NURS 3511 Week 5 Exam Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update 2025-2026
Which of the following statements about osteoarthritis (OA) is true?
A) OA is a rapidly progressive inflammatory disorder
B) OA is the most common chronic condition affecting the joints
C) Symptoms of OA typically begin before age 30
D) Aging is not considered a risk factor for osteoarthritis - Answers B) OA is the most common
chronic condition affecting the joints
Osteoarthritis is best described as:
A) A rapidly progressive inflammatory disorder of the joints
B) A slowly progressive non-inflammatory disorder of the diarthrodial joints
C) An autoimmune disorder that affects connective tissue
D) A genetic disorder that causes muscle degeneration - Answers B) A slowly progressive non-
inflammatory disorder of the diarthrodial joints
At what age does cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis (OA) typically begin?
A) 10-15 years
B) 20-30 years
C) 30-40 years
D) 50-60 years - Answers B) 20-30 years
Osteoarthritis can be caused by:
A) A genetic mutation that affects collagen production
B) A bacterial infection leading to joint inflammation
C) Chronic exposure to environmental toxins
D) A known event or condition that directly damages cartilage or causes joint instability -
Answers D) A known event or condition that directly damages cartilage or causes joint
instability
Which of the following factors are linked to the development of osteoarthritis? (Select all that
apply)
,A) Estrogen reduction
B) Obesity
C) Excessive exercise
D) Genetic predisposition
E) Hemochromatosis
F) High calcium intake
G) Wear and tear on the joints - Answers A, B, D, E, G
Hemochromatosis - absorb too much iron from food which can damage bones and joints
Which of the following has been shown to decrease the risk of osteoarthritis?
A) Regular moderate exercise
B) Prolonged bed rest and inactivity
C) High-impact exercises without rest
D) Excessive weight loss through extreme dieting - Answers A) Regular moderate exercise
Osteoarthritis results from cartilage damage that triggers a metabolic response at the level of
which cells?
A) Osteocytes
B) Chondrocytes
C) Myocytes
D) Adipocytes - Answers B) Chondrocytes
Cartilage is solely composed of cells known as chondrocytes
How does cartilage in osteoarthritis (OA) typically change as the disease progresses?
A) It becomes thicker and more elastic
B) It becomes more resistant to wear
C) It becomes dull, yellow, granular, and less elastic
D) It regenerates continuously - Answers C) It becomes dull, yellow, granular, and less elastic
In osteoarthritis, the body's inability to repair cartilage leads to:
,A) Formation of new cartilage over damaged surfaces
B) Ongoing destruction causing cracked and worn articular surfaces
C) Complete regeneration of the affected joint
D) Inflammatory response that heals the cartilage - Answers B) Ongoing destruction causing
cracked and worn articular surfaces
As central cartilage becomes thinner in osteoarthritis, what happens at the joint margins?
A) Cartilage and bony growth decrease
B) New cartilage forms to replace the damaged tissue
C) The joint becomes perfectly aligned without further damage
D) Cartilage and bony growth increase, leading to joint surface incongruity - Answers D)
Cartilage and bony growth increase, leading to joint surface incongruity
In osteoarthritis, inflammation is:
A) A hallmark characteristic of the condition
B) Not characteristic of the disease, but secondary synovitis may occur contributing to pain and
stiffness
C) The primary cause of cartilage damage
D) Limited to the ligaments and tendons around the joint - Answers B) Not characteristic of the
disease, but secondary synovitis may occur contributing to pain and stiffness
Which of the following best describes the pain experienced in the later stages of osteoarthritis
(OA)?A) Pain due to inflammation of synovial fluid
B) Pain caused by cartilage repair processes
C) Pain resulting from bone-on-bone contact after cartilage deterioration
D) Pain caused by muscle spasms around the joint - Answers C) Pain resulting from bone-on-
bone contact after cartilage deterioration
Which of the following are common clinical manifestations of osteoarthritis? (Select all that
apply)
A) Mild discomfort to significant disability in joints
B) Localized pain and stiffness in joints
, C) Systemic fever
D) Crepitation (grating sensation in joints)
E) Fatigue
F) Organ involvement - Answers A, B, D
Which of the following are typical deformities seen in osteoarthritis? (Select all that apply)
A) Heberden's nodes in the hands
B) Swan-neck deformity in fingers
C) Joint deformities specific to the affected joints
E) Wrist deformities such as ulnar deviation - Answers A, C
Fatigue, fever and organ involvement is not characteristic of OA.
A) True
B) False - Answers A) True
Which of the following diagnostic studies are commonly used to assess osteoarthritis? (Select
all that apply)
A) Bone scan
B) Computed tomography (CT)
C) Urine studies
D) Synovial fluid analysis
E) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - Answers A, B, D, E
Which of the following nursing management strategies are appropriate for a patient with
osteoarthritis? (Select all that apply)
A) Encourage proper body mechanics to reduce strain on joints
B) Administer pain medication as prescribed
C) Avoid any exercise to prevent joint strain
D) Provide referrals to occupational therapy, physical therapy, and dietary counseling
E) Use acupuncture and music therapy as complementary treatments - Answers A, B, D, E
Which of the following statements about osteoarthritis (OA) is true?
A) OA is a rapidly progressive inflammatory disorder
B) OA is the most common chronic condition affecting the joints
C) Symptoms of OA typically begin before age 30
D) Aging is not considered a risk factor for osteoarthritis - Answers B) OA is the most common
chronic condition affecting the joints
Osteoarthritis is best described as:
A) A rapidly progressive inflammatory disorder of the joints
B) A slowly progressive non-inflammatory disorder of the diarthrodial joints
C) An autoimmune disorder that affects connective tissue
D) A genetic disorder that causes muscle degeneration - Answers B) A slowly progressive non-
inflammatory disorder of the diarthrodial joints
At what age does cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis (OA) typically begin?
A) 10-15 years
B) 20-30 years
C) 30-40 years
D) 50-60 years - Answers B) 20-30 years
Osteoarthritis can be caused by:
A) A genetic mutation that affects collagen production
B) A bacterial infection leading to joint inflammation
C) Chronic exposure to environmental toxins
D) A known event or condition that directly damages cartilage or causes joint instability -
Answers D) A known event or condition that directly damages cartilage or causes joint
instability
Which of the following factors are linked to the development of osteoarthritis? (Select all that
apply)
,A) Estrogen reduction
B) Obesity
C) Excessive exercise
D) Genetic predisposition
E) Hemochromatosis
F) High calcium intake
G) Wear and tear on the joints - Answers A, B, D, E, G
Hemochromatosis - absorb too much iron from food which can damage bones and joints
Which of the following has been shown to decrease the risk of osteoarthritis?
A) Regular moderate exercise
B) Prolonged bed rest and inactivity
C) High-impact exercises without rest
D) Excessive weight loss through extreme dieting - Answers A) Regular moderate exercise
Osteoarthritis results from cartilage damage that triggers a metabolic response at the level of
which cells?
A) Osteocytes
B) Chondrocytes
C) Myocytes
D) Adipocytes - Answers B) Chondrocytes
Cartilage is solely composed of cells known as chondrocytes
How does cartilage in osteoarthritis (OA) typically change as the disease progresses?
A) It becomes thicker and more elastic
B) It becomes more resistant to wear
C) It becomes dull, yellow, granular, and less elastic
D) It regenerates continuously - Answers C) It becomes dull, yellow, granular, and less elastic
In osteoarthritis, the body's inability to repair cartilage leads to:
,A) Formation of new cartilage over damaged surfaces
B) Ongoing destruction causing cracked and worn articular surfaces
C) Complete regeneration of the affected joint
D) Inflammatory response that heals the cartilage - Answers B) Ongoing destruction causing
cracked and worn articular surfaces
As central cartilage becomes thinner in osteoarthritis, what happens at the joint margins?
A) Cartilage and bony growth decrease
B) New cartilage forms to replace the damaged tissue
C) The joint becomes perfectly aligned without further damage
D) Cartilage and bony growth increase, leading to joint surface incongruity - Answers D)
Cartilage and bony growth increase, leading to joint surface incongruity
In osteoarthritis, inflammation is:
A) A hallmark characteristic of the condition
B) Not characteristic of the disease, but secondary synovitis may occur contributing to pain and
stiffness
C) The primary cause of cartilage damage
D) Limited to the ligaments and tendons around the joint - Answers B) Not characteristic of the
disease, but secondary synovitis may occur contributing to pain and stiffness
Which of the following best describes the pain experienced in the later stages of osteoarthritis
(OA)?A) Pain due to inflammation of synovial fluid
B) Pain caused by cartilage repair processes
C) Pain resulting from bone-on-bone contact after cartilage deterioration
D) Pain caused by muscle spasms around the joint - Answers C) Pain resulting from bone-on-
bone contact after cartilage deterioration
Which of the following are common clinical manifestations of osteoarthritis? (Select all that
apply)
A) Mild discomfort to significant disability in joints
B) Localized pain and stiffness in joints
, C) Systemic fever
D) Crepitation (grating sensation in joints)
E) Fatigue
F) Organ involvement - Answers A, B, D
Which of the following are typical deformities seen in osteoarthritis? (Select all that apply)
A) Heberden's nodes in the hands
B) Swan-neck deformity in fingers
C) Joint deformities specific to the affected joints
E) Wrist deformities such as ulnar deviation - Answers A, C
Fatigue, fever and organ involvement is not characteristic of OA.
A) True
B) False - Answers A) True
Which of the following diagnostic studies are commonly used to assess osteoarthritis? (Select
all that apply)
A) Bone scan
B) Computed tomography (CT)
C) Urine studies
D) Synovial fluid analysis
E) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - Answers A, B, D, E
Which of the following nursing management strategies are appropriate for a patient with
osteoarthritis? (Select all that apply)
A) Encourage proper body mechanics to reduce strain on joints
B) Administer pain medication as prescribed
C) Avoid any exercise to prevent joint strain
D) Provide referrals to occupational therapy, physical therapy, and dietary counseling
E) Use acupuncture and music therapy as complementary treatments - Answers A, B, D, E
