Structure & Function of the Body
16th Edition
• Author(s)Kevin T. Patton; Gary A. Thibodeau
TEST BANK
Reference: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Anatomical
position & directions
Question stem: A postoperative nurse documents a new skin
tear on the patient's lower limb as being on the "lateral distal
thigh." Which description best matches that documentation?
A. Inner side of the upper thigh near the groin.
B. Outer side of the upper thigh, away from the hip, near the
knee.
C. Front of the thigh, just above the kneecap.
D. Back of the thigh, close to the buttock.
Correct answer: B
Rationale (correct): "Lateral" means toward the outer side, and
"distal thigh" refers to the portion nearer the knee; together
,this describes the outer upper-thigh nearer the knee. This uses
anatomical direction terms to localize findings.
Rationale (incorrect):
A — Describes medial proximal thigh (inner, nearer hip/groin).
C — Describes anterior thigh, not lateral distal.
D — Describes posterior proximal thigh, not lateral distal.
Teaching point: Lateral = toward outside; distal = farther from
trunk.
Citation: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Anatomical position
& directions
2
Reference: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Planes of the body
Question stem: A clinician orders a CT "axial" view to evaluate a
head injury. Which plane does this correspond to, and what
orientation will the CT images show?
A. Sagittal plane — images viewed from the side, left and right
halves.
B. Frontal (coronal) plane — images viewed showing anterior
and posterior.
C. Transverse (axial) plane — images viewed as cross-sections
from head to foot.
D. Oblique plane — images viewed at an angle between sagittal
and coronal.
Correct answer: C
Rationale (correct): The axial (transverse) plane produces cross-
,sectional images perpendicular to the long axis, showing slices
from top to bottom — that’s standard for CT orientation.
Rationale (incorrect):
A — Sagittal slices separate left/right (not axial).
B — Coronal/frontal separate anterior/posterior (not axial).
D — Oblique is angled and not the standard CT axial
orientation.
Teaching point: Axial/transverse = cross-sectional slices
perpendicular to body long axis.
Citation: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Planes of the body
3
Reference: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Body cavities &
regions
Question stem: A patient arrives after a stab wound just below
the left rib cage; the nurse is concerned about possible organ
injury. Which cavity and regional structures are most
immediately at risk?
A. Abdominal cavity — spleen and stomach in left upper
quadrant.
B. Pelvic cavity — sigmoid colon and urinary bladder.
C. Thoracic cavity — heart and great vessels.
D. Cranial cavity — frontal lobe of the brain.
Correct answer: A
Rationale (correct): The left upper abdominal region houses the
spleen and parts of the stomach; penetrating trauma below the
, left rib cage commonly endangers these abdominal organs.
Rationale (incorrect):
B — Pelvic organs are lower; not under left rib cage.
C — Thoracic cavity lies above the diaphragm; a sub-rib wound
is abdominal unless diaphragm is penetrated.
D — Cranial cavity is unrelated anatomically to sub-rib wounds.
Teaching point: Left upper quadrant contains spleen and
stomach — suspect abdominal injury under left ribs.
Citation: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Body cavities &
regions
4
Reference: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Levels of
organization
Question stem: A nurse explains to a family how a burn that
destroys skin cells affects the patient systemically. Which
explanation best links cellular injury to system-level
impairment?
A. Destroyed skin cells only cause localized pain without
systemic effects.
B. Loss of skin cells disrupts the integumentary barrier,
increasing fluid loss and infection risk, which can alter
circulatory and immune function.
C. Cell loss in skin immediately impairs bone marrow function.
D. Skin cells regenerate instantly, so organ systems are
unaffected.
16th Edition
• Author(s)Kevin T. Patton; Gary A. Thibodeau
TEST BANK
Reference: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Anatomical
position & directions
Question stem: A postoperative nurse documents a new skin
tear on the patient's lower limb as being on the "lateral distal
thigh." Which description best matches that documentation?
A. Inner side of the upper thigh near the groin.
B. Outer side of the upper thigh, away from the hip, near the
knee.
C. Front of the thigh, just above the kneecap.
D. Back of the thigh, close to the buttock.
Correct answer: B
Rationale (correct): "Lateral" means toward the outer side, and
"distal thigh" refers to the portion nearer the knee; together
,this describes the outer upper-thigh nearer the knee. This uses
anatomical direction terms to localize findings.
Rationale (incorrect):
A — Describes medial proximal thigh (inner, nearer hip/groin).
C — Describes anterior thigh, not lateral distal.
D — Describes posterior proximal thigh, not lateral distal.
Teaching point: Lateral = toward outside; distal = farther from
trunk.
Citation: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Anatomical position
& directions
2
Reference: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Planes of the body
Question stem: A clinician orders a CT "axial" view to evaluate a
head injury. Which plane does this correspond to, and what
orientation will the CT images show?
A. Sagittal plane — images viewed from the side, left and right
halves.
B. Frontal (coronal) plane — images viewed showing anterior
and posterior.
C. Transverse (axial) plane — images viewed as cross-sections
from head to foot.
D. Oblique plane — images viewed at an angle between sagittal
and coronal.
Correct answer: C
Rationale (correct): The axial (transverse) plane produces cross-
,sectional images perpendicular to the long axis, showing slices
from top to bottom — that’s standard for CT orientation.
Rationale (incorrect):
A — Sagittal slices separate left/right (not axial).
B — Coronal/frontal separate anterior/posterior (not axial).
D — Oblique is angled and not the standard CT axial
orientation.
Teaching point: Axial/transverse = cross-sectional slices
perpendicular to body long axis.
Citation: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Planes of the body
3
Reference: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Body cavities &
regions
Question stem: A patient arrives after a stab wound just below
the left rib cage; the nurse is concerned about possible organ
injury. Which cavity and regional structures are most
immediately at risk?
A. Abdominal cavity — spleen and stomach in left upper
quadrant.
B. Pelvic cavity — sigmoid colon and urinary bladder.
C. Thoracic cavity — heart and great vessels.
D. Cranial cavity — frontal lobe of the brain.
Correct answer: A
Rationale (correct): The left upper abdominal region houses the
spleen and parts of the stomach; penetrating trauma below the
, left rib cage commonly endangers these abdominal organs.
Rationale (incorrect):
B — Pelvic organs are lower; not under left rib cage.
C — Thoracic cavity lies above the diaphragm; a sub-rib wound
is abdominal unless diaphragm is penetrated.
D — Cranial cavity is unrelated anatomically to sub-rib wounds.
Teaching point: Left upper quadrant contains spleen and
stomach — suspect abdominal injury under left ribs.
Citation: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Body cavities &
regions
4
Reference: Patton & Thibodeau, 2024, Ch. 1: Levels of
organization
Question stem: A nurse explains to a family how a burn that
destroys skin cells affects the patient systemically. Which
explanation best links cellular injury to system-level
impairment?
A. Destroyed skin cells only cause localized pain without
systemic effects.
B. Loss of skin cells disrupts the integumentary barrier,
increasing fluid loss and infection risk, which can alter
circulatory and immune function.
C. Cell loss in skin immediately impairs bone marrow function.
D. Skin cells regenerate instantly, so organ systems are
unaffected.
