The best time to collect a sputum specimen is

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Early in the morning. This is because sputum is most concentrated in the morning due to overnight accumulation. Early morning specimens provide the best quality for analysis and detection of respiratory infections. Choice B is incorrect as food particles can contaminate the specimen. Choice C is incorrect as sputum may have dried up overnight. Choice D is incorrect as sputum may have been diluted by drinking fluids throughout the morning.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is considered the master gland as it secretes hormones that control the functions of other endocrine glands in the body. It produces various hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, reproduction, and stress response. The other choices, B: Thyroid, C: Parathyroid, and D: Adrenal glands, do not have the same comprehensive control over multiple glands as the pituitary gland. Thyroid regulates metabolism, Parathyroid regulates calcium levels, and Adrenal glands regulate stress response and metabolism but do not have the broad control over other glands like the pituitary gland.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Regular activity and exercise benefit the integumentary system by improving blood circulation, which helps deliver essential nutrients to the skin and remove toxins. Exercise also promotes sweating, which aids in cleansing the skin. Additionally, physical activity can help reduce stress levels, which in turn can improve skin conditions. Therefore, the quality and health of the skin is improved through regular activity and exercise. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not directly relate to the integumentary system. Interaction with a roommate, fulfilling spiritual needs, and family opinions of a facility are not factors that impact the health of the skin or the integumentary system.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Hearing. Hearing is generally the last sense to leave a person because sound waves can still reach the inner ear even when other senses have diminished. As the brain activity decreases, auditory stimuli can still be processed. Sight, touch, and smell rely on more complex neural pathways that are usually affected earlier in the process of decline. Therefore, hearing tends to be the last sense to fade away in most cases.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Diagnosis. Diagnosis refers to the process of identifying a disease based on signs, symptoms, and test results. It involves analyzing all available information to determine the specific condition affecting a patient. A: Differential is incorrect as it refers to the process of distinguishing between two or more conditions with similar symptoms. B: Didactic means educational or instructive, not related to disease identification. C: Disability refers to a physical or mental impairment, not the process of identifying a disease. In summary, the correct term for identifying a disease based on signs, symptoms, and testing is diagnosis, making it the most appropriate choice among the options provided.