Diagnostic procedures for body structure

Question 1

Assessment techniques

Answer 1

Sequence of procedures designed to evaluate the health status of a patient

Question 2

Inspection

Answer 2

General observation of the patient as a whole, progressing to specific body areas

Question 3

Palpation

Answer 3

Gentle application of the hands to a specific structure or body area to determine size, consistency, texture, symmetry and tenderness

Question 4

Percussion

Answer 4

Tapping a structure with the hand or finger to assess consistency and the presence or absence of fluids within the underlying structures

Question 5

Auscultation

Answer 5

Listening to the heart, bowel and lungs with or without stethoscope to assess the presence and quality of sounds

Question 6

Endoscopy

Answer 6

Visual examination of a body cavity or canal using a specialized lighted instrument called endoscope

Question 7

Bloody chemistry analysis

Answer 7

Lab test, performed on serum, to evaluate various substances to see if they fall within the normal range

Question 8

Complete blood count (CBC)

Answer 8

Panel of blood tests used as broad screening test for anemias, infections and other disease

Question 9

Organ-disease panels

Answer 9

Series of blood tests used to evaluate a specific organ (liver panel) or (anemia panel)

Question 10

Computer tomography (CT)

Answer 10

Image technique in which an x-ray emitter rotates aroudn the area to be scanned and a computer measures intensity of transmitted x rays from different angles

Question 11

Fluoroscopy

Answer 11

Technique in which x rays are directed through the body to a fluorescence screen that displays internal structures in continuous motion

Question 12

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Answer 12

Technique that uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field, rather than an x-ray bean, to produce highly detailed, multiplanar, cross-sectional views of soft tissues

Question 13

Nuclear Scan

Answer 13

Technique in which a radioactive material called a tracer is introduced into the body and a specialized camera is used to produced images of organs and structures

Question 14

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Answer 14

Computed tomography records the positrons (+ charged particles) emitted from a radiopharmaceutical to produce a cross-sectional image of metabolic activity of body tissues to determine the presence of disease

Question 15

Radiography

Answer 15

Technique in which x rays are passed through the body or area of captures on a film to generate an image; aka x-ray

Question 16

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

Answer 16

Radiological technique that integrates computed tomography (CT) and a radioactive material injected into the bloodstream to visualize blood flow to tissues and organs

Question 17

Ultrasonography (US)

Answer 17

High frequency sound ways (ultrasound) are directed at soft tissue and reflected as “echos” to produce an image on a monitor of an internal body structure

Question 18

Biopsy

Answer 18

Removal of a representative tissue sample from a body site for microscopic examination, usually to establish a diagnosis

Question 19

Excisional

Answer 19

Biopsy where entire lesion is removed

Question 20

Inscisional

Answer 20

Biopsy in which only a small sample of the lesion is removed