilage is a solid tissue
that cushions some joints. Bursae are a specific type of connective tissue. The synovial membrane
lines many joints but is not a bursa.
,The nurse who notes that a 59-year-old female patient has lost 1 inch in height over the past 2 years
will plan to teach the patient about
a. discography studies.
b. myelographic testing.
c. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
d. dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). - CORRECT ANSWER-d. dual-energy x-ray
absorptiometry (DXA).
The decreased height and the patients age suggest that the patient may have osteoporosis and that
bone density testing is needed. Discography, MRI, and myelography are typically done for patients
with current symptoms caused by musculoskeletal dysfunction and are not the initial diagnostic
tests for osteoporosis.
Which information in a 67-year-old womans health history will alert the nurse to the need for a
more focused assessment of the musculoskeletal system?
a. The patient sprained her ankle at age 13.
b. The patients mother became shorter with aging.
c. The patient takes ibuprofen (Advil) for occasional headaches.
d. The patients father died of complications of miliary tuberculosis. - CORRECT ANSWER-b. The
patients mother became shorter with aging.
A family history of height loss with aging may indicate osteoporosis, and the nurse should perform a
more thorough assessment of the patients current height and other risk factors for osteoporosis. A
sprained ankle during adolescence does not place the patient at increased current risk for
musculoskeletal problems. A family history of tuberculosis is not a risk factor. Occasional
nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) use does not indicate any increased musculoskeletal
risk.
Which information obtained during the nurses assessment of a 30-year-old patients nutritional-
metabolic pattern may indicate the risk for musculoskeletal problems?
a. The patient takes a multivitamin daily.
b. The patient dislikes fruits and vegetables.
c. The patient is 5 ft 2 in and weighs 180 lb.
d. The patient prefers whole milk to nonfat milk. - CORRECT ANSWER-c. The patient is 5 ft 2 in
and weighs 180 lb.
The patients height and weight indicate obesity, which places stress on weight-bearing joints. The
use of whole milk, avoiding fruits and vegetables, and use of a daily multivitamin are not risk factors
for musculoskeletal problems.
,Which medication information will the nurse identify as a concern for a patients musculoskeletal
status?
a. The patient takes a daily multivitamin and calcium supplement.
b. The patient takes hormone therapy (HT) to prevent hot flashes.
c. The patient has severe asthma and requires frequent therapy with oral corticosteroids.
d. The patient has migraine headaches treated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). -
CORRECT ANSWER-c. The patient has severe asthma and requires frequent therapy with oral
corticosteroids.
Frequent or chronic corticosteroid use may lead to skeletal problems such as avascular necrosis and
osteoporosis. The use of HT and calcium supplements will help prevent osteoporosis. NSAID use
does not increase the risk for musculoskeletal problems.
The nurse finds that a patient can flex the arms when no resistance is applied but is unable to flex
when the nurse applies light resistance. The nurse should document the patients muscle strength as
level
a. 0.
b. 1.
c. 2.
d. 3. - CORRECT ANSWER-d. 3.
A level 3 indicates that the patient is unable to move against resistance but can move against gravity.
Level 1 indicates minimal muscle contraction, level 2 indicates that the arm can move when gravity is
eliminated, and level 4 indicates active movement with some resistance.
After completing the health history, the nurse assessing the musculoskeletal system will begin by
a. having the patient move the extremities against resistance.
b. feeling for the presence of crepitus during joint movement.
c. observing the patients body build and muscle configuration.
d. checking active and passive range of motion for the extremities. - CORRECT ANSWER-c.
observing the patients body build and muscle configuration.
The usual technique in the physical assessment is to begin with inspection. Abnormalities in muscle
mass or configuration will allow the nurse to perform a more focused assessment of abnormal areas.
The other assessments are also included in the assessment but are usually done after inspection.
, Which nursing action is correct when performing the straight-leg raising test for an ambulatory
patient with back pain?
a. Raise the patients legs to a 60-degree angle from the bed.
b. Place the patient initially in the prone position on the exam table.
c. Have the patient dangle both legs over the edge of the exam table.
d. Instruct the patient to elevate the legs and tense the abdominal muscles. - CORRECT
ANSWER-a. Raise the patients legs to a 60-degree angle from the bed.
When performing the straight leg-raising test, the patient is in the supine position and the nurse
passively lifts the patients legs to a 60-degree angle. The other actions would not be correct for this
test.
A 72-year-old patient with kyphosis is scheduled for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) testing.
The nurse will plan to
a. explain the procedure.
b. start an IV line for contrast medium injection.
c. give an oral sedative 60 to 90 minutes before the procedure.
d. screen the patient for allergies to shellfish or iodine products. - CORRECT ANSWER-a. explain
the procedure.
DXA testing is painless and noninvasive. No IV access is necessary. Contrast medium is not used.
Because the procedure is painless, no antianxiety medications are required.
A patient has a new order for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate for left femur
osteomyelitis after a hip replacement surgery. Which information indicates that the nurse should
consult with the health care provider before scheduling the MRI?
a. The patient has a pacemaker.
b. The patient is claustrophobic.
c. The patient wears a hearing aid.
d. The patient is allergic to shellfish. - CORRECT ANSWER-a. The patient has a pacemaker.
Patients with permanent pacemakers cannot have MRI because of the force exerted by the magnetic
field on metal objects. An open MRI will not cause claustrophobia. The patient will need to be
instructed to remove the hearing aid before the MRI, but this does not require consultation with the
health care provider. Because contrast medium will not be used, shellfish allergy is not a
contraindication to MRI.
CLINICAL 200 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
COVERING MOST TESTED QUESTIONS WTH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS
THE MUSCULOSKELETAL TEST BANK COVERS STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF
BONES, JOINTS, AND MUSCLES, AS WELL AS COMMON DISORDERS, INJURY
MECHANISMS, AND TREATMENT APPROACHES. IT PREPARES STUDENTS FOR
EXAMS THAT ASSESS CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE AND CRITICAL THINKING IN
ORTHOPEDIC AND PHYSICAL HEALTHCARE SETTINGS.
A 42-year-old male patient complains of shoulder pain when the nurse moves his arm behind the
back. Which question should the nurse ask?
a. Are you able to feed yourself without difficulty?
b. Do you have difficulty when you are putting on a shirt?
c. Are you able to sleep through the night without waking?
d. Do you ever have trouble lowering yourself to the toilet? - CORRECT ANSWER-b. Do you have
difficulty when you are putting on a shirt?
The patients pain will make it more difficult to accomplish tasks like putting on a shirt or jacket. This
pain should not affect the patients ability to feed himself or use the toilet because these tasks do not
involve moving the arm behind the patient. The arm will not usually be positioned behind the
patient during sleeping.
A patient with left knee pain is diagnosed with bursitis. The nurse will explain that bursitis is an
inflammation of
a. the synovial membrane that lines the joint.
b. a small, fluid-filled sac found at some joints.
c. the fibrocartilage that acts as a shock absorber in the knee joint.
d. any connective tissue that is found supporting the joints of the body. - CORRECT ANSWER-b.
a small, fluid-filled sac found at some joints.
Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints and bony prominences. Fibrocartilage is a solid tissue
that cushions some joints. Bursae are a specific type of connective tissue. The synovial membrane
lines many joints but is not a bursa.
,The nurse who notes that a 59-year-old female patient has lost 1 inch in height over the past 2 years
will plan to teach the patient about
a. discography studies.
b. myelographic testing.
c. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
d. dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). - CORRECT ANSWER-d. dual-energy x-ray
absorptiometry (DXA).
The decreased height and the patients age suggest that the patient may have osteoporosis and that
bone density testing is needed. Discography, MRI, and myelography are typically done for patients
with current symptoms caused by musculoskeletal dysfunction and are not the initial diagnostic
tests for osteoporosis.
Which information in a 67-year-old womans health history will alert the nurse to the need for a
more focused assessment of the musculoskeletal system?
a. The patient sprained her ankle at age 13.
b. The patients mother became shorter with aging.
c. The patient takes ibuprofen (Advil) for occasional headaches.
d. The patients father died of complications of miliary tuberculosis. - CORRECT ANSWER-b. The
patients mother became shorter with aging.
A family history of height loss with aging may indicate osteoporosis, and the nurse should perform a
more thorough assessment of the patients current height and other risk factors for osteoporosis. A
sprained ankle during adolescence does not place the patient at increased current risk for
musculoskeletal problems. A family history of tuberculosis is not a risk factor. Occasional
nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) use does not indicate any increased musculoskeletal
risk.
Which information obtained during the nurses assessment of a 30-year-old patients nutritional-
metabolic pattern may indicate the risk for musculoskeletal problems?
a. The patient takes a multivitamin daily.
b. The patient dislikes fruits and vegetables.
c. The patient is 5 ft 2 in and weighs 180 lb.
d. The patient prefers whole milk to nonfat milk. - CORRECT ANSWER-c. The patient is 5 ft 2 in
and weighs 180 lb.
The patients height and weight indicate obesity, which places stress on weight-bearing joints. The
use of whole milk, avoiding fruits and vegetables, and use of a daily multivitamin are not risk factors
for musculoskeletal problems.
,Which medication information will the nurse identify as a concern for a patients musculoskeletal
status?
a. The patient takes a daily multivitamin and calcium supplement.
b. The patient takes hormone therapy (HT) to prevent hot flashes.
c. The patient has severe asthma and requires frequent therapy with oral corticosteroids.
d. The patient has migraine headaches treated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). -
CORRECT ANSWER-c. The patient has severe asthma and requires frequent therapy with oral
corticosteroids.
Frequent or chronic corticosteroid use may lead to skeletal problems such as avascular necrosis and
osteoporosis. The use of HT and calcium supplements will help prevent osteoporosis. NSAID use
does not increase the risk for musculoskeletal problems.
The nurse finds that a patient can flex the arms when no resistance is applied but is unable to flex
when the nurse applies light resistance. The nurse should document the patients muscle strength as
level
a. 0.
b. 1.
c. 2.
d. 3. - CORRECT ANSWER-d. 3.
A level 3 indicates that the patient is unable to move against resistance but can move against gravity.
Level 1 indicates minimal muscle contraction, level 2 indicates that the arm can move when gravity is
eliminated, and level 4 indicates active movement with some resistance.
After completing the health history, the nurse assessing the musculoskeletal system will begin by
a. having the patient move the extremities against resistance.
b. feeling for the presence of crepitus during joint movement.
c. observing the patients body build and muscle configuration.
d. checking active and passive range of motion for the extremities. - CORRECT ANSWER-c.
observing the patients body build and muscle configuration.
The usual technique in the physical assessment is to begin with inspection. Abnormalities in muscle
mass or configuration will allow the nurse to perform a more focused assessment of abnormal areas.
The other assessments are also included in the assessment but are usually done after inspection.
, Which nursing action is correct when performing the straight-leg raising test for an ambulatory
patient with back pain?
a. Raise the patients legs to a 60-degree angle from the bed.
b. Place the patient initially in the prone position on the exam table.
c. Have the patient dangle both legs over the edge of the exam table.
d. Instruct the patient to elevate the legs and tense the abdominal muscles. - CORRECT
ANSWER-a. Raise the patients legs to a 60-degree angle from the bed.
When performing the straight leg-raising test, the patient is in the supine position and the nurse
passively lifts the patients legs to a 60-degree angle. The other actions would not be correct for this
test.
A 72-year-old patient with kyphosis is scheduled for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) testing.
The nurse will plan to
a. explain the procedure.
b. start an IV line for contrast medium injection.
c. give an oral sedative 60 to 90 minutes before the procedure.
d. screen the patient for allergies to shellfish or iodine products. - CORRECT ANSWER-a. explain
the procedure.
DXA testing is painless and noninvasive. No IV access is necessary. Contrast medium is not used.
Because the procedure is painless, no antianxiety medications are required.
A patient has a new order for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate for left femur
osteomyelitis after a hip replacement surgery. Which information indicates that the nurse should
consult with the health care provider before scheduling the MRI?
a. The patient has a pacemaker.
b. The patient is claustrophobic.
c. The patient wears a hearing aid.
d. The patient is allergic to shellfish. - CORRECT ANSWER-a. The patient has a pacemaker.
Patients with permanent pacemakers cannot have MRI because of the force exerted by the magnetic
field on metal objects. An open MRI will not cause claustrophobia. The patient will need to be
instructed to remove the hearing aid before the MRI, but this does not require consultation with the
health care provider. Because contrast medium will not be used, shellfish allergy is not a
contraindication to MRI.
