When the patient returns to the unit from having had an arthrogram, which intervention will the nurse perform first?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: After an arthrogram, where contrast dye is injected into a joint, the priority is managing potential swelling or discomfort from the procedure. Applying ice packs reduces inflammation and numbs mild pain, addressing immediate post-procedure effects. Ambulating the patient might worsen swelling or discomfort before it's controlled. Passive range-of-motion exercises could irritate the joint further, especially without first reducing inflammation. Wrapping with an elastic bandage helps with support but doesn't directly address swelling as effectively as ice in the initial stage. Ice is the first step because it tackles the physiological response to the injection, setting the stage for subsequent interventions like compression or movement, ensuring patient comfort and recovery.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Carpal tunnel syndrome arises from median nerve compression in the wrist, often from repetitive typing without support. A wrist pad maintains a neutral position, reducing strain on the tunnel during prolonged work, a proactive ergonomic fix. Repetitive flexion exercises could worsen pressure on the nerve, increasing risk. Elastic bandages might restrict movement but don't address posture and could impair circulation. Warm compresses soothe but don't prevent the underlying mechanical stress. The pad targets the root cause poor wrist alignment making it the most effective suggestion for a secretary's daily typing demands.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Fixators are muscles that stabilize the origin of a prime mover, allowing it to move more effectively by preventing unwanted movement at the point of attachment. This stabilization ensures that the force generated by the prime mover is directed toward the intended action, such as lifting or rotating a limb. For example, in shoulder abduction, fixator muscles stabilize the scapula so the deltoid can efficiently lift the arm. Superficial describes muscle location, not function. Synergists assist the prime mover by reducing unnecessary movement or enhancing its action, but they do not specifically stabilize the origin. Aponeurosis is a structural term for a tendon-like sheet, not a muscle type or function. The role of stabilizing the origin is a distinct characteristic of fixators, making it the correct choice here, as it directly supports the prime mover's efficiency in movement.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The anal triangle is the posterior region of the pelvic floor, containing the anus and bounded by the coccyx and ischial tuberosities. It's distinct from the anterior urogenital triangle and is key in understanding perineal anatomy, especially in procedures like episiotomies. Fixators are muscles, not regions. Origin and insertion are muscle attachment points, not pelvic areas. The anal triangle precisely fits the description, making it the correct answer, as it identifies the specific anatomical zone housing the anus, critical for both structural and clinical contexts in the pelvic floor.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Mastication (chewing) involves the masseter, temporalis, and medial/lateral pterygoid muscles, which elevate, retract, and laterally move the mandible. The masseter is the strongest, closing the jaw; temporalis assists in elevation and retraction; pterygoids enable grinding. Genioglossus and related tongue muscles move the tongue, not the jaw. Omohyoid and neck muscles affect the hyoid, not mastication. Rectus abdominis is an abdominal muscle, unrelated. The masseter-temporalis-pterygoid group is the correct answer, as it directly powers jaw movement during chewing, critical for breaking down food, unlike the other muscle groups focused on different functions.