NUR103: Ch. 21- Peripheral Vascular & Lymphatic System

Which statement is true regarding the arterial system?

•  Arteries are large-diameter vessels.

•  The arterial system is a high-pressure system. 

•  The walls of arteries are thinner than those of the veins.

•  Arteries can greatly expand to accommodate a large blood volume increase.

The nurse is reviewing the blood supply to the arm. What major artery supplies blood to the arm?

•  Ulnar

•  Radial

•  Brachial 

•  Deep palmar

The nurse is preparing to assess the dorsalis pedis artery. Where is the correct location for palpation?

•  Behind the knee

•  Over the lateral malleolus

•  In the groove behind the medial malleolus

•  Lateral to the extensor tendon of the great toe 

A 65-year-old patient is experiencing pain in his left calf when he exercises which disappears after resting for a few minutes. What problem in the left leg does this indicate?

•  Venous obstruction

•  Partial blockage of an artery 

•  Claudication due to venous abnormalities

•  Ischemia caused by the complete blockage of an artery

Which vein(s) is(are) responsible for most of the venous return in the arm?

•  Deep

•  Ulnar

•  Subclavian

•  Superficial

The nurse is reviewing the risk factors for venous disease. Which of these situations best describes a person at highest risk for the development of venous disease?

•  Person who has been on bed rest for 4 days 

•  Older adult taking anticoagulant medication

•  Woman in the second month of her first pregnancy

•  Person with a 30-year, 1 pack per day smoking habit

The nurse is teaching a review class on the lymphatic system. Which statement by a class participant indicates correct understanding of the material?

•  “Lymph flow is propelled by the contraction of the heart.”

•  “The flow of lymph is slow, compared with that of the blood.

•  “One of the functions of the lymph is to absorb lipids from the biliary tract.”

•  “Lymph vessels have no valves; therefore, lymph fluid flows freely from the tissue spaces into the bloodstream.”

The nurse uses the profile sign during an assessment. What does this technique detect?

•  Barrel chest

•  Early clubbing 

•  Symmetry of the fingers

•  Insufficient capillary refill

The nurse is performing an assessment on an adult. The adult’s vital signs are normal, and capillary refill time is 5 seconds. What should the nurse do next?

•  Ask the patient about a history of frostbite.

•  Suspect that the patient has venous insufficiency.

•  Consider this a delayed capillary refill time, and investigate further. 

•  Consider this a normal capillary refill time that requires no further assessment.

A patient is recovering from several hours of orthopedic surgery. During an assessment of the patient’s lower legs, the nurse will monitor for signs of acute venous symptoms. Signs of acute venous symptoms include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

•  Sudden onset 

•  Warm, red, and swollen calf 

•  Pain that is worse at the end of the day

•  Pain that is relieved with elevation of the leg.

•  Intense, sharp pain, with the deep muscle tender to the touch