During cardiac examination of a client, the nurse was demonstrating to the student nurse where to locate the Angle of Louis to listen to the Aortic and Pulmonic area on the chest.
The nurse should locate the Angle of Louis at the level of what rib?

Choice A rationale

An elliptical chest describes the typical shape of a healthy chest with a lateral dimension greater than the anteroposterior dimension. This shape allows for normal expansion and contraction of the lungs during breathing. An elliptical chest does not indicate any deformity or abnormality in the sternum or costal cartilage.

Choice B rationale

Pectus excavatum, also known as funnel chest, is a congenital deformity where the sternum and costal cartilage are sunken inward, creating a concave appearance of the chest. This condition can range in severity and may affect respiratory function and exercise tolerance in some individuals. Surgical correction may be considered for severe cases.

Choice C rationale

A standard chest describes a chest without any deformities or abnormalities, typically with a normal elliptical shape. This term does not denote any specific condition or configuration and implies a healthy, non-deformed chest.

Choice D rationale

Barrel chest is characterized by an increased anteroposterior diameter of the chest, giving it a round or barrel-like appearance. This condition is often seen in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema, where the lungs are chronically overinflated, causing the chest to expand and lose its normal shape.

Choice A rationale

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is when distant objects appear blurry because light rays focus in front of the retina. A Snellen exam result of 20/50 means the client can see at 20 feet what someone with normal vision sees at 50 feet, indicating reduced distance vision. However, this condition does not correlate with the ability to read the Rosenbaum chart, which is for near vision, thus excluding myopia.

Choice B rationale

Normal vision is not indicated by a Snellen exam result of 20/50, as this signifies a visual impairment where the client sees at 20 feet what a person with normal vision sees at 50 feet. Normal vision would be indicated by 20/20 on the Snellen exam.

Choice C rationale

Presbyopia is the age-related loss of the eye's ability to focus on near objects, typically noticeable in people over 40. Although this condition involves difficulty reading at close range, the client's uncorrected Snellen exam result of 20/50 pertains to distance vision, which differentiates presbyopia from the given scenario.

Choice D rationale

Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is when close objects appear blurry because light rays focus behind the retina. The client's ability to read the Rosenbaum chart without difficulty indicates good near vision, while the Snellen exam result of 20/50 reflects reduced distance vision, thus supporting the diagnosis of hyperopia.