NCWO Skin and Wound Healing

Question 1

The four phases of normal wound healing in order are:

Accepted Answer

Hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, remodeling

Answer

Normal wound healing proceeds sequentially through hemostasis (clot formation), inflammation (immune cell recruitment), proliferation (tissue rebuilding), and remodeling (scar maturation).

Question 2

Which layer of the skin serves as the primary barrier to infection and water loss?

Accepted Answer

Epidermis (specifically the stratum corneum)

Answer

The stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the epidermis, forms the principal physical and biological barrier protecting against pathogens, chemicals, and transepidermal water loss.

Question 3

Collagen synthesis during wound healing is primarily the responsibility of which cell type?

Accepted Answer

Fibroblasts

Answer

Fibroblasts are the primary producers of collagen and extracellular matrix components during the proliferative phase, providing structural integrity to healing tissue.

Question 4

Hypertrophic scarring differs from keloid scarring in that hypertrophic scars:

Accepted Answer

Remain within the original wound margins and may regress over time

Answer

Hypertrophic scars are raised but confined to the original wound boundary and often improve over time, whereas keloids extend beyond wound margins and rarely resolve spontaneously.

Question 5

Factors that impair wound healing include all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Adequate tissue oxygenation

Answer

Adequate tissue oxygenation promotes wound healing by supporting cellular metabolism, angiogenesis, and antimicrobial leukocyte function; all other options impair healing.

NCWO - National Certified Wound Ostomy Practice Test

NCWO - National Certified Wound Ostomy Practice Test

NCWO Skin and Wound Healing