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 — Levels of Organization &
Clinical Correlation
Question Stem
A 68-year-old patient admitted after a hip fracture shows
prolonged wound healing and recurrent infections. The nurse
notes low serum albumin and decreased lymphocyte count.
,Which level of organization best explains how a systemic
nutritional deficit impairs wound healing?
Options
A. Cellular — individual fibroblast and leukocyte function is
impaired.
B. Tissue — the integumentary tissue layer structurally fails to
close the wound.
C. Organ — the skin as an organ loses its blood supply.
D. Organism — the patient’s overall nutritional state affects
multiple organ systems.
Correct Answer
D
Rationales
Correct (D): Nutritional deficits operate at the organism level—
systemic hypoalbuminemia and immunosuppression affect
multiple tissues and organs, reducing collagen synthesis,
immune cell function, and overall healing capacity; nurses must
address whole-patient nutrition to restore function.
A: While cellular dysfunction (fibroblasts/leukocytes) occurs, it
is a downstream effect of organism-level deficits and does not
capture the systemic cause.
B: Tissue-level failure describes the local wound but not the
systemic etiology causing impaired repair.
C: Loss of blood supply is an organ/local perfusion issue and is
not the primary mechanism in generalized malnutrition.
,Teaching Point
Systemic (organism) disturbances often underlie cellular and
tissue dysfunction.
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Language of Science & Medicine — Anatomical Position
& Directions
Question Stem
A patient with a penetrating stab wound presents with bleeding
on the posterior-inferior aspect of the right thorax. Using
anatomical direction terms, where should the nurse palpate to
assess for subcutaneous emphysema?
Options
A. Right anterior-superior chest wall.
B. Right posterior-inferior thoracic region.
C. Left posterior-inferior thoracic region.
D. Right lateral superior thoracic area.
Correct Answer
B
, Rationales
Correct (B): Posterior-inferior describes the dorsal, lower sector
of the right thorax; palpation there corresponds anatomically to
the site of the reported injury and possible pleural disruption.
A: Anterior-superior is the opposite (ventral, upper) area and
would miss a dorsal lower thoracic lesion.
C: Left posterior-inferior is contralateral—incorrect side for a
right-sided wound.
D: Right lateral superior is more lateral and superior than the
described posterior-inferior region.
Teaching Point
Use consistent anatomical position and directional terms for
precise assessment.
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Planes of the Body — Clinical Imaging Correlation
Question Stem
A nurse reviews a CT scan reported in the sagittal plane to
evaluate a patient’s cervical spine alignment after a fall. Which
anatomic relationship does a sagittal image best demonstrate?
16TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)KEVIN T. PATTON; GARY
A. THIBODEAU
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to the Body — Levels of Organization &
Clinical Correlation
Question Stem
A 68-year-old patient admitted after a hip fracture shows
prolonged wound healing and recurrent infections. The nurse
notes low serum albumin and decreased lymphocyte count.
,Which level of organization best explains how a systemic
nutritional deficit impairs wound healing?
Options
A. Cellular — individual fibroblast and leukocyte function is
impaired.
B. Tissue — the integumentary tissue layer structurally fails to
close the wound.
C. Organ — the skin as an organ loses its blood supply.
D. Organism — the patient’s overall nutritional state affects
multiple organ systems.
Correct Answer
D
Rationales
Correct (D): Nutritional deficits operate at the organism level—
systemic hypoalbuminemia and immunosuppression affect
multiple tissues and organs, reducing collagen synthesis,
immune cell function, and overall healing capacity; nurses must
address whole-patient nutrition to restore function.
A: While cellular dysfunction (fibroblasts/leukocytes) occurs, it
is a downstream effect of organism-level deficits and does not
capture the systemic cause.
B: Tissue-level failure describes the local wound but not the
systemic etiology causing impaired repair.
C: Loss of blood supply is an organ/local perfusion issue and is
not the primary mechanism in generalized malnutrition.
,Teaching Point
Systemic (organism) disturbances often underlie cellular and
tissue dysfunction.
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Language of Science & Medicine — Anatomical Position
& Directions
Question Stem
A patient with a penetrating stab wound presents with bleeding
on the posterior-inferior aspect of the right thorax. Using
anatomical direction terms, where should the nurse palpate to
assess for subcutaneous emphysema?
Options
A. Right anterior-superior chest wall.
B. Right posterior-inferior thoracic region.
C. Left posterior-inferior thoracic region.
D. Right lateral superior thoracic area.
Correct Answer
B
, Rationales
Correct (B): Posterior-inferior describes the dorsal, lower sector
of the right thorax; palpation there corresponds anatomically to
the site of the reported injury and possible pleural disruption.
A: Anterior-superior is the opposite (ventral, upper) area and
would miss a dorsal lower thoracic lesion.
C: Left posterior-inferior is contralateral—incorrect side for a
right-sided wound.
D: Right lateral superior is more lateral and superior than the
described posterior-inferior region.
Teaching Point
Use consistent anatomical position and directional terms for
precise assessment.
Citation
Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2020). Structure & function of
the body (16th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Planes of the Body — Clinical Imaging Correlation
Question Stem
A nurse reviews a CT scan reported in the sagittal plane to
evaluate a patient’s cervical spine alignment after a fall. Which
anatomic relationship does a sagittal image best demonstrate?
