Musculoskeletal System and Anatomy

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NCLEX-PN › Musculoskeletal System and Anatomy

Questions 1 - 10
1

What structures of the skull form the cheek bones?

The zygomatic arches

The styloid processes

The pterion

The mental protuberance

Explanation

The cheek bones are formed by the zygomatic arches, which are part of the temporal bones of the face. The mental protuberance forms the chin, the styloid processes are just under the ears and serve as an attachment point for several muscles of the mouth and throat, and the pterion is the suture where the frontal, parietal, temporal, and sphenoid bones come together.

2

What structures of the skull form the cheek bones?

The zygomatic arches

The styloid processes

The pterion

The mental protuberance

Explanation

The cheek bones are formed by the zygomatic arches, which are part of the temporal bones of the face. The mental protuberance forms the chin, the styloid processes are just under the ears and serve as an attachment point for several muscles of the mouth and throat, and the pterion is the suture where the frontal, parietal, temporal, and sphenoid bones come together.

3

A patient presents to the ER complaining of "pain in his heart." When the nurse asks him to point to the area that he feels the pain, he places his finger on the bony protuberance just below his rib cage. Seeing this, the nurse has reason to suspect that his pain may be gastrointestinal or musculoskeletal in origin as well as cardiac. What bony protuberance is this patient likely touching?

The xiphoid process

The manubrium

The costal cartilage

The body of the sternum

Explanation

The costal cartilage of the ribcage is joined to the sternum, which is made up of three bony structures: the most superior is the manubrium, which articulates not just with the costal cartilage of the first rib but also with the clavicles. The body of the sternum is inferior to the manubrium, and articulates with the second through fifth ribs. The xiphoid process is a small protuberance just below the body of the sternum, at the point where the bottom of the ribcage meets the sternum. It is an attachment point for several muscles, including the diaphragm, the rectus abdominis, and the transverse abdominis. This is a common location for referred pain from gallbladder disease, GERD, or pain due to musculoskeletal injury or irritation.

4

A patient presents to the ER complaining of "pain in his heart." When the nurse asks him to point to the area that he feels the pain, he places his finger on the bony protuberance just below his rib cage. Seeing this, the nurse has reason to suspect that his pain may be gastrointestinal or musculoskeletal in origin as well as cardiac. What bony protuberance is this patient likely touching?

The xiphoid process

The manubrium

The costal cartilage

The body of the sternum

Explanation

The costal cartilage of the ribcage is joined to the sternum, which is made up of three bony structures: the most superior is the manubrium, which articulates not just with the costal cartilage of the first rib but also with the clavicles. The body of the sternum is inferior to the manubrium, and articulates with the second through fifth ribs. The xiphoid process is a small protuberance just below the body of the sternum, at the point where the bottom of the ribcage meets the sternum. It is an attachment point for several muscles, including the diaphragm, the rectus abdominis, and the transverse abdominis. This is a common location for referred pain from gallbladder disease, GERD, or pain due to musculoskeletal injury or irritation.

5

Which of the following is the smallest unit of contractile tissue in cardiac and skeletal muscle cells?

The sarcomere

The myofibril

Myosin filament

Actin filaments

Explanation

The smallest contractile unit in muscle tissue is the sarcomere. Myofibrils are made up of many sarcomeres attached end-to-end at a series of dark lines (hence the term "striated") called Z lines. Each sarcomere contains actin and myosin filaments, which pull together during contraction to shorten the sarcomere.

6

Which of the following is the smallest unit of contractile tissue in cardiac and skeletal muscle cells?

The sarcomere

The myofibril

Myosin filament

Actin filaments

Explanation

The smallest contractile unit in muscle tissue is the sarcomere. Myofibrils are made up of many sarcomeres attached end-to-end at a series of dark lines (hence the term "striated") called Z lines. Each sarcomere contains actin and myosin filaments, which pull together during contraction to shorten the sarcomere.

7

All of the following features are unique to cardiac muscle cells except:

They are non-striated

They are linked together via intercalated discs

They form branching chains

There are gap junctions between cells

Explanation

Cardiac muscle cells are striated, branching cells that are linked by structures called intercalated discs. These discs are composed of gap junctions, which allow the free passage of electrical signaling between heart cells, and very strong attachment points called desmosomes.

8

All of the following features are unique to cardiac muscle cells except:

They are non-striated

They are linked together via intercalated discs

They form branching chains

There are gap junctions between cells

Explanation

Cardiac muscle cells are striated, branching cells that are linked by structures called intercalated discs. These discs are composed of gap junctions, which allow the free passage of electrical signaling between heart cells, and very strong attachment points called desmosomes.

9

Which of the following molecules binds to troponin during muscle contraction, triggering tropomyosin to move away from the actin binding sites and allowing the myosin head to form a cross bridge?

Calcium

ATP

Sodium

ADP

Explanation

During a muscle cell action potential, calcium enters the cell via t-tubules, which are specialized invaginations of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Calcium binds with troponin, which pulls the tropomyosin strand away from actin binding sites and allows myosin heads to bind. Neither sodium nor potassium bind to troponin, and ATP and ADP both bind to myosin, rather than troponin.

10

Which of the following molecules binds to troponin during muscle contraction, triggering tropomyosin to move away from the actin binding sites and allowing the myosin head to form a cross bridge?

Calcium

ATP

Sodium

ADP

Explanation

During a muscle cell action potential, calcium enters the cell via t-tubules, which are specialized invaginations of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Calcium binds with troponin, which pulls the tropomyosin strand away from actin binding sites and allows myosin heads to bind. Neither sodium nor potassium bind to troponin, and ATP and ADP both bind to myosin, rather than troponin.

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