VOCAB: CH 19 Secondary Assessment and Reassessment

Question 1

Anisocoria

Answer 1

A condition characterized by unequal pupil size; may be congenital or indicative of pathology

Question 2

Aphasia

Answer 2

Loss of the ability to understand or express speech

Question 3

Apical impulse

Answer 3

A pulsation of the left ventricle of the heart that is palpable and sometimes visible at the fifth intercostal space to the left of the midline

Question 4

Ataxia

Answer 4

Failure of muscle coordination

Question 5

Auscultation

Answer 5

A technique that requires the use of a stethoscope and is used to assess body sounds produced by the movement of various fluids or gases in organs or tissues

Question 6

Bronchovesicular breath sounds

Answer 6

Normal breath sounds heard over the major bronchi or in the posterior chest between the scapula

Question 7

Bruit

Answer 7

An abnormal sound or murmur heard while auscultating an artery, organ, or gland

Question 8

Crackle

Answer 8

A fine, bubbling sound heard on auscultation of the lung. It is produced by air entering distal airways and alveoli that contain serous secretions

Question 9

Crepitus

Answer 9

A grating sound or sensation that may be caused by bone fragments rubbing or other sources, such as a joint with inflammation

Question 10

Deep tendon reflexes

Answer 10

Reflexes that examine the sensory and motor pathways of a nerve; often associated with muscle stretching

Question 11

Diastolic blood pressure

Answer 11

The minimum level of blood pressure measured between contractions of the heart

Question 12

Dysarthria

Answer 12

Difficult and poorly articulated speech resulting from poor control over the muscles of speech

Question 13

Dysconjugate gaze

Answer 13

Failure of the eyes to move with synchronized motion; may be diagnostic of a neurologic injury

Question 14

Dysphonia

Answer 14

An abnormality in the speaking voice, such as hoarseness

Question 15

Epistaxis

Answer 15

Bleeding from the nose

Question 16

Heart murmurs

Answer 16

Abnormal heart sounds caused by altered blood flow into a chamber or through a valve

Question 17

Inspection

Answer 17

A visual assessment of the patient and surroundings

Question 18

Nystagmus

Answer 18

Involuntary jerking movements of the eyes

Question 19

Palpation

Answer 19

A technique in which an examiner uses the hands and fingers to gather information from a patient by touch

Question 20

Percussion

Answer 20

A surface tapping technique used to evaluate the presence of air or fluid in body tissues

Question 21

Pericardial friction rub

Answer 21

A dry, grating sound heard with a stethoscope during auscultation; suggestive of pericarditis

Question 22

PERRL

Answer 22

Acronym that indicates that the Pupils are Equal and Round, and Reactive to Light

Question 23

Physical examination

Answer 23

An assessment of a patient that includes examination techniques, measurement of vital signs, an assessment of height and weight, and the skillful use of examination equipment

Question 24

Pleural friction rub

Answer 24

A rubbing or grating sound that occurs as one layer of the pleural membranes slides over the other during breathing

Question 25

Pronator drift test

Answer 25

A test to evaluate balance and upper extremity weakness; performed by having that patient close the eyes and hold both arms out from the body

Question 26

Pulse deficit

Answer 26

A condition that exists when the radial pulse is less than the ventricular rate; it indicates a lack of peripheral perfusion

Question 27

Reassessment

Answer 27

The ongoing assessment that follows the paramedic’s initial evaluation of the patient

Question 28

Rhonchi

Answer 28

Abnormal, coarse, rattling respiratory sounds, usually caused by secretions in bronchial airways, muscular spasm, neoplasm, or external pressure

Question 29

Romberg test

Answer 29

A test to evaluate stance and balance; performed by having the patient stand erect with eyes closed, feet together, and arms at the sides

Question 30

Secondary assessment

Answer 30

An assessment that consists of physical examination techniques, measurements of vital signs, an assessment of body systems, and the skillful use of examination equipment

Question 31

Six cardinal fields of gaze

Answer 31

A test to evaluate extraocular muscle function; performed by having the patient visually track an object in six visual fields in an H pattern

Question 32

Stridor

Answer 32

An abnormal, high-pitched musical sound caused by obstruction in the trachea or larynx

Question 33

Subcutaneous emphysema

Answer 33

The presence of air in the subcutaneous tissues

Question 34

Superficial reflexes

Answer 34

Reflexes elicited by sensory afferents from skin

Question 35

Systolic blood pressure

Answer 35

The blood pressure measured during the period of ventricular contraction

Question 36

Thrills

Answer 36

Fine vibrations felt by an examiner’s hands over the site of an aneurysm or on the pericardium

Question 37

Tidal volume

Answer 37

The volume of air inspired or expired in a single, resting breath

Question 38

Tympany

Answer 38

A hollow drumlike sound produced when a gas-containing cavity is percussed

Question 39

Vesicular breath sounds

Answer 39

Breath sounds heard over most of the lung fields; the major normal breath sound

Question 40

Wheeze

Answer 40

A form of rhonchus characterized by a high-pitched, musical quality. It is caused by high-velocity airflow through narrowed airways