A nurse is evaluating a patient with a spinal cord injury at the C5 level. Which function is most likely retained?
Bladder control
Full hand dexterity
Ability to breathe independently
Ability to walk unaided
The Correct Answer is C
A. Bladder control: Voluntary bladder and bowel control is mediated by the sacral nerves (S2-S4). A C5 injury severs the connection between the brain and the lower spinal cord, typically resulting in neurogenic bladder (loss of voluntary control).
B. Full hand dexterity: The nerves controlling the hands and fingers originate from the C8 and T1 levels. A C5 injury usually leaves the patient with shoulder and partial biceps control, but paralysis of the wrists and hands.
C. Ability to breathe independently: The diaphragm is innervated by the phrenic nerve, which originates from spinal roots C3, C4, and C5 ("C3, 4, 5 keep the diaphragm alive"). While a C5 injury may weaken respiratory effort (due to loss of intercostal muscles), the diaphragm usually remains functional, allowing independent breathing.
D. Ability to walk unaided: The muscles for walking are controlled by the lumbar and sacral spinal nerves. A cervical injury (C5) results in quadriplegia (tetraplegia), involving paralysis of both the trunk and legs.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Lens:The lens is a transparent, flexible structure located behind the iris. By changing its shape (accommodation), it fine-tunes the focus of light onto the retina to allow clear vision at various distances.
B. Pupil:The pupil is simply the opening (hole) in the center of the iris that allows light to enter the eye. It does not focus light itself.
C. Iris:The iris is the colored muscle that controls the size of the pupil, regulating the amount of light entering, but not the focus.
D. Cornea:The cornea is the clear outer layer that provides the initial and strongest refraction (bending) of light. However, the lensis the structure responsible for the variable focusing adjustment required to see clearly.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Cardiac muscle:Cardiac muscle is found only in the heart. It is striated and involuntary with unique intercalated discs and autorhythmicity; it is notthe muscle that lines most hollow organs (like intestines, bladder, blood vessels).
B. Smooth muscle:Smooth muscle is non-striated, involuntary muscle located in the walls of hollow organs (e.g., gastrointestinal tract, bladder, uterus), blood vessel walls, and bronchi. It generates slow, sustained contractions for peristalsis, vasomotion, and other automatic functions.
C. Skeletal muscle:Skeletal muscle is striated and under voluntary control, attached to bones to produce movement; it is not the primary muscle of hollow organ walls.
D. Striated muscle:“Striated muscle” is a descriptive term that includes skeletal and cardiac muscle (both have striations). Since the question asks specifically about involuntary muscle in hollow organs, striated muscle is not the correct category.
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