Structure & Function of the Body
16th Edition
• Author(s)Kevin T. Patton; Gary A. Thibodeau
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1: Introduction to the Body — Language of
science & medicine: anatomical position & directions
Question stem: A confused post-op patient is asked to point to
their left knee while lying supine; they point to the knee that is
nearest the stretcher rail (patient’s right). Which phrase best
describes the nurse’s documentation using standard anatomical
directional language?
A. “Patient pointed to ipsilateral knee.”
B. “Patient pointed to contralateral knee.”
C. “Patient pointed to left lateral knee.”
D. “Patient pointed to right lateral knee.”
,Correct answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): Contralateral denotes the opposite side
relative to a given reference (patient intended left, pointed
to the opposite side). Using precise laterality prevents
wrong-site care. (Patton & Thibodeau emphasize
anatomical directions and laterality for clear clinical
communication.)
• A: Ipsilateral means same side; that would incorrectly
imply the intended and indicated knees were the same
side.
• C: “Left lateral knee” mixes laterality and surface
description but is inaccurate because patient did not point
to the left.
• D: “Right lateral knee” could be anatomically true if patient
pointed to right, but the stem asks for wording that
indicates opposite to intended side (contralateral) —
documentation should reflect the mismatch between
instruction and response.
Teaching point: Use standard anatomical laterality
(ipsilateral/contralateral) to prevent wrong-site errors.
Citation: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Anatomical
position & directions. Elsevier Shop+1
2
,Reference: Ch. 1: Levels of organization — cells → tissues →
organs
Question stem: A novice nurse explains to a patient why a burn
that destroyed the epidermis but spared deeper tissue still
increases infection risk. Which explanation best links structure
to function?
A. “The epidermis has immune cells and barrier proteins that
normally prevent pathogen entry.”
B. “Deep connective tissue produces antibodies that stop
infection when epidermis is lost.”
C. “Blood vessels in the epidermis flush out microbes when the
skin is intact.”
D. “Keratin in the dermis absorbs bacteria to prevent infection.”
Correct answer: A
Rationales:
• Correct (A): The epidermis contains barrier structures
(keratinized cells, tight junctions) and resident immune
cells that provide the first line of defense; loss increases
infection risk—key structure–function concept.
• B: Antibody production is mainly systemic (plasma cells in
deeper tissues and lymphoid organs), not a protective
mechanism unique to deep connective tissue after
epidermal loss.
• C: The epidermis is avascular; blood vessels are in
dermis/subcutaneous tissue and cannot “flush” the
epidermis.
, • D: Keratin is in the epidermis (not dermis) and does not
“absorb” bacteria; it provides mechanical barrier function.
Teaching point: Intact epidermis (keratinized barrier +
resident immune cells) is the skin’s primary defense
against infection.
Citation: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Levels of
organization — tissues and integument. Elsevier Shop
3
Reference: Ch. 1: Planes of the body & movements — clinical
imaging orientation
Question stem: A nurse is preparing a bedside ultrasound and is
told the sonographer will take images in the sagittal plane.
Which nursing statement shows correct understanding when
positioning the transducer?
A. “I’ll align the probe so the image shows left and right
structures side-by-side.”
B. “I’ll align the probe to show anterior and posterior structures
in a single image.”
C. “I’ll rotate the probe to show cross-sections of the limb.”
D. “I’ll place the probe to show top-to-bottom views as if slicing
horizontally.”
Correct answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): The sagittal (median or parasagittal) plane
divides the body into left and right; a sagittal image shows
16th Edition
• Author(s)Kevin T. Patton; Gary A. Thibodeau
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1: Introduction to the Body — Language of
science & medicine: anatomical position & directions
Question stem: A confused post-op patient is asked to point to
their left knee while lying supine; they point to the knee that is
nearest the stretcher rail (patient’s right). Which phrase best
describes the nurse’s documentation using standard anatomical
directional language?
A. “Patient pointed to ipsilateral knee.”
B. “Patient pointed to contralateral knee.”
C. “Patient pointed to left lateral knee.”
D. “Patient pointed to right lateral knee.”
,Correct answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): Contralateral denotes the opposite side
relative to a given reference (patient intended left, pointed
to the opposite side). Using precise laterality prevents
wrong-site care. (Patton & Thibodeau emphasize
anatomical directions and laterality for clear clinical
communication.)
• A: Ipsilateral means same side; that would incorrectly
imply the intended and indicated knees were the same
side.
• C: “Left lateral knee” mixes laterality and surface
description but is inaccurate because patient did not point
to the left.
• D: “Right lateral knee” could be anatomically true if patient
pointed to right, but the stem asks for wording that
indicates opposite to intended side (contralateral) —
documentation should reflect the mismatch between
instruction and response.
Teaching point: Use standard anatomical laterality
(ipsilateral/contralateral) to prevent wrong-site errors.
Citation: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Anatomical
position & directions. Elsevier Shop+1
2
,Reference: Ch. 1: Levels of organization — cells → tissues →
organs
Question stem: A novice nurse explains to a patient why a burn
that destroyed the epidermis but spared deeper tissue still
increases infection risk. Which explanation best links structure
to function?
A. “The epidermis has immune cells and barrier proteins that
normally prevent pathogen entry.”
B. “Deep connective tissue produces antibodies that stop
infection when epidermis is lost.”
C. “Blood vessels in the epidermis flush out microbes when the
skin is intact.”
D. “Keratin in the dermis absorbs bacteria to prevent infection.”
Correct answer: A
Rationales:
• Correct (A): The epidermis contains barrier structures
(keratinized cells, tight junctions) and resident immune
cells that provide the first line of defense; loss increases
infection risk—key structure–function concept.
• B: Antibody production is mainly systemic (plasma cells in
deeper tissues and lymphoid organs), not a protective
mechanism unique to deep connective tissue after
epidermal loss.
• C: The epidermis is avascular; blood vessels are in
dermis/subcutaneous tissue and cannot “flush” the
epidermis.
, • D: Keratin is in the epidermis (not dermis) and does not
“absorb” bacteria; it provides mechanical barrier function.
Teaching point: Intact epidermis (keratinized barrier +
resident immune cells) is the skin’s primary defense
against infection.
Citation: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Levels of
organization — tissues and integument. Elsevier Shop
3
Reference: Ch. 1: Planes of the body & movements — clinical
imaging orientation
Question stem: A nurse is preparing a bedside ultrasound and is
told the sonographer will take images in the sagittal plane.
Which nursing statement shows correct understanding when
positioning the transducer?
A. “I’ll align the probe so the image shows left and right
structures side-by-side.”
B. “I’ll align the probe to show anterior and posterior structures
in a single image.”
C. “I’ll rotate the probe to show cross-sections of the limb.”
D. “I’ll place the probe to show top-to-bottom views as if slicing
horizontally.”
Correct answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): The sagittal (median or parasagittal) plane
divides the body into left and right; a sagittal image shows
