ATI RN
Questions for Muscular System Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse uses a visual aid to show the pathologic muscle tone changes that result in footdrop. Those changes are:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Footdrop occurs when the ankle dorsiflexors, responsible for lifting the foot, weaken or become overstretched, often due to immobility or nerve damage. This allows the plantar flexors (calf muscles) to dominate, pulling the foot downward. The flexor muscles, including dorsiflexors like the tibialis anterior, stretch and lose tone, leading to the characteristic drooping posture. Calf muscles stretching would imply the opposite, raising the foot, which doesn't fit footdrop. Toes curling downward suggests a different condition, like claw toes, not the flaccid drop of this issue. Thigh muscle contraction is unrelated, as footdrop stems from lower leg dynamics. The visual aid highlights this imbalance, showing how flexor overstretching results in the inability to lift the foot, a key feature of the condition.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse explains that the major advantage of the external fixation device is that the patient:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: External fixation stabilizes fractures with pins and a frame outside the skin, allowing precise alignment. Its major advantage is greater freedom of movement, as the limb isn't encased like in a cast, permitting easier access for wound care and some mobility, depending on the injury. Healing speed depends on the fracture, not the device alone. Weight-bearing varies by case and isn't immediate. Pain levels aren't inherently lower than other methods. Movement freedom stands out, enhancing patient comfort and care flexibility, distinguishing external fixation from more restrictive options like casts or traction.
Question 3 of 5
While the nurse is giving morning care to a patient who sustained a fractured pelvis and bilateral fractures of the femur in a motorcycle accident yesterday, the patient complains of shortness of breath and is audibly wheezing. An assessment of the oxygen saturation reveals 76%. The initial intervention by the nurse should be to:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sudden shortness of breath, wheezing, and 76% oxygen saturation post-fracture suggest a fat embolism, a life-threatening complication from long bone trauma. Administering oxygen at 4-5 L/min via nasal cannula is the initial step to boost oxygenation, stabilizing the patient while further help is sought. Alerting the code team is premature without first aiding breathing. Informing the charge nurse follows oxygen delivery, as does raising to high Fowler's to ease breathing but oxygen comes first. This rapid response addresses hypoxia directly, critical in trauma where respiratory decline can escalate fast, buying time for diagnosis and treatment.
Question 4 of 5
The pelvic floor; the space between the anus and the scrotum in the male and between the anus and the vulva in the female.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The perineum is the region of the pelvic floor between the anus and scrotum in males or vulva in females, encompassing both the anal and urogenital triangles. It serves as the external base of the pelvic cavity and contains muscles, nerves, and other structures. Compartment refers to muscle groups, not this region. The urogenital triangle is only part of the perineum, not the whole area. Fixators are stabilizing muscles, unrelated to this anatomical space. The perineum's definition matches the question perfectly, making it the correct answer, as it broadly describes the pelvic floor area between these landmarks, critical for understanding pelvic anatomy and clinical conditions like perineal tears.
Question 5 of 5
This type of muscle works by stabilizing the origin of the agonist so that it can act more efficiently.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Fixators stabilize the origin of the agonist (prime mover), ensuring its force is directed efficiently toward the intended movement. For example, during arm abduction, scapular fixators (e.g., trapezius) hold the scapula steady so the deltoid can lift the arm. Synergists assist the agonist by refining motion, not stabilizing origins. The agonist is the main mover, not a stabilizer. Antagonists oppose the agonist. Fixators' role in anchoring the origin enhances movement precision, making it the correct answer, as it supports the agonist's action by preventing unwanted shifts at the stationary attachment, a key aspect of coordinated muscle function.