Common Medical Signs

Question 1

Babinski’s reflex

Answer 1

(Nervous System)

Extension and spreading of toes when bottom of foot is stroked

Question 2

Battle signs

Answer 2

(Basiliar Skull Fx)

Bluish hue to bony prominence behind auricle (EAR)

Question 3

Beck’s Triad

Answer 3

(Cardiac Tamponade)

• JVD
• Muffled heart tones
• Hypotension

Question 4

Braxton Hicks

Answer 4

(False Labor)

Intermittent contraction of uterus after third month of pregnancy

Question 5

Brudzinski’s Sign

Answer 5

(Meningitis)

Flexion of the neck resulting from flexion of hip

Question 6

Coopernail’s Sign

Answer 6

(Pelvic Fx)

Ecchymosis on perineum & around scrotum or labia

Question 7

Cullen’s sign

Answer 7

(Intraperitoneal hemorrhage OR ectopic pregnancy OR hemorrhagic pancreatitis)

Bluish discoloration around umbilicus

Question 8

Cushing’s Triad

Answer 8

(Increased ICP OR brainstem herniation)

• hypertension
• bradycardia
• diminished respiratory effort

Question 9

Grey-Turner’s Sign

Answer 9

(Pancreatitis)

Discoloration of skin around flank

Question 10

Hamman’s Sign

Answer 10

(Mediastinal emphysema)

Crunching sound around heart with asynchronous heart beat

Question 11

Kehr’s Sign

Answer 11

(Splenic rupture)

Left shoulder pain

Question 12

Kernig’s Sign

Answer 12

(Meningitis)

Pain or resistance to knee extension when hip is flexed at 90 degrees

Question 13

Levine sign

Answer 13

(Cardiac chest pain)

Pt demonstrates pain with clutched fist over midline of chest

Question 14

McBurney’s Sign

Answer 14

(Appendicitis)

Tenderness 2/3 the distance between umbilicus and ileum

Question 15

Murphy’s Sign

Answer 15

(Gall bladder)

Pt unable to take deep breath on inspiration with deep palpation beneath right costal margins