ATI RN
Integumentary System Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
When a pharmaceutical is administered hypodermically, it is
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Hypodermic administration means delivering a drug 'below the dermis' (from Greek 'hypo' meaning under), typically via injection into the subcutaneous fat layer (hypodermis) beneath the skin, as with insulin shots. Wiping onto the skin is topical, not hypodermic. A patch is transdermal, penetrating through the skin to the bloodstream. Injection into the dermis is intradermal, a shallower method used for tests like TB screening. Hypodermic injections target the fatty subcutaneous layer for slower absorption into circulation, a common medical practice, making this the precise definition.
Question 2 of 5
What must be the case for a drug to be administered transdermally?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Transdermal drugs, applied via patches, must penetrate the skin's lipid-rich stratum corneum, requiring lipid solubility to pass between keratinized cells and reach the bloodstream. Water-soluble drugs struggle to cross this waterproof barrier. Subcutaneous injection bypasses the skin, not transdermal. Chemo-receptor irritation is unrelated to transdermal delivery, which focuses on absorption, not sensory response. Lipid solubility, often enhanced by chemical formulation, is a pharmacological necessity for transdermal success, as seen in drugs like nicotine patches, making this the key requirement.
Question 3 of 5
The skin begins the production of vitamin D in which of the following situations? When
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Vitamin D production starts in the skin when UVB radiation converts 7-dehydrocholesterol in the epidermis to previtamin D3, initiating the process. PTH signals the kidneys to activate vitamin D later, not the skin. Calcium presence is an outcome, not a trigger. Hydroxylation occurs in the liver and kidneys, not the skin, modifying the skin's product. UV exposure is the essential first step, a photochemical reaction unique to epidermal cells, making this the correct initiating condition.
Question 4 of 5
The 'stratum corneum' is part of the skin that:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The stratum corneum, the epidermis's outermost layer, consists of dead, keratinized cells that protect against heat, chemicals, and bacteria, forming a durable barrier. Rapidly dividing cells are in the stratum basale, not corneum. Anchoring to muscle occurs via the hypodermis, not corneum. Collagen, elastin, and reticular fibers are in the dermis, not the avascular epidermis. The corneum's protective role, shedding pathogens and resisting environmental damage, is its primary function, making this the accurate description.
Question 5 of 5
Which list below contains functions that are NOT performed by the integumentary system?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The skin protects, secretes sebum, aids immunity, regulates temperature, excretes sweat, synthesizes vitamin D, perceives stimuli, and protects all true functions. It doesn't synthesize vitamin E, which is dietary, not skin-produced. 'Social function' (e.g., appearance) is a byproduct, not a primary physiological role like temperature regulation. The inclusion of vitamin E synthesis, an incorrect function, makes this list the one with non-integumentary roles.