Medical Assistant Certification Exam
What are the 4 parts to a patient's medical history? - correct answer ✔chief
complaint (CC), history of present illness (HPI), Past, Family and Social
History (PFSH), and review of systems (ROS)
Vital signs reflect the functions of what three body processes necessary for
life? - correct answer ✔body temperature, respiration and heart function
what are the 4 vital signs of body function? - correct answer ✔temperature,
pulse, respiration and blood pressure
Give the normal temp ranges for the following sites: rectal, oral, axillary and
tympanic membrane? - correct answer ✔rectal 98.6-100
oral 97.6-99.6
axillary 96.6-98.6
tympanic 9.8.6
febrile v afebrile - correct answer ✔febrile is the presence of fever, afebrile is
absence of fever
3 types of fever? - correct answer ✔intermittent, remittent and continuous
oral temperature is not taken from which patients? - correct answer ✔infants
and children less than 6 yo, patients who had face, neck nose or mouth
surgery, those receiving oxygen, patients w altered mental status and others
how long should you wait for patients who just finished eating drinking or
smoking to take temp? - correct answer ✔30 minutes
,What method of taking temp is the least accurate? - correct answer ✔axillary
(underarm)
normal adult pulse range - correct answer ✔60-100 BPM
what is the site most commonly used for taking pulse? - correct answer
✔radial artery in wrist
normal range for adults respiration? - correct answer ✔12-20 per minute
what are 3 respiration rate abnormalities? - correct answer ✔apnea-
temporary complete absence of breathing
tachypnea- rate > 40.min
bradypnea- decease in number of respirations
What are to abnormalities in respiratory rhythm? - correct answer ✔Cheyne-
Stokes- regular pattern of irregular breathing rate
Orthopnea- difficult to breathe unless in upwright position
what does depth of respiration refer to? - correct answer ✔amount of air that
is inspired and expired during respiration
what are three abnormalities in depth of respirations? - correct answer
✔hypoventilation-reduced amt of air enters lungs
hypernea- abnormal inc in depth and rate of breathing
hyperventilation- increased amt of air entering lungs
,Define blood pressure - correct answer ✔measurement of the amt of force
exerted by the blood on the peripheral arterial walls and is expressed in
mmHg
BP consists of what 2 components? - correct answer ✔highest (systole) and
lowest (diastole) amt of pressure exerted during cardiac cycle
Name some common errors in blood pressure measurmens - correct answer
✔improper cuff size, arm is not at heart level, cuff not deflated, improper cuff
placement
anthropometric refers to what? - correct answer ✔comparative
measurements of the bdoy
What are the 4 principles of physical examination? - correct answer
✔inspection, palpation, percussion, ausculatationq
to make a diagnosis the physician utilizes what 3 sources? - correct answer
✔patient's health history, physical exam, and lab tests
horizontal recumbent position - correct answer ✔used for most physical
exams
dorsal recumbent position - correct answer ✔
fowler's position - correct answer ✔used to promote drainage or ease
breathing
dorsal lithotomy position - correct answer ✔used for exam of pelvic orgns
, prone position - correct answer ✔used to examine spine and back
Sim's position - correct answer ✔used for rectal examination
knee-chest position - correct answer ✔used for rectal and vaginal exams
trendelenburg position - correct answer ✔used for surgical procedures of
pelvis and abdomen
Which organization is responsible for the identification of the various hazards
present in the workplace and for the creation of rules and regulation to
minimize exposure to hazards? - correct answer ✔Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA)
What are the 3 categories for safety hazards? - correct answer ✔physical
hazards, chemical hazards, biological hazards
for an external hemorrhage how is bleeding controlled? - correct answer
✔elevating the affected part above heart level and applying direct pressure to
the wound
when does shock occur? - correct answer ✔when there is insuffcient return
of blood flow to the heart, resulting in inadequate supply of oxygen
what are the common symptoms of shock? - correct answer ✔pale, cold
clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, increased shallow breathing rate,
expressionless face
What are the 4 parts to a patient's medical history? - correct answer ✔chief
complaint (CC), history of present illness (HPI), Past, Family and Social
History (PFSH), and review of systems (ROS)
Vital signs reflect the functions of what three body processes necessary for
life? - correct answer ✔body temperature, respiration and heart function
what are the 4 vital signs of body function? - correct answer ✔temperature,
pulse, respiration and blood pressure
Give the normal temp ranges for the following sites: rectal, oral, axillary and
tympanic membrane? - correct answer ✔rectal 98.6-100
oral 97.6-99.6
axillary 96.6-98.6
tympanic 9.8.6
febrile v afebrile - correct answer ✔febrile is the presence of fever, afebrile is
absence of fever
3 types of fever? - correct answer ✔intermittent, remittent and continuous
oral temperature is not taken from which patients? - correct answer ✔infants
and children less than 6 yo, patients who had face, neck nose or mouth
surgery, those receiving oxygen, patients w altered mental status and others
how long should you wait for patients who just finished eating drinking or
smoking to take temp? - correct answer ✔30 minutes
,What method of taking temp is the least accurate? - correct answer ✔axillary
(underarm)
normal adult pulse range - correct answer ✔60-100 BPM
what is the site most commonly used for taking pulse? - correct answer
✔radial artery in wrist
normal range for adults respiration? - correct answer ✔12-20 per minute
what are 3 respiration rate abnormalities? - correct answer ✔apnea-
temporary complete absence of breathing
tachypnea- rate > 40.min
bradypnea- decease in number of respirations
What are to abnormalities in respiratory rhythm? - correct answer ✔Cheyne-
Stokes- regular pattern of irregular breathing rate
Orthopnea- difficult to breathe unless in upwright position
what does depth of respiration refer to? - correct answer ✔amount of air that
is inspired and expired during respiration
what are three abnormalities in depth of respirations? - correct answer
✔hypoventilation-reduced amt of air enters lungs
hypernea- abnormal inc in depth and rate of breathing
hyperventilation- increased amt of air entering lungs
,Define blood pressure - correct answer ✔measurement of the amt of force
exerted by the blood on the peripheral arterial walls and is expressed in
mmHg
BP consists of what 2 components? - correct answer ✔highest (systole) and
lowest (diastole) amt of pressure exerted during cardiac cycle
Name some common errors in blood pressure measurmens - correct answer
✔improper cuff size, arm is not at heart level, cuff not deflated, improper cuff
placement
anthropometric refers to what? - correct answer ✔comparative
measurements of the bdoy
What are the 4 principles of physical examination? - correct answer
✔inspection, palpation, percussion, ausculatationq
to make a diagnosis the physician utilizes what 3 sources? - correct answer
✔patient's health history, physical exam, and lab tests
horizontal recumbent position - correct answer ✔used for most physical
exams
dorsal recumbent position - correct answer ✔
fowler's position - correct answer ✔used to promote drainage or ease
breathing
dorsal lithotomy position - correct answer ✔used for exam of pelvic orgns
, prone position - correct answer ✔used to examine spine and back
Sim's position - correct answer ✔used for rectal examination
knee-chest position - correct answer ✔used for rectal and vaginal exams
trendelenburg position - correct answer ✔used for surgical procedures of
pelvis and abdomen
Which organization is responsible for the identification of the various hazards
present in the workplace and for the creation of rules and regulation to
minimize exposure to hazards? - correct answer ✔Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA)
What are the 3 categories for safety hazards? - correct answer ✔physical
hazards, chemical hazards, biological hazards
for an external hemorrhage how is bleeding controlled? - correct answer
✔elevating the affected part above heart level and applying direct pressure to
the wound
when does shock occur? - correct answer ✔when there is insuffcient return
of blood flow to the heart, resulting in inadequate supply of oxygen
what are the common symptoms of shock? - correct answer ✔pale, cold
clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, increased shallow breathing rate,
expressionless face
