A client with a history of COPD is being assessed. When the nurse percusses the client's chest, which characteristic sound is expected?
Tympany
Hyperresonance
Resonance
Dullness
The Correct Answer is B
Choice a reason:
Tympany is a drum-like, resonant sound that is typically heard over air-filled structures, such as the gastric bubble, not the chest. It is not a sound associated with the lungs, especially in the context of COPD.
Choice b reason:
Hyperresonance is an abnormally loud, lower-pitched sound than normal resonance heard over hyperinflated areas of the lung, such as in cases of COPD. This is due to the increased air content within the lungs, often because of overdistension or destruction of alveolar tissue, as seen in emphysema, a common type of COPD.
Choice c reason:
Resonance is the normal sound heard over healthy lung tissue when percussed. However, in the case of COPD, particularly emphysema, the destruction of lung tissue leads to hyperinflation and thus a hyperresonant sound rather than the normal resonance.
Choice d reason:
Dullness is heard when fluid or solid tissue replaces air in the lung or occupies the pleural space, as in the case of pneumonia or pleural effusion. This is not characteristic of COPD, where there is an increase in air due to the breakdown of alveolar walls.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice a reason:
Exophthalmos, or protrusion of the eyeballs, is not a typical finding in hypothyroidism. It is more commonly associated with hyperthyroidism, particularly Graves' disease, which is characterized by an overactive thyroid gland.
Choice b reason:
Photophobia, or light sensitivity, is not a common symptom of hypothyroidism. While it can be associated with other conditions, it is not directly related to the function of the thyroid gland.
Choice c reason:
Weight loss is typically not associated with hypothyroidism. In fact, individuals with hypothyroidism often experience weight gain due to a slowed metabolism, which is the opposite of weight loss.
Choice d reason:
Lethargy is a common symptom of hypothyroidism. The condition can lead to a decrease in thyroid hormone production, which can slow down the body's metabolism, resulting in feelings of fatigue, sluggishness, and lethargy.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason:
Diabetes mellitus is not typically associated with pitting edema unless it has led to a comorbid condition such as heart failure or kidney disease. Pitting edema is more commonly associated with fluid retention due to the body's inability to manage fluid balance, which is not a direct consequence of diabetes mellitus itself.
Choice B reason:
Liver disease, particularly cirrhosis, can lead to pitting edema. The liver's inability to produce albumin, a protein that helps maintain oncotic pressure in the blood vessels, and portal hypertension, which is an increase in the blood pressure within the portal vein system, can both contribute to the development of pitting edema.
Choice C reason:
End-stage renal disease can also cause pitting edema due to the kidneys' inability to excrete excess fluid. However, the edema associated with renal disease is often more generalized and not limited to the lower extremities.
Choice D reason:
Colon cancer is not typically associated with pitting edema unless it has metastasized and caused secondary complications that affect the liver or the heart. Pitting edema is not a direct symptom of colon cancer itself. 
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