NR 509/ NR509 Midterm Exam Advanced
Physical Assessment Chamberlain
Questions and Ansẉers with
rationales 2026\2027 update
This Exam contains:
Guarantee passing score
Questions and Ansẉers
format set of multiple-choice
Expert-Verified rationales
Verified ẉith trusted textbooks
,───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
─
1. Which of the following is the correct order for a physical
abdominal assessment?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
C. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
D. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
Answer: B.
Rationale: The correct order for the abdomen is inspection,
auscultation, percussion, and palpation. This prevents altering
bowel sounds before listening to them.
2. Which technique is used to determine the density of an
underlying structure?
A. Inspection
B. Palpation
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Answer: C.
Rationale: Percussion involves tapping the patient's skin to elicit
sounds that indicate the density of the underlying tissue (e.g., air,
fluid, or solid mass).
3. When using an ophthalmoscope, the red reflex is absent. This
finding is highly suggestive of:
A. Glaucoma
B. Cataracts
C. Macular degeneration
D. Retinal detachment
Answer: B.
,Rationale: An absent red reflex is a classic sign of cataracts, which
occur when the lens of the eye becomes opaque, blocking the light
from reflecting off the retina.
4. A patient presents with a unilateral, smooth, painless
enlargement of the thyroid gland. This is consistent with:
A. Toxic goiter
B. Thyroid nodule
C. Hashimoto's thyroiditis
D. Graves' disease
Answer: B.
Rationale: A unilateral, smooth, painless enlargement is typically a
thyroid nodule. Diffuse enlargement is more characteristic of goiters
or thyroiditis.
5. To test the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII), the examiner should ask
the patient to:
A. Stick out the tongue
B. Clench the teeth
C. Smile widely
D. Shrug the shoulders
Answer: A.
Rationale: CN XII (hypoglossal nerve) controls motor function of the
tongue. The patient is asked to stick out the tongue; deviation to
one side indicates a lesion on that side.
6. Which breath sound is normally heard over the trachea?
A. Vesicular
B. Bronchovesicular
C. Bronchial
D. Crackles
Answer: C.
, Rationale: Bronchial breath sounds are loud, high-pitched, and
normally heard over the trachea. Vesicular are heard in the
peripheral lung fields, and bronchovesicular over the major bronchi.
7. A high-pitched, musical sound heard on expiration is
characteristic of:
A. Crackles
B. Wheezes
C. Rhonchi
D. Pleural friction rub
Answer: B.
Rationale: Wheezes are caused by narrowed airways (as in asthma)
and produce a high-pitched, musical sound, usually more prominent
on expiration.
8. Which of the following landmarks is used to locate the apical
pulse?
A. 2nd intercostal space, right sternal border
B. 3rd intercostal space, left sternal border
C. 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
D. 5th intercostal space, midaxillary line
Answer: C.
Rationale: The Point of Maximal Impulse (PMI) or apical pulse is
normally located at the 5th intercostal space at the left midclavicular
line.
9. An S3 heart sound is best heard:
A. At the base of the heart
B. At the apex with the patient in the left lateral position
C. At the right 2nd intercostal space
D. Using the diaphragm of the stethoscope
Answer: B.
Physical Assessment Chamberlain
Questions and Ansẉers with
rationales 2026\2027 update
This Exam contains:
Guarantee passing score
Questions and Ansẉers
format set of multiple-choice
Expert-Verified rationales
Verified ẉith trusted textbooks
,───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
─
1. Which of the following is the correct order for a physical
abdominal assessment?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
C. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
D. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
Answer: B.
Rationale: The correct order for the abdomen is inspection,
auscultation, percussion, and palpation. This prevents altering
bowel sounds before listening to them.
2. Which technique is used to determine the density of an
underlying structure?
A. Inspection
B. Palpation
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Answer: C.
Rationale: Percussion involves tapping the patient's skin to elicit
sounds that indicate the density of the underlying tissue (e.g., air,
fluid, or solid mass).
3. When using an ophthalmoscope, the red reflex is absent. This
finding is highly suggestive of:
A. Glaucoma
B. Cataracts
C. Macular degeneration
D. Retinal detachment
Answer: B.
,Rationale: An absent red reflex is a classic sign of cataracts, which
occur when the lens of the eye becomes opaque, blocking the light
from reflecting off the retina.
4. A patient presents with a unilateral, smooth, painless
enlargement of the thyroid gland. This is consistent with:
A. Toxic goiter
B. Thyroid nodule
C. Hashimoto's thyroiditis
D. Graves' disease
Answer: B.
Rationale: A unilateral, smooth, painless enlargement is typically a
thyroid nodule. Diffuse enlargement is more characteristic of goiters
or thyroiditis.
5. To test the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII), the examiner should ask
the patient to:
A. Stick out the tongue
B. Clench the teeth
C. Smile widely
D. Shrug the shoulders
Answer: A.
Rationale: CN XII (hypoglossal nerve) controls motor function of the
tongue. The patient is asked to stick out the tongue; deviation to
one side indicates a lesion on that side.
6. Which breath sound is normally heard over the trachea?
A. Vesicular
B. Bronchovesicular
C. Bronchial
D. Crackles
Answer: C.
, Rationale: Bronchial breath sounds are loud, high-pitched, and
normally heard over the trachea. Vesicular are heard in the
peripheral lung fields, and bronchovesicular over the major bronchi.
7. A high-pitched, musical sound heard on expiration is
characteristic of:
A. Crackles
B. Wheezes
C. Rhonchi
D. Pleural friction rub
Answer: B.
Rationale: Wheezes are caused by narrowed airways (as in asthma)
and produce a high-pitched, musical sound, usually more prominent
on expiration.
8. Which of the following landmarks is used to locate the apical
pulse?
A. 2nd intercostal space, right sternal border
B. 3rd intercostal space, left sternal border
C. 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
D. 5th intercostal space, midaxillary line
Answer: C.
Rationale: The Point of Maximal Impulse (PMI) or apical pulse is
normally located at the 5th intercostal space at the left midclavicular
line.
9. An S3 heart sound is best heard:
A. At the base of the heart
B. At the apex with the patient in the left lateral position
C. At the right 2nd intercostal space
D. Using the diaphragm of the stethoscope
Answer: B.
