FAU Advanced Health Assessment Practice Test

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Prepare for the FAU Advanced Health Assessment Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

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Which sign is indicative of meningeal irritation?

Chadwick's sign
Brudzinski's sign
McBurney's point
Heberden's nodes

The correct answer is: Brudzinski's sign

Brudzinski's sign is a classic clinical indication of meningeal irritation, which can occur in conditions like meningitis. When a clinician flexes the patient's neck, if the patient involuntarily flexes their knees and hips in response, this is considered a positive Brudzinski's sign. The mechanism behind this response involves the tension placed on the spinal cord and meninges, suggesting inflammation or irritation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The other signs mentioned are not related to meningeal irritation. Chadwick's sign refers to a bluish discoloration of the cervix due to pregnancy, McBurney's point is associated with appendicitis, indicating localized pain in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen, and Heberden's nodes are bony growths on the joints at the ends of fingers due to osteoarthritis. Each of these signs pertains to different medical conditions and does not imply the presence of meningeal irritation.