Chapter 22 Practice Questions - Abdomen

Question 1

The nurse is percussing the seventh right intercostal space at the midclavicular line over the liver. Which sound should the nurse expect to hear?

a. Dullness
b. Tympany
c. Resonance
d. Hyperresonance

Answer 1

a. Dullness

Question 2

Which structure is located in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen?
a. Liver
b. Duodenum
c. Gallbladder
d. Sigmoid colon

Answer 2

d. Sigmoid colon

Question 3

A patient is having difficulty swallowing medications and food. The nurse would document that this patient has:
a. Aphasia.
b. Dysphasia.
c. Dysphagia.
d. Anorexia

Answer 3

c. Dysphagia.

Question 4

The nurse suspects that a patient has a distended bladder. How should the nurse assess for this condition?
a. Percuss and palpate in the lumbar region.
b. Inspect and palpate in the epigastric region.
c. Auscultate and percuss in the inguinal region.
d. Percuss and palpate the midline area above the suprapubic bone.

Answer 4

d. Percuss and palpate the midline area above the suprapubic bone.

Question 5

The nurse is aware that one change that may occur in the gastrointestinal system of an aging adult is:
a. Increased salivation.
b. Increased liver size.
c. Increased esophageal emptying.
d. Decreased gastric acid secretion

Answer 5

d. Decreased gastric acid secretion

Question 6

A 22-year-old man comes to the clinic for an examination after falling off his motorcycle and landing on his left side on the handle bars. The nurse suspects that he may have injured his spleen. Which of these statements is true regarding assessment of the spleen in this situation?
a. The spleen can be enlarged as a result of trauma.
b. The spleen is normally felt on routine palpation.
c. If an enlarged spleen is noted, then the nurse should thoroughly palpate to determine its size.
d. An enlarged spleen should not be palpated because it can easily rupture.

Answer 6

d. An enlarged spleen should not be palpated because it can easily rupture.

Question 7

A patients abdomen is bulging and stretched in appearance. The nurse should describe this finding as:
a. Obese.
b. Herniated.
c. Scaphoid.
d. Protuberant

Answer 7

d. Protuberant

Question 8

The nurse is describing a scaphoid abdomen. To the horizontal plane, a scaphoid contour of the abdomen depicts a ______ profile.
a. Flat
b. Convex
c. Bulging
d. Concave

Answer 8

d. Concave

Question 9

While examining a patient, the nurse observes abdominal pulsations between the xiphoid process and umbilicus. The nurse would suspect that these are:
a. Pulsations of the renal arteries.
b. Pulsations of the inferior vena cava.
c. Normal abdominal aortic pulsations.
d. Increased peristalsis from a bowel obstruction.

Answer 9

c. Normal abdominal aortic pulsations.

Question 10

A patient has hypoactive bowel sounds. The nurse knows that a potential cause of hypoactive bowel sounds is:
a. Diarrhea.
b. Peritonitis.
c. Laxative use.
d. Gastroenteritis

Answer 10

b. Peritonitis.

Question 11

The nurse is watching a new graduate nurse perform auscultation of a patients abdomen. Which statement by the new graduate shows a correct understanding of the reason auscultation precedes percussion and palpation of the abdomen?
a. We need to determine the areas of tenderness before using percussion and palpation.
b. Auscultation prevents distortion of bowel sounds that might occur after percussion and palpation.
c. Auscultation allows the patient more time to relax and therefore be more comfortable with the
physical examination.
d. Auscultation prevents distortion of vascular sounds, such as bruits and hums, that might occur after
percussion and palpation.

Answer 11

b. Auscultation prevents distortion of bowel sounds that might occur after percussion and palpation.

Question 12

The nurse is listening to bowel sounds. Which of these statements is true of bowel sounds? Bowel sounds:
a. Are usually loud, high-pitched, rushing, and tinkling sounds.
b. Are usually high-pitched, gurgling, and irregular sounds.
c. Sound like two pieces of leather being rubbed together.
d. Originate from the movement of air and fluid through the large intestine.

Answer 12

b. Are usually high-pitched, gurgling, and irregular sounds.

Question 13

The physician comments that a patient has abdominal borborygmi. The nurse knows that this term refers to:
a. Loud continual hum.
b. Peritoneal friction rub.
c. Hypoactive bowel sounds.
d. Hyperactive bowel sounds.

Answer 13

d. Hyperactive bowel sounds.

Question 14

During an abdominal assessment, the nurse would consider which of these findings as normal?
a. Presence of a bruit in the femoral area
b. Tympanic percussion note in the umbilical region
c. Palpable spleen between the ninth and eleventh ribs in the left midaxillary line
d. Dull percussion note in the left upper quadrant at the midclavicular line

Answer 14

b. Tympanic percussion note in the umbilical region

Question 15

The nurse is assessing the abdomen of a pregnant woman who is complaining of having acid indigestion all the time. The nurse knows that esophageal reflux during pregnancy can cause:
a. Diarrhea.
b. Pyrosis.
c. Dysphagia.
d. Constipation.

Answer 15

b. Pyrosis.

Question 16

The nurse is performing percussion during an abdominal assessment. Percussion notes heard during the abdominal assessment may include:
a. Flatness, resonance, and dullness.
b. Resonance, dullness, and tympany.
c. Tympany, hyperresonance, and dullness.
d. Resonance, hyperresonance, and flatness

Answer 16

c. Tympany, hyperresonance, and dullness.

Question 17

An older patient has been diagnosed with pernicious anemia. The nurse knows that this condition could be related to:
a. Increased gastric acid secretion.
b. Decreased gastric acid secretion.
c. Delayed gastrointestinal emptying time.
d. Increased gastrointestinal emptying time.

Answer 17

b. Decreased gastric acid secretion.

Question 18

A patient is complaining of a sharp pain along the costovertebral angles. The nurse is aware that this symptom is most often indicative of:
a. Ovary infection.
b. Liver enlargement.
c. Kidney inflammation.
d. Spleen enlargement.

Answer 18

c. Kidney inflammation.

Question 19

A nurse notices that a patient has ascites, which indicates the presence of:
a. Fluid.
b. Feces.
c. Flatus.
d. Fibroid tumors.

Answer 19

a. Fluid.

Question 20

The nurse knows that during an abdominal assessment, deep palpation is used to determine:
a. Bowel motility.
b. Enlarged organs.
c. Superficial tenderness.
d. Overall impression of skin surface and superficial musculature.

Answer 20

b. Enlarged organs.

Question 21

The nurse notices that a patient has had a black, tarry stool and recalls that a possible cause would be:
a. Gallbladder disease.
b. Overuse of laxatives.
c. Gastrointestinal bleeding.
d. Localized bleeding around the anus.

Answer 21

c. Gastrointestinal bleeding.

Question 22

During an abdominal assessment, the nurse elicits tenderness on light palpation in the right lower quadrant. The nurse interprets that this finding could indicate a disorder of which of these structures?
a. Spleen
b. Sigmoid
c. Appendix
d. Gallbladder

Answer 22

c. Appendix

Question 23

The nurse is assessing the abdomen of an older adult. Which statement regarding the older adult and abdominal assessment is true?
a. Abdominal tone is increased.
b. Abdominal musculature is thinner.
c. Abdominal rigidity with an acute abdominal condition is more common.
d. The older adult with an acute abdominal condition complains more about pain than the younger

Answer 23

b. Abdominal musculature is thinner.

Question 24

During an assessment of a newborn infant, the nurse recalls that pyloric stenosis would be exhibited by:
a. Projectile vomiting.
b. Hypoactive bowel activity.
c. Palpable olive-sized mass in the right lower quadrant.
d. Pronounced peristaltic waves crossing from right to left.

Answer 24

a. Projectile vomiting.

Question 25

The nurse is reviewing the assessment of an aortic aneurysm. Which of these statements is true regarding an aortic aneurysm?
a. A bruit is absent.
b. Femoral pulses are increased.
c. A pulsating mass is usually present.
d. Most are located below the umbilicus.

Answer 25

c. A pulsating mass is usually present.

Question 26

During an abdominal assessment, the nurse is unable to hear bowel sounds in a patients abdomen. Before reporting this finding as silent bowel sounds, the nurse should listen for at least:
a. 1 minute.
b. 5 minutes.
c. 10 minutes.
d. 2 minutes in each quadrant

Answer 26

b. 5 minutes.

Question 27

A patient is suspected of having inflammation of the gallbladder, or cholecystitis. The nurse should conduct which of these techniques to assess for this condition?
a. Obturator test
b. Test for Murphy sign
c. Assess for rebound tenderness
d. Iliopsoas muscle test

Answer 27

b. Test for Murphy sign

Question 28

Just before going home, a new mother asks the nurse about the infants umbilical cord. Which of these statements is correct?
a. It should fall off in 10 to 14 days.
b. It will soften before it falls off.
c. It contains two veins and one artery.
d. Skin will cover the area within 1 week.

Answer 28

a. It should fall off in 10 to 14 days.

Question 29

Which of these percussion findings would the nurse expect to find in a patient with a large amount of ascites?
a. Dullness across the abdomen
b. Flatness in the right upper quadrant
c. Hyperresonance in the left upper quadrant
d. Tympany in the right and left lower quadrants

Answer 29

a. Dullness across the abdomen

Question 30

A 40-year-old man states that his physician told him that he has a hernia. He asks the nurse to explain what a hernia is. Which response by the nurse is appropriate?
a. No need to worry. Most men your age develop hernias.
b. A hernia is a loop of bowel protruding through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles.
c. A hernia is the result of prenatal growth abnormalities that are just now causing problems.
d. Ill have to have your physician explain this to you.

Answer 30

b. A hernia is a loop of bowel protruding through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles.

Question 31

A 45-year-old man is in the clinic for a physical examination. During the abdominal assessment, the nurse percusses the abdomen and notices an area of dullness above the right costal margin of approximately 11 cm. The nurse should:
a. Document the presence of hepatomegaly.
b. Ask additional health history questions regarding his alcohol intake.
c. Describe this dullness as indicative of an enlarged liver, and refer him to a physician.
d. Consider this finding as normal, and proceed with the examination.

Answer 31

d. Consider this finding as normal, and proceed with the examination.

Question 32

When palpating the abdomen of a 20-year-old patient, the nurse notices the presence of tenderness in the left upper quadrant with deep palpation. Which of these structures is most likely to be involved?
a. Spleen
b. Sigmoid colon
c. Appendix
d. Gallbladder

Answer 32

a. Spleen

Question 33

The nurse is reviewing statistics for lactose intolerance. In the United States, the incidence of lactose intolerance is higher in adults of which ethnic group?
a. Blacks
b. Hispanics
c. Whites
d. Asians

Answer 33

a. Blacks

Question 34

The nurse is assessing a patient for possible peptic ulcer disease. Which condition or history often causes this problem?
a. Hypertension
b. Streptococcal infections
c. Recurrent constipation with frequent laxative use
d. Frequent use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs

Answer 34

d. Frequent use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs

Question 35

During reporting, the student nurse hears that a patient has hepatomegaly and recognizes that this term refers to:
a. Enlarged liver.
b. Enlarged spleen.
c. Distended bowel.
d. Excessive diarrhea.

Answer 35

a. Enlarged liver.

Question 36

During an assessment, the nurse notices that a patients umbilicus is enlarged and everted. It is positioned midline with no change in skin color. The nurse recognizes that the patient may have which condition?
a. Intra-abdominal bleeding
b. Constipation
c. Umbilical hernia
d. Abdominal tumor

Answer 36

c. Umbilical hernia

Question 37

During an abdominal assessment, the nurse tests for a fluid wave. A positive fluid wave test occurs with:
a. Splenomegaly.
b. Distended bladder.
c. Constipation.
d. Ascites.

Answer 37

d. Ascites.

Question 38

The nurse is preparing to examine a patient who has been complaining of right lower quadrant pain. Which technique is correct during the assessment?
The nurse should:
a. Examine the tender area first.
b. Examine the tender area last.
c. Avoid palpating the tender area.
d. Palpate the tender area first, and then auscultate for bowel sounds.

Answer 38

b. Examine the tender area last.

Question 39

During a health history, the patient tells the nurse, I have pain all the time in my stomach. Its worse 2 hours after I eat, but it gets better if I eat again! Based on these symptoms, the nurse suspects that the patient has
which condition?
a. Appendicitis
b. Gastric ulcer
c. Duodenal ulcer
d. Cholecystitis

Answer 39

c. Duodenal ulcer