A patient is diagnosed with Meningitis. During the physical examination in the supine position, the nurse flexed the patient's neck and the patient flexed his knees and hip while complaining of neck pain. This is known as:
Obturator sign
Brudzinski sign
Phalen sign
Tinel sign
The Correct Answer is B
A. The obturator sign is used to assess for appendicitis, not meningitis. To perform this test, the patient’s right knee is flexed to 90 degrees, and the nurse rotates the hip internally and externally. Pain during this maneuver can indicate irritation of the obturator muscle, which is associated with inflammation of the appendix.
B. The Brudzinski sign is a clinical test used to assess meningeal irritation. When the patient’s neck is passively flexed while lying supine, a positive Brudzinski sign is indicated if the patient involuntarily flexes their knees and hips in response to neck pain. This sign is often seen in meningitis as a result of irritation of the meninges.
C. The Phalen sign is used to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome. The patient flexes their wrists and holds the position for a period of time to see if symptoms of numbness or tingling appear in the fingers, which would indicate median nerve compression at the wrist. This sign is unrelated to meningitis.
D. The Tinel sign is also used to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome and other peripheral nerve issues. It involves tapping on the nerve (such as the median nerve at the wrist) to see if it causes tingling or a “pins and needles” sensation along the nerve’s distribution. Like the Phalen sign, it is not related to meningitis.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Extinction refers to the phenomenon where a person fails to recognize a stimulus on one side of the body when another stimulus is presented simultaneously on the opposite side. This is often tested in cases of neurological impairment, particularly in the context of sensory neglect or loss
B. Stereognosis is the ability to identify an object by touch and proprioception without visual input. It involves recognizing the shape, size, and texture of an object solely through tactile information. Placing a coin in the patient’s hand and asking them to identify it with their eyes closed tests their ability to use tactile information to recognize objects, making stereognosis the correct term for this assessment.
C. Proprioception is the sense of the position and movement of the body and its parts. It involves awareness of body position in space, which is crucial for coordination and balance. While important, proprioception does not specifically involve identifying objects by touch alone; it is more about the awareness of body position.
D. Two-point discrimination is the ability to distinguish between two closely spaced points of contact on the skin. It tests the sensitivity of the skin to touch and is often used to assess sensory nerve function. It does not involve identifying objects by touch but rather measuring how well one can discern between two separate points of contact.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. The glossopharyngeal nerve is involved in several functions, including taste sensation on the posterior third of the tongue, salivation, and the sensation of the pharynx. It also plays a role in swallowing and gag reflex. However, it is not responsible for the movement of the jaw or clenching of the jaw.
B. The trigeminal nerve is responsible for sensation in the face and also controls the muscles of mastication (chewing). It has both sensory and motor functions. The motor branches of the trigeminal nerve, specifically the mandibular division, innervate the muscles that allow for jaw movement, including clenching.
C. The vagus nerve has a broad range of functions, including regulating heart rate, digestive tract motility, and some aspects of speech and swallowing. It does not control jaw movement or clenching, so it is not relevant to this observation.
D. The facial nerve controls the muscles of facial expression, including movements like smiling, frowning, and closing the eyes. It is not involved in the motor control of the jaw or clenching actions.
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