American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Practice Exam 2025 - Free ANCC Practice Questions and Study Guide

Heberden and Bouchard nodes are important clinical features associated with osteoarthritis, particularly affecting the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints of the fingers. Heberden nodes are bony growths that develop at the distal joints (the furthest ones from the body's center), while Bouchard nodes occur at the proximal joints (the ones closer to the center of the body). The presence of these nodes indicates the underlying degenerative changes in joint cartilage characteristic of osteoarthritis, which often results in joint pain, stiffness, and reduced function.

In contrast, conditions such as gout are marked by different presentations, primarily involving acute inflammation and pain due to uric acid crystal deposition, but do not develop these specific bony nodes. Osteoporosis is characterized by decreased bone density and increased fracture risk without the formation of nodes, and rheumatoid arthritis typically presents with symmetric joint involvement, swelling, and deformities but not with Heberden or Bouchard nodes.