Health Assessment: Assessing Skin, Hair, and
Nails Chapter 13 Questions and Correct
Answers | Latest Update
A nurse is teaching a group of 5th grade children about characteristics of the skin. Which of
the following should she mention? Select all that apply.
a) Aids in maintaining body temperature
b) Involved in digestion of food
c) Circulates blood throughout the body
d) Protects against damage to the body from sunlight
e) Helps make vitamin D in the body
f) Largest organ of the body
✓ -:- Correct response:
• Largest organ of the body
• Protects against damage to the body from sunlight
• Helps make vitamin D in the body
• Aids in maintaining body temperature
Explanation:
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The
skin is the largest organ of the body. The skin is a physical barrier that protects the
underlying tissues and organs from microorganisms, physical trauma, ultraviolet radiation,
and dehydration. It plays a vital role in temperature maintenance, fluid and electrolyte
balance, absorption, excretion, sensation, immunity, and vitamin D synthesis. The heart, not
the skin, circulates blood throughout the body. The digestive system, not the skin, is
involved in digestion of food
When assessing a client's terminal hair distribution, the nurse inspects all the following areas
except:
a) Limbs
b) Vertex
c) Palmar surfaces
d) Eyebrows
✓ -:- Correct response: Palmar surfaces
Explanation:
The palms are one of the few areas not covered with hair, while the limbs, vertex, and
eyebrows all have terminal hair present.
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A
patient recovering from a burn injury is told by the health care provider that hair will no
longer grow on the body part that was burned. The nurse realizes that this patient's burn
extended into which skin layer?
a) Dermis
b) Distal phalanx
c) Epidermis
d) Subcutaneous tissue
✓ -:- Correct response: Dermis
Explanation:
The skin has three layers. The epidermis is the outermost layer and is comprised of dead
keratinized cells and an inner layer that forms melanin and keratin. The dermis contains
connective tissue and hair follicles. If the hair follicles are damaged by a burn, hair will not
regrow. The subcutaneous tissue layer of the skin continues fatty tissue. The distal phalanx
is a bone in the finger.
The terms "generalized," "exposed surfaces," "upper arm," and "skin folds" are used to
describe which major characteristic of skin lesions?
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a)
Distribution
b) Colour
c) Arrangement
d) Type
✓ -:- Correct response: Distribution
Explanation:
The given terms denote anatomic location, or distribution, of skin lesions over the body.
Upon assessing the skin, the nurse finds pustular lesions on on the face. The nurse identifies
that these could be what?
a) Herpes simplex
b) Varicella
c) Acne
d) Psoriasis
✓ -:- Correct response: Acne
Explanation:
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