Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

A patient was struck in the right lower anterior chest with a baseball bat. What organ are you particularly suspicious about injuring?

1. Lung

2. Heart

3. Liver

4. Spleen

The correct answer is: Liver

In the scenario given, where a patient has been struck in the right lower anterior chest, the organ that is most concerning for injury would actually be the lung. The right lung is located in the right lower anterior portion of the chest, and blunt trauma such as a baseball bat strike can easily lead to lung injuries, including a pneumothorax or contusion. The heart is situated more centrally in the chest, making it less likely to be directly impacted by a blow to the right lower anterior chest. The liver, while located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, is not directly within the chest cavity. The spleen is located in the left upper quadrant and is also not at immediate risk from a right-sided chest impact. In trauma assessments, the mechanism of injury and the anatomical locations of organs are critical for determining potential injuries. Thus, in this context, the lung would be the primary organ of concern in the event of blunt trauma to the right lower anterior chest.