Deck 17: Abdomen

Question 1

Which of the following is true regarding the stomach?

A)It lies in the lower abdominal cavity.
B)It secretes gastric lipase that serves to digest protein.
C)Very little absorption takes place in the stomach.
D)The stomach produces most of the body's bile.
E)Pancreatic enzymes directly enter the stomach.

Answer 1

Very little absorption takes place in the stomach.

Question 2

Infants born weighing less than 1500 g are at higher risk for

A)hepatitis A.
B)necrotizing enterocolitis.
C)urinary urgency.
D)cystic fibrosis.
E)pancreatitis.

Answer 2

necrotizing enterocolitis.

Question 3

Which abdominal organs also produce hormones and function as endocrine glands?

A)Kidney and liver
B)Liver and gallbladder
C)Stomach and spleen
D)Gallbladder and pancreas
E)Pancreas and kidney

Answer 3

Pancreas and kidney

Question 4

Conversion of fat-soluble wastes to water-soluble material for renal excretion is a function of the

A)spleen.
B)kidney.
C)liver.
D)pancreas.
E)gallbladder.

Question 5

When palpating the abdomen, you should note whether the liver is enlarged in the

A)left upper quadrant.
B)midepigastric region.
C)periumbilical area.
D)right upper quadrant.
E)right lower quadrant.

Question 6

Contraction of the gallbladder propels bile into the

A)stomach.
B)duodenum.
C)jejunum.
D)ileum.
E)cecum.

Question 7

One major function of the liver is to

A)secrete pepsin.
B)emulsify fats.
C)store glycogen.
D)absorb bile.
E)produce insulin.

Question 8

The most pronounced functional change of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in older adults is

A)decreased hydrochloric acid production.
B)increased motility.
C)decreased bile absorption.
D)decreased motility.
E)increased saliva secretion.

Question 9

What part of the small intestine forms a C-shaped curve around the head of the pancreas?

A)Duodenum
B)Ileum
C)Jejunum
D)Falciform ligament
E)Pylorus

Question 10

Peristalsis of intestinal contents is under the control of

A)cognitive processes.
B)gravity.
C)the autonomic nervous system.
D)the fluid content of the stomach.
E)cerebellum.

Question 11

The family history of a patient with diarrhea and abdominal pain should include inquiry about cystic fibrosis because it

A)only affects the GI tract.
B)is one cause of malabsorption syndrome.
C)is a curable condition with medical intervention.
D)is the most frequent cause of diarrhea in general practice.
E)is a common genetic disorder.

Question 12

A serous membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and forms a protective cover for many abdominal structures is the

A)peritoneum.
B)mediastinum.
C)linea alba.
D)mesentery.
E)pleura.

Question 13

The majority of nutrient absorption takes place in the

A)stomach.
B)small intestine.
C)cecum.
D)transverse colon.
E)descending colon.

Question 14

The major function of the large intestine is

A)water absorption.
B)food digestion.
C)carbohydrate absorption.
D)mucous absorption.
E)glycogen breakdown.

Question 15

The superior most part of the stomach is the

A)body.
B)fundus.
C)pylorus.
D)cardiac orifice.
E)pyloric orifice.

Question 16

Which organ(s) are located in the retroperitoneal space?

A)Kidneys
B)Lungs
C)Spleen
D)Gallbladder
E)Liver

Question 17

Which organ is part of the alimentary tract?

A)Pancreas
B)Stomach
C)Gallbladder
D)Liver
E)Spleen

Question 18

Mrs. G is 7 months' pregnant and states that she has developed a problem with constipation. She eats a well-balanced diet and is usually regular. You should explain that constipation is common during pregnancy because of changes in the colorectal areas, such as

A)decreased movement through the colon and increased water absorption from stool.
B)increased movement through the colon and increased salt taken from foods.
C)looser anal sphincter and less nutrients taken from foods.
D)tighter anal sphincter and less iron eliminated in the stool.
E)increased absorption of nutrients and water in the colon.

Question 19

The appendix is an extension of the

A)ileum.
B)cecum.
C)ascending colon.
D)transverse colon.
E)descending colon.

Question 20

The esophagus travels a route from

A)anterior to the trachea through the mediastinal cavity.
B)lateral to the trachea through the diaphragm.
C)left of the trachea through the peritoneum.
D)the anterior trachea through the cardiac orifice.
E)behind the trachea through the mediastinal cavity.

Question 21

When auscultating the abdomen, which finding would indicate collateral circulation between the portal and systemic venous systems?

A)Arterial bruit
B)Gastric rumbling
C)Renal hyperresonance
D)Borborygmi
E)Venous hum

Question 22

An umbilical assessment in the newborn that is of concern is

A)a thick cord.
B)an umbilical hernia.
C)one umbilical artery and two veins.
D)pulsations superior to the umbilicus.
E)visible nondistended superficial veins.

Question 23

You ask the patient to raise the head and shoulders while lying in a supine position. A midline abdominal ridge rises. You chart this observation as a(n)

A)small inguinal hernia.
B)large epigastric hernia.
C)abdominal lipoma.
D)diastasis recti.
E)incisional hernia.

Question 24

Which structure is located in the hypogastric region of the abdomen?

A)Bladder
B)Cecum
C)Gallbladder
D)Stomach
E)Liver

Question 25

Failure to pass a meconium stool in the first 24 hours after birth along with abdominal distention is often the first sign of

A)Meckel diverticulum.
B)cystic fibrosis.
C)biliary atresia.
D)hydramnios.
E)Wilms tumor.

Question 26

To assess for liver enlargement in an obese person, you should

A)use the hook method.
B)test for cutaneous hypersensitivity.
C)auscultate using the scratch technique.
D)attempt palpation during deep exhalation.
E)have the patient lean over at the waist.

Question 27

A patient is complaining of abdominal pain, nausea with vomiting, malaise, and a low-grade fever attributed to eating some "bad food" 4 hours ago. The abdomen is soft and rounded, with hypoactive bowel sounds after 5 minutes of auscultation to each quadrant. Which assessment finding is inconsistent with gastroenteritis?

A)Malaise
B)Low-grade fever
C)Hypoactive bowel sounds
D)Soft, rounded abdomen
E)Abdominal pain

Question 28

When examining a patient with tense abdominal musculature, a helpful technique is to have the patient

A)hold his or her breath.
B)sit upright.
C)flex his or her knees.
D)raise his or her head off the pillow.
E)fully extend the legs.

Question 29

Peritonitis often produces bowel sounds that are

A)decreased.
B)increased.
C)high pitched.
D)absent.
E)accentuated.

Question 30

An examiner can recognize a friction rub in the liver by a sound that is

A)clicking, gurgling, and irregular.
B)high pitched and associated with respirations.
C)loud, prolonged, and gurgling.
D)soft, low-pitched, and continuous.
E)low pitched, tinkling, and unrelated to respirations.

Question 31

Before performing an abdominal examination, the examiner should

A)ascertain the patient's HIV status.
B)have the patient empty his or her bladder.
C)don double gloves.
D)completely disrobe the patient.
E)uncover only the painful areas of the abdomen.

Question 32

Percussion at the right midclavicular line, below the umbilicus, and continuing upward is the correct technique for locating the

A)descending aorta.
B)lower liver border.
C)medial border of the spleen.
D)upper right kidney ridge.
E)stomach.

Question 33

After thorough inspection of the abdomen, the next assessment step is to

A)percuss.
B)palpate nonpainful areas.
C)auscultate.
D)perform a rectal examination.
E)palpate painful areas.

Question 34

Inspection of the abdomen should begin with the patient supine and the examiner

A)seated on the patient's right side.
B)standing at the foot of the table.
C)standing at the patient's left.
D)walking around the table.
E)seated on the patient's left side.

Question 35

When palpating the aorta, a prominent lateral pulsation suggests

A)aortic aneurysm.
B)normal pulsation.
C)renal artery fistula.
D)vena cava varicosity.
E)coarctation.

Question 36

Visible intestinal peristalsis may indicate

A)normal digestion.
B)intestinal obstruction.
C)increased pulse pressure of aorta.
D)aortic aneurysm.
E)paralytic ileus.

Question 37

What condition is associated with striae that remain purplish?

A)Cushing disease
B)Diastasis recti
C)Liver cirrhosis
D)Recent pregnancy
E)Intraabdominal bleeding

Question 38

Auscultation of borborygmi is associated with

A)gastroenteritis.
B)peritonitis.
C)satiety.
D)paralytic ileus.
E)stenotic arteries.

Question 39

To correctly document absent bowel sounds, one must listen continuously for

A)30 seconds.
B)1 minute.
C)3 minutes.
D)5 minutes.
E)10 minutes.

Question 40

Percussion of the abdomen begins with establishing

A)liver dullness.
B)spleen dullness.
C)gastric bubble tympany.
D)overall dullness and tympany in all quadrants.
E)bladder fullness.

Question 41

A 45-year-old man relates a several-week history of severe intermittent abdominal burning sensations. He relates that the pain is relieved with small amounts of food. Before starting the physical examination, you review his laboratory work, anticipating a(n)

A)elevated white blood cell count.
B)decreased potassium level.
C)positive Helicobacter pylori result.
D)increased urine specific gravity.
E)folate deficiency.

Question 42

A patient presents with symptoms that lead you to suspect acute appendicitis. Which assessment finding is least likely to be associated with this condition early in its course?

A)Positive psoas sign
B)Positive McBurney sign
C)History of periumbilical pain
D)Rebound tenderness
E)Obturator muscle test

Question 43

Baby Joe is 6 months old. He has abdominal distention and vomiting and is inconsolable. A sausage-shaped mass is palpable in his right upper quadrant. Joe's lower quadrant feels empty, and a positive Dance sign is noted in his record. Which one of the following conditions is consistent with Baby Joe's symptoms?

A)Intussusception
B)Kidney stones
C)Meconium ileus
D)Pyloric stenosis
E)Necrotizing enterocolitis

Question 44

A 51-year-old woman calls with concerns of weight loss and constipation. She reports enlarged hemorrhoids and rectal bleeding. You advise her to

A)use topical over-the-counter hemorrhoid treatment for 1 week.
B)exercise and eat more fiber.
C)come to the laboratory for a stool guaiac test.
D)eat six small meals a day.
E)go to the emergency department for a barium enema.

Question 45

Flatulence, diarrhea, dysuria, and tenderness with abdominal palpation are findings most associated with

A)peptic ulcer disease.
B)pancreatitis.
C)ruptured ovarian cyst.
D)splenic rupture.
E)diverticulitis.

Question 46

The most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract is

A)biliary atresia.
B)meconium ileus.
C)intussusception.
D)Meckel diverticulum.
E)pyloric stenosis.

Question 47

A mother brings her 2-year-old child for you to assess. The mother feels a lump whenever she fastens the child's diaper. Nephroblastoma is likely for this child when your physical examination of the abdomen reveals a(n)

A)fixed mass palpated in the hypogastric area.
B)tender, midline abdominal mass.
C)olive-sized mass of the right upper quadrant.
D)nontender, slightly moveable, flank mass.
E)sausage-shaped mass in the left upper quadrant.

Question 48

In older adults, overflow fecal incontinence is commonly caused by

A)malabsorption.
B)parasitic diarrhea.
C)Meckel diverticulum.
D)fistula formation.
E)fecal impaction.

Question 49

When using the bimanual technique for palpating the abdomen, you should

A)push down with the bottom hand and the other atop.
B)push down with the top hand and the other atop.
C)place hands side by side and push equally.
D)place one hand anteriorly and the other posteriorly squeezing the hands together.
E)make a fist with the top hand and strike the bottom hand.

Question 50

Patients presenting with ascites, jaundice, cutaneous spider veins, and nonpalpable liver exhibit signs of

A)cholecystitis.
B)pancreatitis.
C)inflammatory bowel disease.
D)diverticulitis.
E)cirrhosis.

Question 51

Urinary incontinence that occurs from the inability to hold urine when the stimulus to urinate is perceived is called _____ incontinence.

A)paralytic
B)urge
C)overflow
D)functional
E)stress

Question 52

A 1-month-old boy has been vomiting for 2 weeks. How is this symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pyloric stenosis further differentiated in this child's assessment?

A)Vomiting becomes projectile with GERD.
B)The infant has regurgitation with pyloric stenosis.
C)An olive-sized mass of the right upper quadrant (RUQ) occurs with GERD.
D)Normal stools are expected with pyloric stenosis.
E)The fontanel becomes sunken with pyloric stenosis.

Question 53

Costovertebral angle tenderness should be assessed whenever you suspect the patient may have

A)cholecystitis.
B)pancreatitis.
C)pyelonephritis.
D)ulcerative colitis.
E)intussusception.

Question 54

Imaging studies reveal that a patient has dilation of the renal pelvis from an obstruction in the ureter. What condition will be documented in this patient's health record?

A)Glomerulonephritis
B)Hydronephrosis
C)Pyelonephritis
D)Renal abscess
E)Renal artery emboli

Question 55

A patient presents to the emergency department after a motor vehicle accident. The patient sustained blunt trauma to the abdomen and complains of pain in the upper left quadrant that radiates to the left shoulder. What organ is most likely injured?

A)Gallbladder
B)Liver
C)Spleen
D)Stomach
E)Colon

Question 56

A 23-year-old man comes to the urgent care clinic with intense left flank and lower left quadrant pain. One patient response to history of present illness questions that further supports a tentative diagnosis of renal calculi is

A)"My urine has been bright yellow."
B)"I have had fever and chills for 2 days."
C)"I also have a headache and neck ache."
D)"My left testicle and shoulder hurt as well."
E)"I have had flatulence and foul-smelling urine."