CMA Medical Assistant Certification
Exam Questions and Answers
1. What are the 4 parts to a patient's medical history?: chief complaint (CC),
history of present illness (HPI), Past, Family and Social History (PFSH), and review of systems
(ROS)
2. Vital signs reflect the functions of what three body processes
necessary for life?: body temperature, respiration and heart function
3. what are the 4 vital signs of body function?: temperature, pulse, respiration and
blood pressure
4. Give the normal temp ranges for the following sites: rectal, oral,
axillary and tympanic membrane?: rectal 98.6-100
oral 97.6-99.6
axillary 96.6-98.6
tympanic 9.8.6
5. febrile v afebrile: febrile is the presence of fever, afebrile is absence of fever
6. 3 types of fever?: intermittent, remittent and continuous
,7. oral temperature is not taken from which patients?: 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
8. how long should you wait for patients who just finished eating
drinking or smoking to take temp?: 30 minutes
9. What method of taking temp is the least accurate?: axillary (underarm)
10. normal adult pulse range: 60-100 BPM
11. what is the site most commonly used for taking pulse?: radial
artery in wrist
12. normal range for adults respiration?: 12-20 per minute
13. what are 3 respiration rate abnormalities?: apnea- temporary complete
absence of breathing tachypnea- rate > 40.min
bradypnea- decease in number of respirations
14. What are to abnormalities in respiratory rhythm?: Cheyne-Stokes-
regular pattern of irregular breathing rate
Orthopnea- diflcult to breathe unless in upwright position
,15. what does depth of respiration refer to?: amount of air that is inspired and
expired during respiration
16. what are three abnormalities in depth of respirations?: hypoventilation-
reduced amt of air enters lungs
hypernea- abnormal inc in depth and rate of
breathing hyperventilation- increased amt of air
entering lungs
17. Define blood pressure: measurement of the amt of force exerted by the blood on the
peripheral arterial walls and is expressed in mmHg
18. BP consists of what 2 components?: highest (systole) and lowest
(diastole) amt of pressure exerted during cardiac cycle
19. Name some common errors in blood pressure measurmens:
improper cutt size, arm is not at heart level, cutt not deflated, improper cutt placement
20. anthropometric refers to what?: comparative measurements of the bdoy
21. What are the 4 principles of physical examination?: inspection,
palpation, percussion, ausculatationq
22. to make a diagnosis the physician utilizes what 3 sources?:
patient's health history, physical exam, and lab tests
, 23. horizontal recumbent position: used for most physical exams
24. dorsal recumbent position:
25. fowler's position: used to promote drainage or ease breathing
26. dorsal lithotomy position: used for exam of pelvic orgns
27. prone position: used to examine spine and back
28. Sim's position: used for rectal examination
29. knee-chest position: used for rectal and vaginal exams
30. trendelenburg position: used for surgical procedures of pelvis and abdomen
31. Which organization is responsible for the identification of the
various haz- ards present in the workplace and for the creation of
rules and regulation to minimize exposure to hazards?: Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA)
32. What are the 3 categories for safety hazards?: physical hazards, chemical
hazards, biological hazards
33. for an external hemorrhage how is bleeding controlled?: elevating
the attected part above heart level and applying direct pressure to the wound
34. when does shock occur?: when there is insuttcient return of blood flow to the
heart, resulting in inadequate supply of oxygen
35. what are the common symptoms of shock?: pale, cold clammy skin,
rapid weak pulse, increased shallow breathing rate, expressionless face
36. first aid for shcok: maintain an open airway, call for assistance, keep victim lying dow,
attempt to control cause of shock
Exam Questions and Answers
1. What are the 4 parts to a patient's medical history?: chief complaint (CC),
history of present illness (HPI), Past, Family and Social History (PFSH), and review of systems
(ROS)
2. Vital signs reflect the functions of what three body processes
necessary for life?: body temperature, respiration and heart function
3. what are the 4 vital signs of body function?: temperature, pulse, respiration and
blood pressure
4. Give the normal temp ranges for the following sites: rectal, oral,
axillary and tympanic membrane?: rectal 98.6-100
oral 97.6-99.6
axillary 96.6-98.6
tympanic 9.8.6
5. febrile v afebrile: febrile is the presence of fever, afebrile is absence of fever
6. 3 types of fever?: intermittent, remittent and continuous
,7. oral temperature is not taken from which patients?: 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
8. how long should you wait for patients who just finished eating
drinking or smoking to take temp?: 30 minutes
9. What method of taking temp is the least accurate?: axillary (underarm)
10. normal adult pulse range: 60-100 BPM
11. what is the site most commonly used for taking pulse?: radial
artery in wrist
12. normal range for adults respiration?: 12-20 per minute
13. what are 3 respiration rate abnormalities?: apnea- temporary complete
absence of breathing tachypnea- rate > 40.min
bradypnea- decease in number of respirations
14. What are to abnormalities in respiratory rhythm?: Cheyne-Stokes-
regular pattern of irregular breathing rate
Orthopnea- diflcult to breathe unless in upwright position
,15. what does depth of respiration refer to?: amount of air that is inspired and
expired during respiration
16. what are three abnormalities in depth of respirations?: hypoventilation-
reduced amt of air enters lungs
hypernea- abnormal inc in depth and rate of
breathing hyperventilation- increased amt of air
entering lungs
17. Define blood pressure: measurement of the amt of force exerted by the blood on the
peripheral arterial walls and is expressed in mmHg
18. BP consists of what 2 components?: highest (systole) and lowest
(diastole) amt of pressure exerted during cardiac cycle
19. Name some common errors in blood pressure measurmens:
improper cutt size, arm is not at heart level, cutt not deflated, improper cutt placement
20. anthropometric refers to what?: comparative measurements of the bdoy
21. What are the 4 principles of physical examination?: inspection,
palpation, percussion, ausculatationq
22. to make a diagnosis the physician utilizes what 3 sources?:
patient's health history, physical exam, and lab tests
, 23. horizontal recumbent position: used for most physical exams
24. dorsal recumbent position:
25. fowler's position: used to promote drainage or ease breathing
26. dorsal lithotomy position: used for exam of pelvic orgns
27. prone position: used to examine spine and back
28. Sim's position: used for rectal examination
29. knee-chest position: used for rectal and vaginal exams
30. trendelenburg position: used for surgical procedures of pelvis and abdomen
31. Which organization is responsible for the identification of the
various haz- ards present in the workplace and for the creation of
rules and regulation to minimize exposure to hazards?: Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA)
32. What are the 3 categories for safety hazards?: physical hazards, chemical
hazards, biological hazards
33. for an external hemorrhage how is bleeding controlled?: elevating
the attected part above heart level and applying direct pressure to the wound
34. when does shock occur?: when there is insuttcient return of blood flow to the
heart, resulting in inadequate supply of oxygen
35. what are the common symptoms of shock?: pale, cold clammy skin,
rapid weak pulse, increased shallow breathing rate, expressionless face
36. first aid for shcok: maintain an open airway, call for assistance, keep victim lying dow,
attempt to control cause of shock
