A Patient Is Scheduled for a Thymectomy

question 19

Multiple Choice

A patient is scheduled for a thymectomy.For which peripheral nervous system disorder should the nurse plan care for this patient?

• A) Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• B) Myasthenia gravis (MG)
• C) Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
• D) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

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Definitions:

Phrenic Nerve

A nerve that originates in the neck and passes down between the lung and heart to reach the diaphragm, crucial for breathing as it controls the diaphragm’s movements.

Thoracic Cavity

The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen, enclosed by the ribs, sternum, and thoracic vertebrae, containing the lungs and heart.

Diaphragm

A major muscle involved in the breathing process, separating the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity.

Secondary Bronchus

Branches of the primary bronchi that lead into each lobe of the lungs, playing a key role in the conductance of air to the lung tissues.