Page 19 - ractice Exam Questions and rationales

D. cellulitis

Your response:
atrophy
Correct response:
atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy, which is the wasting away of a muscle, occurs with prolonged lack of
muscle use. This decrease in muscle mass (progressive wasting appearance) is often seen in
patients with severe illness, the elderly, or with prolonged immobilization. Hypertrophy is the
opposite of atrophy and is the increase in muscle size, tendonitis is the inflammation of the
tendons, and cellulitis is a skin infection.

Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take to eliminate the artifact shown
in the strip shown above?

A. Have the patient sit on their hands.

B. Ensure proper adhesion of the electrodes.

C. Have the patient remove jewelry.

D. Check the bed plugin at the wall socket or unplug the bed.

Your response:
Have the patient remove jewelry.
Correct response:
Check the bed plugin at the wall socket or unplug the bed.
Rationale: Check for any electrical equipment in use around or in the room; check where the bed
is plugged into the wall. This is an artifact called 60 cycle interference caused by electrical
interference. Wearing Jewelry or loose electrodes would not have this kind of effect of artifact.
Sitting on hands is not a solution. Electrodes are properly adhered to the skin in this instance.
The patient complains of joint pain and swelling. The physician wants to remove synovial fluid
for analysis. The medical assistant should set up for which of the following procedures?