Physical Assessment Final Questions With Complete
Solutions
Abdominal Auscultation: Normal vs Abnormal: Bowel Sounds
Correct Answer Normoactive: series of intermittent, soft clicks
and gurgles (5-30/min)
Hyperactive:
-rushing, tickling, high-pitched
-rapid motility heard in early SBO, gastroenteritis, diarrhea,
laxatives
Hypoactive:
-quiet, distant
-inflamed peritoneum, pneumonia
-slow return after surgery and w/ narcotics
Absent:
-unless we know why, this is a medical emergency. listen for a
full 5 min prior to notifying provider
*verify w/ experienced nurse
Abdominal Auscultation: Normal vs Abnormal: Vascular
Sounds Correct Answer *use bell and listen over abdominal
aorta, renal arteries, and femoral arteries for bruits
Normal: No sounds or only systolic sounds over arteries
Abnormal:
-Bruit
-Aneurysm
-Stenosis
Abdominal Auscultation: Normal vs Abnormal: Venous Hum
Correct Answer *bell of stethoscope over epigastrium and
umbilical areas
,Normal: No sound
Abnormal: Venous hum--> portal HTN/ liver disease
Abdominal Inspection: Normal vs Abnormal: Abdomen for
contour Correct Answer Normal: Flat, rounded, or scaphoid
Abnormal:
-Protuberant (often from obesity)
-distention- air (flatus/gas), fluid
-Distention above umbilicus- stomach, dilation, pancreatic mass
-distention below umbilicus- bladder, uterus, cyst/tumor
6 F- fat, feces, fetus, fibroids, flatulence, fluid
Abdominal Inspection: Normal vs Abnormal: Abdomen from
symmetry Correct Answer Normal: Equal on both sides
Abnormal: asymmetry seen in masses, hernia, SBO (small
bowel obstruction)
Abdominal Inspection: Normal vs Abnormal: Aortic pulsation
Correct Answer Normal: Slight pulsations in epigastrium
Abnormal: vigorous, wide may be seen in abdominal aortic
aneurysm (AAA)
Abdominal Inspection: Normal vs Abnormal: Peristaltic Waves
Correct Answer Normal: None or (in very thin ppl) very slight
ripples
Abnormal: ripples from LUQ to RUQ suggest small bowel
obstruction, SBO
Abdominal Inspection: Normal vs Abnormal: Skin Color
Correct Answer Normal:
,-expected for ethnicity, lighter than exposed areas
Abnormal:
-pale and taut=ascites
-purple flank color in bleeding
-dark,bluish striae=cushing syndrome`
Abdominal Inspection: Normal vs Abnormal: Umbilicus for
contour Correct Answer Normal: Inverted or level, rounds,
conical
Abnormal: everted (outie) from distention or umbilical hernia
Abdominal Inspection:: Normal vs Abnormal: Skin for Venous
Patterns Correct Answer Normal: Scattered fine veins
Abnormal: engorged and prominent in cirrhosis, inferior vena
cava obstruction, portal hypertension, or ascites
Abdominal Inspection:: Normal vs Abnormal: Skin Integrity
Correct Answer Normal: no rases, lesions or wounds
Abnormal:
-Striae, rashes, lesions, changes in moles, bleeding moles, or
petichiae
Abdominal Inspection:: Normal vs Abnormal: Umbilicus for
color Correct Answer Normal: pinkish and lighter/darker than
surrounding skin
Abnormal: inflamed, crusted, bluish seen in intraabdominal
hemorrhage
Abdominal Inspection:: Normal vs Abnormal: Umbilicus for
position Correct Answer Normal: Midline, centrally located
, Abnormal: deviated from midline in mass hernia, enlarger
organs or fluid
Abdominal Palpation: Normal vs Abnormal: Superficial masses
Correct Answer Normal: no masses
Abnormal: Superficial masses
* ask client to lift head off bed. If there is a mass, it will become
more prominent
Abdominal Palpation: Normal vs Abnormal: Tenderness
Correct Answer Normal: Nontender, soft
Abnormal:
-Pain--> infection, inflammation, gas, tumors, enlarged organs
-rigid
-Board like
Act FAST for Stroke Correct Answer F- face look uneven?
A- one Arm hanging down?
S- slurred speech?
T- Time to call 911
After meals Correct Answer PC
Alzheimer's Medical Tx Correct Answer Dx:
-only upon autopsy
Tx:
-donepezil
-antidepressants
-antipsychotics
Alzheimer's Risk Fx Correct Answer -Older