Each of the following is a contributing factor causing back disorders, except _____.

Which one of the following is not defined as a Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder (WRMSD) injury?
a. Restricted work
b. Days away from work
c. Musculoskeletal symptoms that remain for longer than 3 months
d. Musculoskeletal symptoms requiring medical treatment beyond first aid

C
WRMSD incidents are defined as injuries that result in restricted work, days away from work, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that remain for 7 days or longer, and MSDs requiring medical treatment beyond first aid

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are injuries of all of the following except:
a. Bones
b. Muscles
c. Tendons
d. Joints

A
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are injuries of muscles, tendons, and joints that are caused or aggravated by workplace activities.

Risk factors for developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) include all of the following except:
a. Forceful exertions
b. Prolonged static postures
c. Repetitive motions
d. Uniform temperatures

D
Risk factors for developing an MSD include forceful exertions, awkward postures, and prolonged static postures, as well as repetitive motions, a “pinch” grip, and an exposure to environmental factors such as extreme heat, cold, humidity, or vibrations

Which one of the following statements is false?
a. Sustained awkward postures can cause imbalances between the muscles that move and the muscles that stabilize.
b. Repeatedly rotating the head, neck, and trunk causes one set of muscles to become weaker and longer.
c. Asymmetric forces are exerted on the spine causing misalignment.
d. Nerve entrapment syndromes can result from increased muscle and tendon pressure on major nerves that run behind tightened muscles.

B
Repeatedly rotating the head, neck, and trunk causes one set of muscles to become stronger and shorter and the opposing muscles to become weaker and elongated.

The type of tendonitis involving the thumb is called:
a. Carpal tunnel
b. Cubital tunnel
c. Epicondylitis
d. de Quervain disease

D
De Quervain disease is a specific type of tendonitis involving the thumb that can result from gripping the transducer.

Inflammation of the shoulder bursa from repeated motion is called:
a. Rotator cuff injury
b. Spinal degeneration
c. Bursitis
d. Thoracic outlet syndrome

C
Bursitis involving the shoulder joint is defined as the inflammation of the shoulder bursa from repeated motion.

All of the following components are necessary on an ultrasound system to make it ergonomically compatible except:
a. Fixed control panel
b. Adjustable height monitor
c. System easily mobile with brakes
d. Thin transducer cables

A
An ergonomically designed ultrasound system should have a control panel that is height adjustable and swivels.

Which one of the following statements is incorrect regarding administrative controls for the sonographer?
a. The same type of examination throughout the day allows the muscles to become stronger.
b. Examination gloves should have textured fingers to prevent the need to grip the transducer too tightly.
c. Taking short “mini” breaks during examinations will relax muscles, especially in the shoulder and neck.
d. Try to share bedside examinations with other staff members and perform these examinations only when absolutely necessary, not because it is simply more convenient.

A
Patient examinations should be carefully scheduled to prevent repeating the same type of examination back to back. Performing a variety of examinations is important, allowing different muscles to fire. The schedule should be designed to allow enough time between examinations for muscle recovery.

All of the following statements contribute to professional controls to prevent injury except:
a. Minimize sustained bending, twisting, reaching, lifting, and transducer pressure.
b. Vary scanning techniques and transducer grips.
c. Maintain equipment height, regardless of the sonographer.
d. Avoid forward and backward reaches.

C
The ultrasound control panel, display, chairs, and table height should be adjusted to suit each sonographer (user).

The sonographer should follow the following recommendations except
a. Use mild transducer pressure when imaging superficial structures.
b. Grip the transducer tightly when imaging abdominal structures.
c. Avoid the temptation to be “image-driven,” sacrificing your body for a “pretty picture” that does not affect the diagnosis.
d. Maintain a firm grip on the transducer, using multiple angulations to obtain the best possible image.

: B
When griping the transducer, it is unnecessary to grip the transducer tightly.

The current term used by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for ergonomic occupational injuries is:
a. Overuse syndrome
b. Repetitive motion injury
c. Musculoskeletal strain injury
d. Work-related musculoskeletal disorder

D
The term work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMSD) is currently used by OSHA to label ergonomic occupational injuries.

Repeated twisting of the forearm may trigger:
a. Epicondylitis
b. de Quervain disease
c. Rotator cuff injury
d. Carpal tunnel syndrome

A
Epicondylitis is the inflammation of the periosteum in the area of the insertion of the biceps tendon into the distal humerus. This inflammation can be the result of repeated twisting of the forearm

The main reason for shoulder pain associated with scanning is due to:
a. Gripping the transducer
b. Abduction of the shoulder
c. Poor sitting or standing posture
d. Mechanical pressure against the shoulder

B
The main reason for shoulder pain associated with scanning is due to abduction of the shoulder. Shoulder abduction must be reduced to 30 degrees or less.

Approximately how many occupational musculoskeletal disorders are reported annually to OSHA?
a. 50,000
b. 100,000
c. 300,000
d. 500,000

C
Approximately 300,000 musculoskeletal disorders are reported annually to OSHA, which accounts for 56% of the work-related injuries reported to OSHA.

On an x-ray examination, the tissues that absorb a greater amount of the x-rays create what type of image?
a. Black
b. Shadow
c. Gray
d. White

D
Tissues that absorb a greater number of the x-rays create whiter areas on the resultant image.

The feature of an x-ray image that affects the ability to visualize detail and detect lesions is:
a. Density
b. Contrast

B
Contrast is the difference between adjacent densities (structures) and is the feature of an image that affects the ability to visualize detail and detect lesions.

Pleural effusion will cause blunting of the:
a. Costophrenic angles
b. Pleural cavity
c. Coronary sulcus
d. Mediastinal bulge

A
Pleural fluid will cause blunting of the costophrenic angles; consequently, they will not come to a sharp point on the chest radiograph.

The ventriculoperitoneal shunt connects the ventricular system of the brain into the _________________ cavity.
a. Abdominal
b. Sinus
c. Retroperitoneal
d. Pelvic

A
The shunt tubing connects from the ventricles of the brain to the abdominal cavity to allow fluid to drain from the ventricular system of the brain into the peritoneal cavity.

The voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) is performed to evaluate for:
a. Hydronephrosis
b. Renal stricture
c. Ureteral reflux
d. Nephrocalcinosis

C
The VCUG is used to determine if the patient has reflux, which means that urine refluxes back up the ureter into the kidney. Reflux can be graded 1 through 5, and a high number of reflux can indicate damage to the kidneys.

The opening in the center of the computed tomography (CT) scanner is called the:
a. Doughnut
b. Gantry
c. Window
d. Hounsfield

B
The typical appearance of a CT scanner is a square “doughnut” with a hole in the center called a gantry

The method where the CT scanner rotates continuously in one direction while the object moves through the opening is called:
a. Rapid
b. Wizard
c. Quick scan
d. Helical

D
Using a computer system, helical CT scanning integrates the data of moving slices to generate a three-dimensional (volume) image.

The numeric scale for representing the different tissue characteristics by their x-ray density is ________________ unit.
a. Mansfield
b. Langers
c. Hounsfield
d. Temple

C
The numeric scale for representing the different tissue characteristics by their x-ray density is known as the Hounsfield unit in honor of the inventor of CT, Sir Godfrey Hounsfield.

Nuclear medicine uses what type of rays?
a. Gamma
b. Delta
c. Longitudinal
d. Transverse

A
Nuclear medicine uses gamma rays, which are physically similar to x-rays but are generated spontaneously from the decay of radioactive isotopes.

Nuclear medicine is able to determine the cause of clinical problems as a result of what type of malfunction of the bone, organ, or tissue?
a. Pathologic
b. Physiologic
c. Psychologic
d. Histologic

B
Nuclear medicine often is able to determine the cause of clinical problems caused by the physiologic malfunction of the bone, organ, or tissue.

Which one of the following imaging modalities most closely interact with ultrasound?
a. CAT scan, MRI
b. MRI, nuclear medicine, PET/CT
c. CAT scan, nuclear medicine, PET/CT
d. MRI, CAT scan, PET/CT

C
The most common imaging modalities include CAT scan, nuclear medicine, PET/CT, and mammography.

Which one of the following is not a characteristic of x-rays?
a. X-rays have mass.
b. X-rays can penetrate matter.
c. X-rays are electronically neutral.
d. X-rays travel at the speed of light.

A
X-rays they have no mass, can penetrate matter, are electronically neutral, travel at the speed of light, and can cause chemical and biological changes in living tissues.

Fluid on ultrasound appears black, whereas fluid on CT appears:
a. Red
b. Gray
c. White
d. Black

: B
Fluid on ultrasound appears black, whereas fluid on CT appears gray.

The most common clinical question of a patient involves which one of the following when he or she is sent for ultrasound evaluation after nuclear medicine imaging?
a. Liver
b. Kidney
c. Spleen
d. Thyroid glands

D
The most common clinical question involves thyroid and parathyroid lesions, for which ultrasound may be used either for further characterization or to provide needle biopsy guidance

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) uses which two imaging modalities?
a. Nuclear medicine and angiography
b. CAT scan and MRI
c. CAT scan and nuclear medicine
d. Ultrasound and angiography

C
The PET scanner generates a composite image that consists of a CT scan image with a colorized nuclear medicine image superimposed.