Chapter 14 Head, Face, Neck, and Lymphatics Practice Questions

Question 1

A physician tells the nurse that a patients vertebra prominens is tender and asks the nurse to reevaluate the area in 1 hour. The area of the body the nurse will assess is:

a. Just above the diaphragm.
b. Just lateral to the knee cap.
c. At the level of the C7 vertebra.
d. At the level of the T11 vertebra.

Answer 1

c. At the level of the C7 vertebra.

Question 2

A mother brings her 2-month-old daughter in for an examination and says, My daughter rolled over against the wall, and now I have noticed that she has this spot that is soft on the top of her head. Is something terribly wrong? The nurses best response would be:

a. Perhaps that could be a result of your dietary intake during pregnancy.
b. Your baby may have craniosynostosis, a disease of the sutures of the brain.
c. That soft spot may be an indication of cretinism or congenital hypothyroidism.
d. That soft spot is normal, and actually allows for growth of the brain during the first year of your babys life.

Answer 2

d. That soft spot is normal, and actually allows for growth of the brain during the first year of your babys life.

Question 3

The nurse notices that a patients palpebral fissures are not symmetric. On examination, the nurse may find that damage has occurred to which cranial nerve (CN)?

a. III
b. V
c. VII
d. VIII

Answer 3

c. VII

Question 4

A patient is unable to differentiate between sharp and dull stimulation to both sides of her face. The nurse suspects:

a. Bell palsy.
b. Damage to the trigeminal nerve.
c. Frostbite with resultant paresthesia to the cheeks.
d. Scleroderma.

Answer 4

b. Damage to the trigeminal nerve.

Question 5

When examining the face of a patient, the nurse is aware that the two pairs of salivary glands that are accessible to examination are the ___________ and ___________ glands.

a. Occipital; submental
b. Parotid; jugulodigastric
c. Parotid; submandibular
d. Submandibular; occipital

Answer 5

c. Parotid; submandibular

Question 6

A patient comes to the clinic complaining of neck and shoulder pain and is unable to turn her head. The nurse suspects damage to CN ______ and proceeds with the examination by _____________.

a. XI; palpating the anterior and posterior triangles
b. XI; asking the patient to shrug her shoulders against resistance
c. XII; percussing the sternomastoid and submandibular neck muscles
d. XII; assessing for a positive Romberg sign

Answer 6

b. XI; asking the patient to shrug her shoulders against resistance

Question 7

When examining a patients CN function, the nurse remembers that the muscles in the neck that are innervated by CN XI are the:

a. Sternomastoid and trapezius.
b. Spinal accessory and omohyoid.
c. Trapezius and sternomandibular.
d. Sternomandibular and spinal accessory.

Answer 7

a. Sternomastoid and trapezius.

Question 8

A patients laboratory data reveal an elevated thyroxine (T4) level. The nurse would proceed with an examination of the _____ gland.

a. Thyroid
b. Parotid
c. Adrenal
d. Parathyroid

Answer 8

a. Thyroid

Question 9

A patient says that she has recently noticed a lump in the front of her neck below her Adams apple that seems to be getting bigger. During the assessment, the finding that leads the nurse to suspect that this may not be a cancerous thyroid nodule is that the lump (nodule):

a. Is tender.
b. Is mobile and not hard.
c. Disappears when the patient smiles.
d. Is hard and fixed to the surrounding structures.

Answer 9

b. Is mobile and not hard.

Question 10

The nurse notices that a patients submental lymph nodes are enlarged. In an effort to identify the cause of the node enlargement, the nurse would assess the patients:

a. Infraclavicular area.
b. Supraclavicular area.
c. Area distal to the enlarged node.
d. Area proximal to the enlarged node.

Answer 10

d. Area proximal to the enlarged node.

Question 11

The nurse is aware that the four areas in the body where lymph nodes are accessible are the:

a. Head, breasts, groin, and abdomen.
b. Arms, breasts, inguinal area, and legs.
c. Head and neck, arms, breasts, and axillae.
d. Head and neck, arms, inguinal area, and axillae.

Answer 11

d. Head and neck, arms, inguinal area, and axillae.

Question 12

A mother brings her newborn in for an assessment and asks, Is there something wrong with my baby? His head seems so big. Which statement is true regarding the relative proportions of the head and trunk of the newborn?

a. At birth, the head is one fifth the total length.
b. Head circumference should be greater than chest circumference at birth.
c. The head size reaches 90% of its final size when the child is 3 years old.
d. When the anterior fontanel closes at 2 months, the head will be more proportioned to the body.

Answer 12

b. Head circumference should be greater than chest circumference at birth.

Question 13

A patient, an 85-year-old woman, is complaining about the fact that the bones in her face have become more noticeable. What explanation should the nurse give her?

a. Diets low in protein and high in carbohydrates may cause enhanced facial bones.
b. Bones can become more noticeable if the person does not use a dermatologically approved
moisturizer.
c. More noticeable facial bones are probably due to a combination of factors related to aging, such as decreased elasticity, subcutaneous fat, and moisture in her skin.
d. Facial skin becomes more elastic with age. This increased elasticity causes the skin to be more taught, drawing attention to the facial bones.

Answer 13

c. More noticeable facial bones are probably due to a combination of factors related to aging, such as decreased elasticity, subcutaneous fat, and moisture in her skin.

Question 14

A patient reports excruciating headache pain on one side of his head, especially around his eye, forehead, and cheek that has lasted approximately to 2 hours, occurring once or twice each day. The nurse should suspect:

a. Hypertension.
b. Cluster headaches.
c. Tension headaches.
d. Migraine headaches.

Answer 14

b. Cluster headaches.

Question 15

A patient complains that while studying for an examination he began to notice a severe headache in the frontotemporal area of his head that is throbbing and is somewhat relieved when he lies down. He tells the nurse that his mother also had these headaches. The nurse suspects that he may be suffering from:

a. Hypertension.
b. Cluster headaches.
c. Tension headaches.
d. Migraine headaches.

Answer 15

d. Migraine headaches.

Question 16

A 19-year-old college student is brought to the emergency department with a severe headache he describes as, Like nothing Ive ever had before. His temperature is 40 C, and he has a stiff neck. The nurse looks for other signs and symptoms of which problem?

a. Head injury
b. Cluster headache
c. Migraine headache
d. Meningeal inflammation

Answer 16

d. Meningeal inflammation

Question 17

During a well-baby checkup, the nurse notices that a 1-week-old infants face looks small compared with his cranium, which seems enlarged. On further examination, the nurse also notices dilated scalp veins and downcast or setting sun eyes. The nurse suspects which condition?

a. Craniotabes
b. Microcephaly
c. Hydrocephalus
d. Caput succedaneum

Answer 17

c. Hydrocephalus

Question 18

The nurse needs to palpate the temporomandibular joint for crepitation. This joint is located just below the temporal artery and anterior to the:

a. Hyoid bone.
b. Vagus nerve.
c. Tragus.
d. Mandible.

Answer 18

c. Tragus.

Question 19

A patient has come in for an examination and states, I have this spot in front of my ear lobe on my cheek that seems to be getting bigger and is tender. What do you think it is? The nurse notes swelling below the angle of the jaw and suspects that it could be an inflammation of his:

a. Thyroid gland.
b. Parotid gland.
c. Occipital lymph node.
d. Submental lymph node.

Answer 19

b. Parotid gland.

Question 20

A male patient with a history of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has come in for an examination and he states, I think that I have the mumps. The nurse would begin by examining the:

a. Thyroid gland.
b. Parotid gland.
c. Cervical lymph nodes.
d. Mouth and skin for lesions.

Answer 20

b. Parotid gland

Question 21

The nurse suspects that a patient has hyperthyroidism, and the laboratory data indicate that the patients T4 and T3 hormone levels are elevated. Which of these findings would the nurse most likely find on examination?

a. Tachycardia
b. Constipation
c. Rapid dyspnea
d. Atrophied nodular thyroid gland

Answer 21

a. Tachycardia

Question 22

A visitor from Poland who does not speak English seems to be somewhat apprehensive about the nurse examining his neck. He would probably be more comfortable with the nurse examining his thyroid gland from:

a. Behind with the nurses hands placed firmly around his neck.
b. The side with the nurses eyes averted toward the ceiling and thumbs on his neck.
c. The front with the nurses thumbs placed on either side of his trachea and his head tilted forward.
d. The front with the nurses thumbs placed on either side of his trachea and his head tilted backward.

Answer 22

c. The front with the nurses thumbs placed on either side of his trachea and his head tilted forward.

Question 23

A patients thyroid gland is enlarged, and the nurse is preparing to auscultate the thyroid gland for the presence of a bruit. A bruit is a __________ sound that is heard best with the __________ of the stethoscope.

a. Low gurgling; diaphragm
b. Loud, whooshing, blowing; bell
c. Soft, whooshing, pulsatile; bell
d. High-pitched tinkling; diaphragm

Answer 23

b. Loud, whooshing, blowing; bell

Question 24

The nurse notices that an infant has a large, soft lump on the side of his head and that his mother is very concerned. She tells the nurse that she noticed the lump approximately 8 hours after her babys birth and that it seems to be getting bigger. One possible explanation for this is:

a. Hydrocephalus.
b. Craniosynostosis.
c. Cephalhematoma.
d. Caput succedaneum.

Answer 24

c. Cephalhematoma.

Question 25

A mother brings in her newborn infant for an assessment and tells the nurse that she has noticed that whenever her newborns head is turned to the right side, she straightens out the arm and leg on the same side and flexes the opposite arm and leg. After observing this on examination, the nurse tells her that this reflex is:

a. Abnormal and is called the atonic neck reflex.
b. Normal and should disappear by the first year of life.
c. Normal and is called the tonic neck reflex, which should disappear between 3 and 4 months of age.
d. Abnormal. The baby should be flexing the arm and leg on the right side of his body when the head is turned to the right.

Answer 25

c. Normal and is called the tonic neck reflex, which should disappear between 3 and 4 months of age.

Question 26

During an admission assessment, the nurse notices that a male patient has an enlarged and rather thick skull. The nurse suspects acromegaly and would further assess for:

a. Exophthalmos.
b. Bowed long bones.
c. Coarse facial features.
d. Acorn-shaped cranium.

Answer 26

c. Coarse facial features.

Question 27

When examining children affected with Down syndrome (trisomy 21), the nurse looks for the possible presence of:

a. Ear dysplasia.
b. Long, thin neck.
c. Protruding thin tongue.
d. Narrow and raised nasal bridge.

Answer 27

a. Ear dysplasia.

Question 28

A patient visits the clinic because he has recently noticed that the left side of his mouth is paralyzed. He states that he cannot raise his eyebrow or whistle. The nurse suspects that he has:

a. Cushing syndrome.
b. Parkinson disease.
c. Bell palsy.
d. Experienced a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke.

Answer 28

d. Experienced a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke.

Question 29

A woman comes to the clinic and states, Ive been sick for so long! My eyes have gotten so puffy, and my eyebrows and hair have become coarse and dry. The nurse will assess for other signs and symptoms of:

a. Cachexia.
b. Parkinson syndrome.
c. Myxedema.
d. Scleroderma.

Answer 29

c. Myxedema.

Question 30

During an examination of a female patient, the nurse notes lymphadenopathy and suspects an acute infection. Acutely infected lymph nodes would be:

a. Clumped.
b. Unilateral.
c. Firm but freely movable.
d. Firm and nontender.

Answer 30

c. Firm but freely movable.

Question 31

The physician reports that a patient with a neck tumor has a tracheal shift. The nurse is aware that this means that the patients trachea is:

a. Pulled to the affected side.
b. Pushed to the unaffected side.
c. Pulled downward.
d. Pulled downward in a rhythmic pattern.

Answer 31

b. Pushed to the unaffected side.

Question 32

During an assessment of an infant, the nurse notes that the fontanels are depressed and sunken. The nurse suspects which condition?

a. Rickets
b. Dehydration
c. Mental retardation
d. Increased intracranial pressure

Answer 32

b. Dehydration

Question 33

The nurse is performing an assessment on a 7-year-old child who has symptoms of chronic watery eyes, sneezing, and clear nasal drainage. The nurse notices the presence of a transverse line across the bridge of the nose, dark blue shadows below the eyes, and a double crease on the lower eyelids. These findings are characteristic of:

a. Allergies.
b. Sinus infection.
c. Nasal congestion.
d. Upper respiratory infection.

Answer 33

a. Allergies.

Question 34

While performing a well-child assessment on a 5 year old, the nurse notes the presence of palpable, bilateral, cervical, and inguinal lymph nodes. They are approximately 0.5 cm in size, round, mobile, and nontender. The nurse suspects that this child:

a. Has chronic allergies.
b. May have an infection.
c. Is exhibiting a normal finding for a well child of this age.
d. Should be referred for additional evaluation.

Answer 34

c. Is exhibiting a normal finding for a well child of this age.

Question 35

The nurse has just completed a lymph node assessment on a 60-year-old healthy female patient. The nurse knows that most lymph nodes in healthy adults are normally:

a. Shotty.
b. Nonpalpable.
c. Large, firm, and fixed to the tissue.
d. Rubbery, discrete, and mobile.

Answer 35

b. Nonpalpable.

Question 36

During an examination of a patient in her third trimester of pregnancy, the nurse notices that the patients thyroid gland is slightly enlarged. No enlargement had been previously noticed. The nurse suspects that the patient:

a. Has an iodine deficiency.
b. Is exhibiting early signs of goiter.
c. Is exhibiting a normal enlargement of the thyroid gland during pregnancy.
d. Needs further testing for possible thyroid cancer.

Answer 36

c. Is exhibiting a normal enlargement of the thyroid gland during pregnancy.

Question 37

During an examination, the nurse knows that the best way to palpate the lymph nodes in the neck is described by which statement?

a. Using gentle pressure, palpate with both hands to compare the two sides.
b. Using strong pressure, palpate with both hands to compare the two sides.
c. Gently pinch each node between ones thumb and forefinger, and then move down the neck muscle.
d. Using the index and middle fingers, gently palpate by applying pressure in a rotating pattern.

Answer 37

a. Using gentle pressure, palpate with both hands to compare the two sides.

Question 38

During a well-baby checkup, a mother is concerned because her 2-month-old infant cannot hold her head up when she is pulled to a sitting position. Which response by the nurse is appropriate?

a. Head control is usually achieved by 4 months of age.
b. You shouldnt be trying to pull your baby up like that until she is older.
c. Head control should be achieved by this time.
d. This inability indicates possible nerve damage to the neck muscles.

Answer 38

a. Head control is usually achieved by 4 months of age.

Question 39

During an examination of a 3-year-old child, the nurse notices a bruit over the left temporal area. The nurse should:

a. Continue the examination because a bruit is a normal finding for this age.
b. Check for the bruit again in 1 hour.
c. Notify the parents that a bruit has been detected in their child.
d. Stop the examination, and notify the physician.

Answer 39

a. Continue the examination because a bruit is a normal finding for this age.

Question 40

During an examination, the nurse finds that a patients left temporal artery is tortuous and feels hardened and tender, compared with the right temporal artery. The nurse suspects which condition?

a. Crepitation
b. Mastoiditis
c. Temporal arteritis
d. Bell palsy

Answer 40

c. Temporal arteritis

Question 41

The nurse is assessing a 1-month-old infant at his well-baby checkup. Which assessment findings are appropriate for this age? Select all that apply.

a. Head circumference equal to chest circumference
b. Head circumference greater than chest circumference
c. Head circumference less than chest circumference
d. Fontanels firm and slightly concave
e. Absent tonic neck reflex
f. Nonpalpable cervical lymph nodes

Answer 41

b. Head circumference greater than chest circumference
d. Fontanels firm and slightly concave
f. Nonpalpable cervical lymph nodes