While completing an admission assessment for a client with gastrointestinal bleeding, the nurse inspects the perianal area and anus. Which findings indicate a normal appearance of the anus?
Dimpled area above anus.
Flap of tissue at sphincter.
Increased pigmentation and coarse skin.
Hypotonic tone of the anal sphincter.
The Correct Answer is C
A) Dimpled area above anus:
This finding may indicate a pilonidal cyst, which is an abnormality rather than a normal appearance of the anus.
B) Flap of tissue at sphincter:
A flap of tissue at the anal sphincter, also known as the anal valve, is a normal anatomical feature. It helps maintain continence and prevents leakage of stool.
C) Increased pigmentation and coarse skin:
Increased pigmentation and coarse skin may be typical findings in the perianal area due to factors such as friction, moisture, or aging. While not everyone will have this appearance, it is within the range of normal variations.
D) Hypotonic tone of the anal sphincter:
Hypotonic tone of the anal sphincter may suggest weakness or dysfunction of the anal sphincter, which is not considered a normal finding.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Answer: B. Cardiac enlargement.
Rationale:
A) Cardiac atrophy:
Cardiac atrophy refers to the reduction in the size of the heart muscles and is not typically detected through percussion. It would present differently, likely through imaging or echocardiography, rather than an increase in the area of dullness during percussion.
B) Cardiac enlargement:
Percussion revealing dullness extending from the 5th left intercostal space upward to the 2nd left intercostal space suggests an increase in the size of the heart. This pattern indicates cardiac enlargement, as the heart’s borders have extended beyond their typical boundaries, which are usually confined to the 5th left intercostal space along the midclavicular line.
C) Benign variation:
A benign variation would not typically cause such a significant change in the area of cardiac dullness. This finding is more concerning for pathology, such as cardiomegaly, than a harmless variation.
D) Expected finding:
The normal borders of the heart should not extend upward to the 2nd left intercostal space during percussion. This finding is not within normal limits and suggests an abnormal enlargement of the heart, rather than an expected physiological outcome.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
B. Cardiac enlargement:
This is the most likely interpretation of the findings. A significant area of dullness across a larger portion of the chest, as described, suggests that the heart is enlarged (cardiomegaly). Enlargement of the heart may result from various conditions, such as heart failure, hypertension, or valvular disease, leading to increased cardiac size and the shift in the percussion borders. This could indicate that the heart has expanded beyond its normal anatomical limits, and further assessment, such as imaging, would be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.
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