Physical Exam: Respiratory, Back, Abdomen

Question 1

Bradypnea

Answer 1

Abnormally slow breathing

Question 2

Tachypnea

Answer 2

Abnormally rapid breathing

Question 3

**Apnea

Answer 3

temporary absence or cessation of breathing

Question 4

Prolonged Inspiratory Expiratory Phase

Answer 4

increased time between inspiratory and expiratory phases

Question 5

Rales

Answer 5

wet, crackling sound with respirations (aka crackles)

Question 6

Rhonchi

Answer 6

a whistling or snoring sound heard on auscultation of the chest when air channels are partially obstructed; plural of rhonchus

Question 7

Wheezes

Answer 7

difficult breathing with a whistling sound resulting from narrowing of the lumen of the respiratory passageways

Question 8

Stridor

Answer 8

harsh or high-pitched respiratory sound, caused by an obstruction of the air passages

Question 9

Intercostal Retractions

Answer 9

use of intercostal muscles with breathing (indicates severe respiratory distress/work of breathing) – sunken intercostal muscles (can see ribs)

Question 10

Accessory Muscle Use

Answer 10

using extra muscles to breath (you can usually see an emphasis on use of diaphragm and intercostal muscles)

Question 11

Costovertebral Angle

Tenderness (CVAT)

Answer 11

angle in back where kidneys are (HCP taps); left, right and

bilateral – if pain then possible kidney pathology

Question 12

Paraspinal Muscle

Tenderness

Answer 12

tenderness in muscles adjacent to spine

Question 13

Midline Tenderness

Answer 13

tenderness directly over spine

Question 14

No Step-offs

Answer 14

no misalignment of thoracic/lumbar spine

Question 15

Straight Leg Raise

Answer 15

if pain, indicative of herniated disk

Question 16

Saddle Anesthesia

Answer 16

loss of sensation around buttocks area

Question 17

Distension

Answer 17

bloating

Question 18

**Gravid

Answer 18

pregnant

Question 19

Ascites

Answer 19

accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity

Question 20

Tympanitic

Answer 20

sound generated by examiner tapping his/her finger in contact
with the a belly distended due to extra gas/air in the large or
small bowel

Question 21

Organomegaly

Answer 21

enlarged organ

Question 22

Hepatomegaly

Answer 22

enlarged liver

Question 23

Splenomegaly

Answer 23

enlarged spleen

Question 24

Murphy’s Sign

Answer 24

pain in right upper quadrant that may indicate gallbladder

infection

Question 25

Rovsing’s Sign

Answer 25

palpation of the left lower quadrant causes right lower quadrant pain that may indicate appendicitis

Question 26

Psoas Sign

Answer 26

pain produced with bending of the patient’s knees to chest that may indicate appendicitis

Question 27

Heel Tap Test

Answer 27

tap the heal to see if it causes pain, also done by having the patient jump up to see if pain is felt in the abdomen – may indicate appendicitis

Question 28

McBurney’s Point Tenderness

Answer 28

tenderness to palpation in the mid-point of the right lower quadrant (RLQ) which can indicate appendicitis

Question 29

Umbilical hernia

Answer 29

outward protrusion of intra-abdominal tissue and/or bowel through belly button

Question 30

Grey Turner’s Sign

Answer 30

bruising in flank area (lower back area)

Question 31

Cullen’s Sign

Answer 31

bruising in the skin around the umbilicus