Percussion notes heard during an abdominal assessment may include:
resonance, hyper-resonance, and flatness
flatness, resonance, and dullness
tympany, hyper-resonance, and dullness
resonance, dullness, and tympany
The Correct Answer is C
A. resonance, hyper-resonance, and flatness: These percussion sounds are typically associated with the thoracic cavity during lung assessment. Resonance and hyper-resonance are expected over lung fields, while flatness is heard over bone.
B. flatness, resonance, and dullness: Flatness is usually heard over areas of bone or muscle, and resonance is a lung sound, not an abdominal one. Dullness can be present in the abdomen over solid organs like the liver, but the other sounds do not fit this context.
C. tympany, hyper-resonance, and dullness: Tympany is the most common sound heard during abdominal percussion, caused by air in the stomach and intestines. Hyper-resonance may be present with gaseous distension, and dullness is expected over solid organs or masses.
D. resonance, dullness, and tympany: While dullness and tympany are appropriate abdominal sounds, resonance is not typically associated with the abdomen. It is most often heard in lung assessments, so this combination is less accurate.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. pulsations of the inferior vena cava: The inferior vena cava returns deoxygenated blood to the heart and does not typically create visible pulsations on abdominal inspection. Its flow is low pressure, making it unlikely to generate the observed movement.
B. normal abdominal aortic pulsations: The abdominal aorta lies midline between the xiphoid process and umbilicus, and mild pulsations can often be seen in thin individuals. These visible movements are usually normal and reflect the forward flow of blood through the aorta.
C. increased peristalsis from a bowel obstruction: Bowel obstruction may cause visible peristaltic waves across the abdomen, but these movements are more lateral and wave-like rather than rhythmic pulsations. They are not confined to the midline region.
D. pulsations of the renal arteries: The renal arteries branch off laterally from the abdominal aorta and are not visible as midline pulsations. They supply blood directly to the kidneys and do not produce surface movements detectable on inspection.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Reflexes cannot be elicited: Even in unconscious patients, deep tendon reflexes (DTRs) may still be present unless there is specific spinal cord or peripheral nerve damage. Complete absence of reflexes is not expected solely from a head injury.
B. Some reflexes will be present, depending on the area of injury: While localized brain injury can affect voluntary motor control, DTRs are spinal reflexes and are generally preserved regardless of the site of brain trauma.
C. Reflexes will be normal: Deep tendon reflexes are intact in unconscious patients without spinal cord injury. The reflex arc operates independently of the patient’s level of consciousness, so normal DTRs are an expected finding.
D. All reflexes will be diminished but present: Reflex responses may vary; some may be normal, some diminished, and some exaggerated depending on the affected pathways. It is unlikely that all reflexes are uniformly diminished in head trauma without spinal involvement.
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