Physical Examination and History Taking 14th
Edition (LWW, 2026) by Rainier P. Soriano
Physical Examination & History Taking
A 200-Question Comprehensive Review Guide with all correct
answers
Covering the Health History, General Survey, and All Body-System Examinations
Organized to follow the standard sequence of a comprehensive physical examination course
This guide presents 200 questions with concise, direct answers across 18 topic areas: the interview and health
history, the general survey and vital signs, and each major body-system examination, plus special populations
(pregnant patients, infants and children, and older adults) and the mental status exam.
Contents
1. The Interview & Health History (Q1–14)
2. General Survey & Vital Signs (Q15–28)
3. Skin, Hair, and Nails (Q29–38)
4. Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat (HEENT) (Q39–56)
5. The Neck (Q57–62)
6. Thorax and Lungs (Q63–76)
7. The Cardiovascular System (Q77–97)
8. Breasts and Axillae (Q98–103)
9. The Abdomen (Q104–119)
10. The Peripheral Vascular System (Q120–127)
11. The Musculoskeletal System (Q128–141)
12. The Nervous System (Q142–162)
13. Male Genitalia and Prostate (Q163–168)
14. Female Genitalia (Q169–174)
,15. The Pregnant Patient (Q175–180)
16. Infants and Children (Q181–188)
17. The Older Adult (Q189–194)
18. Mental Status (Q195–200)
1. The Interview & Health History
Q1. What are the seven attributes used to fully characterize a symptom?
A: Location, quality, quantity/severity, timing (onset, duration, frequency), setting, aggravating/relieving
factors, and associated manifestations.
Q2. What is the difference between a symptom and a sign?
A: A symptom is a subjective experience reported by the patient; a sign is an objective finding observed or
measured by the examiner.
Q3. What are the major components of a complete health history?
A: Identifying data and chief complaint, history of present illness (HPI), past medical/surgical history,
family history, personal and social history, and review of systems.
Q4. What interviewing technique should be used first when eliciting the HPI?
A: Open-ended questioning, letting the patient tell the story in their own words before narrowing with
focused questions.
Q5. What does a symptom-characterization mnemonic such as OLDCARTS stand for?
A: Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating/Alleviating factors, Radiation, Timing, and
Severity.
Q6. How should the chief complaint be documented?
A: In the patient's own words, ideally including the duration of the problem.
Q7. What is included in the family history?
A: The age and health status (or age and cause of death) of first-degree relatives, and any family history of
heritable or communicable conditions.
Q8. Name the major categories typically covered in the review of systems.
A: General, skin, HEENT, neck, breasts, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, peripheral vascular,
urinary, genital, musculoskeletal, neurologic, hematologic, endocrine, and psychiatric.
Q9. What is an empathic response and why is it used?
A: A statement that names and validates a patient's emotion (e.g., 'That sounds frightening'); it builds
rapport and encourages disclosure.
Q10. What is facilitation as an interviewing technique?
A: Verbal or nonverbal encouragement, such as nodding or saying 'go on,' that prompts the patient to
continue talking.
Q11. When during the interview are closed (direct) questions most appropriate?
A: Later in the interview, to fill in specific details after the story has been explored with open-ended
questions.
Q12. What is the purpose of summarization during a history?
, A: It reviews the clinician's understanding of the story, signals a transition, and gives the patient a chance
to correct or add information.
Q13. What ethical principle requires a clinician to obtain permission before beginning a physical exam?
A: Informed consent, grounded in respect for patient autonomy.
Q14. How does a patient-centered interview differ from a clinician-centered interview?
A: A patient-centered interview follows the patient's own concerns and leads; a clinician-centered
interview relies more on directed, closed questions to assess specific symptoms and diagnoses.
Edition (LWW, 2026) by Rainier P. Soriano
Physical Examination & History Taking
A 200-Question Comprehensive Review Guide with all correct
answers
Covering the Health History, General Survey, and All Body-System Examinations
Organized to follow the standard sequence of a comprehensive physical examination course
This guide presents 200 questions with concise, direct answers across 18 topic areas: the interview and health
history, the general survey and vital signs, and each major body-system examination, plus special populations
(pregnant patients, infants and children, and older adults) and the mental status exam.
Contents
1. The Interview & Health History (Q1–14)
2. General Survey & Vital Signs (Q15–28)
3. Skin, Hair, and Nails (Q29–38)
4. Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat (HEENT) (Q39–56)
5. The Neck (Q57–62)
6. Thorax and Lungs (Q63–76)
7. The Cardiovascular System (Q77–97)
8. Breasts and Axillae (Q98–103)
9. The Abdomen (Q104–119)
10. The Peripheral Vascular System (Q120–127)
11. The Musculoskeletal System (Q128–141)
12. The Nervous System (Q142–162)
13. Male Genitalia and Prostate (Q163–168)
14. Female Genitalia (Q169–174)
,15. The Pregnant Patient (Q175–180)
16. Infants and Children (Q181–188)
17. The Older Adult (Q189–194)
18. Mental Status (Q195–200)
1. The Interview & Health History
Q1. What are the seven attributes used to fully characterize a symptom?
A: Location, quality, quantity/severity, timing (onset, duration, frequency), setting, aggravating/relieving
factors, and associated manifestations.
Q2. What is the difference between a symptom and a sign?
A: A symptom is a subjective experience reported by the patient; a sign is an objective finding observed or
measured by the examiner.
Q3. What are the major components of a complete health history?
A: Identifying data and chief complaint, history of present illness (HPI), past medical/surgical history,
family history, personal and social history, and review of systems.
Q4. What interviewing technique should be used first when eliciting the HPI?
A: Open-ended questioning, letting the patient tell the story in their own words before narrowing with
focused questions.
Q5. What does a symptom-characterization mnemonic such as OLDCARTS stand for?
A: Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating/Alleviating factors, Radiation, Timing, and
Severity.
Q6. How should the chief complaint be documented?
A: In the patient's own words, ideally including the duration of the problem.
Q7. What is included in the family history?
A: The age and health status (or age and cause of death) of first-degree relatives, and any family history of
heritable or communicable conditions.
Q8. Name the major categories typically covered in the review of systems.
A: General, skin, HEENT, neck, breasts, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, peripheral vascular,
urinary, genital, musculoskeletal, neurologic, hematologic, endocrine, and psychiatric.
Q9. What is an empathic response and why is it used?
A: A statement that names and validates a patient's emotion (e.g., 'That sounds frightening'); it builds
rapport and encourages disclosure.
Q10. What is facilitation as an interviewing technique?
A: Verbal or nonverbal encouragement, such as nodding or saying 'go on,' that prompts the patient to
continue talking.
Q11. When during the interview are closed (direct) questions most appropriate?
A: Later in the interview, to fill in specific details after the story has been explored with open-ended
questions.
Q12. What is the purpose of summarization during a history?
, A: It reviews the clinician's understanding of the story, signals a transition, and gives the patient a chance
to correct or add information.
Q13. What ethical principle requires a clinician to obtain permission before beginning a physical exam?
A: Informed consent, grounded in respect for patient autonomy.
Q14. How does a patient-centered interview differ from a clinician-centered interview?
A: A patient-centered interview follows the patient's own concerns and leads; a clinician-centered
interview relies more on directed, closed questions to assess specific symptoms and diagnoses.
