Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Medical Terminology > Physical Exam Terminology > Flashcards

Physical Exam Terminology Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
USMLE® Step 1 flashcards
1
Q

A&O

A

alert and oriented

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

A&O x3

A

alert and oriented to person, place and time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

abduction

A

movement away from the midline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

abrasion

A

scrape of the skin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

abscess

A

collection of pus beneath the skin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

accessory muscle usage

A

using extra muscles other than the diaphragm to help breathe

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

adduction

A

movement toward the midline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

afebrile

A

without fever

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

affect

A

expressed emotional/social response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

alert

A

awake and attentive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

ambulatory

A

able to walk

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

anisocoria

A

unequal pupil size

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

antalgic gait

A

limping, gait that can develop to avoid pain while walking

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

anterior

A

in front or directed to the front

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

arrhythmia

A

abnormal heart rhythm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

AT/NC

A

atraumatic/normocephalic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

ataxia

A

loss of coordination

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

atraumatic

A

without trauma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

atrautmatic/normpcephalic (AT/NC)

A

normal external head exam

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

atrophy

A

tissue breakdown or wasting away, typically due to degeneration of cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

auscultation

A

listening with a stethoscope

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

body habitus

A

general appearance/state of a person’s body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

bowel sounds

A

intestinal sounds by auscultation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

bradycardia

A

decreased heart rate (HR<60)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

bradypnea

A

decreased respiratory rate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

bruit

A

whooshing sound of a vessel by auscultation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

BS

A

bowel sounds, breath sounds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

cachexia/cachectic

A

extremely thin, malnourished as a result of weight and muscle loss due to disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

caudal

A

toward the feet

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

cephalad

A

toward the head

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

cerumen

A

earwax

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

CN

A

cranial nerves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

combative

A

aggressive and uncooperative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

constitutional

A

general appearance of a patient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

costovertebral angle

A

abdominal flanks, anatomical angle of the body containing the kidneys, formed by the vertebral column and 12th rib

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

cranial nerve

A

peripheral nerve originating from the brain (CN 2-12)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

crepitus

A

cracking palpable in a joint

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

C-spine

A

cervical spine (C1-C7)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

CTAB

A

clear to auscultation bilaterally

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

CVAT

A

costovertebral angle tenderness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

cyanosis

A

bluish color of skin due to hypoxia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

dermatome/dermatomal pattern

A

area of skin that is supplied by a specific nerve branch

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

dislocation

A

displacement of a bone from a joint

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

distal

A

away from the limb root

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

distress

A

an aversive state in which a person is unable to completely adapt to stressors and their resulting stress and can show maladaptive behaviors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

dorsiflexion

A

movement of the hands or feet toward the dorsum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

DP pulse

A

dorsalis pedis pulse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

DTR

A

deep tendon reflex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

emaciated

A

extremely malnourished and frail

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

EOMI

A

extraocular movements intact

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

everted

A

turned outward

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

extension

A

straighten out

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

febrile

A

having or showing the symptoms of a fever

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

flat affect

A

monotone and unemotional

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

flexion

A

bending movement where the angle between the bones of the limb and the joint decreases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

fluctuance

A

palpable fluid collection under the skin, common sign of abscess

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

friction rub

A

scratching sound of the heart via auscultation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

frontal

A

anterior portion of scalp and forehead

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

gallop

A

extra heart sounds via auscultation (S3 or S4)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

guarding

A

involuntary tensing of the abdominal wall muscles to protect internal organs in acute process

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

hemiparesis

A

unilateral weakness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

hemiplegia

A

unilateral paralysis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
63
Q

hepatomegaly

A

enlargement of the liver

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
64
Q

hernia

A

protrusion of tissue out of a body cavity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
65
Q

hyperesthesia

A

hypersensitivity of skin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
66
Q

hyperpigmentation

A

area of skin that is darker than surrounding skin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
67
Q

hypertension

A

elevated blood pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
68
Q

hypopigmentation

A

area of skin that is lighter than surrounding skin

69
Q

hypotension

A

low blood pressure

70
Q

icterus

A

yellowing of the sclera of the eyes

71
Q

inconsolable

A

unable to be comforted; for example, inability to get an infant to stop crying

72
Q

induration

A

hardened area of tissue

73
Q

inferior

A

lower, away from the head

74
Q

inguinal

A

groin region

75
Q

inverted

A

turned inward

76
Q

irregularly irregular

A

heart sounds heart with atrial fibrillation

77
Q

jaundice

A

yellowing of skin due to hyperbilirubinemia

78
Q

jugular venous distension (JVD)

A

distension of the neck veins due to fluid overload or CHF

79
Q

JVD

A

jugular vein distension

80
Q

keloid

A

raised scar

81
Q

kyphosis

A

forward rounding of the back

82
Q

laceration

A

cut in or through the skin or other tissues

83
Q

lateral

A

away from the midline, toward the sides

84
Q

LLL

A

lower left lobe

85
Q

LLQ

A

left lower quadrant

86
Q

lordosis

A

curving inward of the lower back

87
Q

L-spine

A

Lumbar spine, L1-L5

88
Q

LUL

A

left upper lobe

89
Q

LUQ

A

left upper quadrant

90
Q

lymphadenopathy

A

enlargement of a lymph node

91
Q

macular

A

flattened, erythematous spots on the skin

92
Q

maculopapular

A

rash displaying flat, red areas with several raised areas

93
Q

malnourished

A

poor nutritional state consistent with thin and frail appearance

94
Q

McBurney point

A

point in the RLQ that is associated with appendicitis

95
Q

medial

A

toward the midline/median plane

96
Q

meningismus

A

stiffening of the neck muscles

97
Q

midline

A

divides the body into left and right halves

98
Q

morbidly obese

A

extremely overweight, BMI >45

99
Q

mottled

A

description of skin with significant hypoperfusion (loss of circulating fluid); marked by hypotension and coldness of the skin

100
Q

murmur

A

abnormal heart sound, graded on scale of I-VI

101
Q

Murphy sign

A

pain with palpation of the RUQ with inspiration (tests for cholecystitis)

102
Q

nasal flaring

A

enlargement of nostrils when breathing; sign of respiratory distress

103
Q

nystagmus

A

involuntary eye movements where eyes appear to be shaking

104
Q

obturator sign

A

pain in the RLQ with internal rotation of the right hip; indicative of appendicitis

105
Q

occipital/occiput

A

posterior area of head/scalp

106
Q

oriented x3

A

oriented to person, place, and time

107
Q

oropharynx

A

posterior mouth meeting the superior aspect of the throat

108
Q

pallor

A

unhealthy pale appearance; abnormal loss of color from skin

109
Q

palmar

A

relating to the palm, interchangeable with volar

110
Q

palpable

A

able to be felt and easily perceived

111
Q

papilledema

A

swelling of the optic nerve sheath

112
Q

papular

A

raised bumps, often associated with rash

113
Q

percussing

A

tapping on the abdomen like a drum

114
Q

peritoneal signs

A

exam findings indicating an acute abdomen

115
Q

PERRL

A

pupils equal, round, reactive to light

116
Q

petechiae

A

small purple or red skin discolorations that do not blanch (petechiae appear when capillaries bleed, leaking blood into the skin)

117
Q

pitting edema

A

swelling that retains an imprint upon palpation

118
Q

plantar

A

relating to the sole of the foot

119
Q

posterior

A

relating to the rear or the back, interchangeable with dorsal

120
Q

pronate

A

turn the palm of the hand downward, turn out of anatomical position

121
Q

prone

A

body position lying face down

122
Q

proximal

A

closer to the limb root

123
Q

psoas sign

A

RLQ pain with extension of the right thigh, sign of appendicitis

124
Q

purulent

A

relating to pus

125
Q

radial

A

aspect of the lateral forearm when in anatomic position

126
Q

rales

A

wet crackling sound by auscultation of the lungs

127
Q

rebound

A

pain when releasing from abdominal palpation, also called Blumberg sign

128
Q

retractions

A

visible sinking of the skin between ribs during breathing, indicative of respiratory distress and use of accessory muscles

129
Q

rhonchi

A

coarse rattling respiratory sound; often thick mucous sound by auscultation of the lungs

130
Q

rigidity

A

stiffness of the abdominal wall muscles due to an acute abdominal process

131
Q

RLQ

A

right lower quadrant

132
Q

ROM

A

range of motion

133
Q

Romberg sign

A

falling to one side when standing with feet together and eyes closed

134
Q

Rovsing sign

A

pain in the RLQ when the LLQ is palpated (indicative of appendicitis)

135
Q

RRR

A

regular rate and rhythm

136
Q

RUQ

A

right upper quadrant

137
Q

scoliosis

A

sideways curvature of the spine

138
Q

serosanguinous

A

consisting of yellowish serum and blood (may also be spelled serosanguineous)

139
Q

serous

A

consisting of yellowish serum

140
Q

somnolent

A

appearing very drowsy

141
Q

splenomegaly

A

enlarged spleen

142
Q

straight leg raise

A

physical exam test to evaluate for sciatica

143
Q

stridor

A

high-pitched upper airway sound

144
Q

subluxation

A

partial dislocation

145
Q

subungual

A

beneath a nail

146
Q

sunken eyes

A

eyes appear to be depressed, consisting with dehydration

147
Q

superficial

A

near to the surface

148
Q

supinate

A

turning the palm facing upward or forward

149
Q

supine

A

body position when lying face up

150
Q

supple

A

flexible and freely mobile; common descriptor in neck exam

151
Q

suprapubic

A

lower central region of abdomen

152
Q

T spine

A

thoracic spine; T1-T12

153
Q

tachycardia

A

fast heart rate, >100 bpm

154
Q

tachypnea

A

increased respiratory rate

155
Q

temporal

A

the sides of the head

156
Q

tenting

A

slow return of skin to normal position after pinching the area- a sign of dehydration

157
Q

turgor

A

skin elasticity

158
Q

tympanic membrane (TM)

A

eardrum

159
Q

tympany

A

bell-like sound when percussing the abdomen

160
Q

ulnar

A

pertaining to the medial side of the arm when in anatomic position

161
Q

uncooperative

A

does not follow commands

162
Q

unkempt

A

poor self-hygiene

163
Q

urticaria

A

hives, sign of allergic reaction

164
Q

vesicle

A

fluid or air-filled cavity or sac

165
Q

volar

A

relating to the palm/sole of the foot (interchangeable with palmar)

166
Q

weal (pl. wheals)

A

often a description of an uticarial plaque (a red swollen mark on the body)

167
Q

well-developed

A

normal state of body and mental development and wellness

168
Q

wheezing

A

high-pitched lung sounds, often due to bronchospasm

Medical Terminology (28 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions