11E-Assessment of the Thorax

Nurse Bambi is teaching a patient on how muscles of respiration work. Nurse Bambi is correct when he says which muscle contracts during inspiration to expand the thoracic cavity?

• External intercostals

• Diaphragm

• Pectoralis Major

• Sternocleidomastoid

In the healthy adult, the lubricating serous fluid between the layers allows movement of the visceral layer over the parietal layer during ventilation. Severe dehydration will reduce the volume of pleural fluid, resulting in which abnormality?

• Friction rub

• Wheezing

• Rales

• Gurgles

Nurse Jada is assessing a patient laterally, he knows that the following vertical reference lines will help him describe a location of the chest wall. Select All That Apply.

• Mid-axillary Line

• Anterior Axillary Line

• Posterior Axillary Line

• Upper Axillary Line

• Lower Axillary Line

Nurse Irma is taking care of a patient with a deformity on the chest characterized by a narrow transverse diameter, an increased anteroposterior diameter, and a protruding sternum. Nurse Irma is correct when she identifies this deformity as?

• Pigeon Chest

• Barrel Chest

• Funnel Chest

• Kyphosis

A Clinical Instructor is asking a student nurse about the mechanism of breathing, specifically what happens during expiration. The student nurse is correct when she answers the following; Select All That Apply.

• Diaphragm descends and rib cage expands

• Diaphragm relaxes and rib cage recoils

• Atmospheric pressure is greater than alveolar pressure

• Alveolar pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure

• Thoracic cavity volume decreases, pressure increases

Nurse Jack is assessing a patient for breath sounds. As Nurse Jack auscultated, he hears a “blowing” sound, of moderate-intensity and moderate-pitched. Nurse Jack is correct when he identifies it as which breath sound?

• Vesicular

• Bronchovesicular

• Bronchial

• Wheeze

Nurse Steven is admitting a patient with scoliosis. Upon initial physical assessment, which observations can Nurse Steven find? Select All That Apply

• Uneven shoulders

• Curve in spine

• Uneven hips

• Exaggerated inward curve of the spine

• Exaggerated, forward rounding of the back

Nurse Susie is about to percuss the posterior thorax of a patient. Nurse Susie is correct when she positions the patient in which position?

• bend the head and fold the arms forward across the chest

• stand straight and arms at the side

• sitting position with the arms at the side

• prone with arms at the side

Nurse Mia is about to percuss the lateral thorax of a patient. Nurse Mia is correct when she starts percussion at the axilla working down to which rib?

• 7^th rib

• 8^th rib

• 9^th rib

• 10^th rib

Nurse Emmi is inspecting the configuration of the posterior thorax of a patient with funnel chest. Nurse Emmi is correct when she describes which chest configuration?

• narrow transverse diameter, an increased anteroposterior diameter

• narrowing the anteroposterior diameter

• ratio of the anteroposterior to transverse diameter is 1 to 1

• anteroposterior diameter is half its transverse diameter