Seidel's Guide to Physical Examination: An Interprofessional Approach
by Joyce E. Dains DrPH JD APRN FNP-BC FNAP FAANP FAAN, John A. Flynn MD MBA MEd,
JoAnne Silbert-Flagg, Barry S. Solomon MD MPH, Rosalyn W. Stewart MD MS MBA (2026)
11th Edition
,table of contents
Chapter 01: cultural competency ........................................................................................ 3
Chapter 02: the history and interviewing process ............................................................. 12
Chapter 03: examination techniques and equipment ........................................................ 23
Chapter 04: taking the next steps: clinical reasoning ......................................................... 36
Chapter 05: the health record .......................................................................................... 43
Chapter 06: vital signs and pain assessment ..................................................................... 52
Chapter 07: mental status ................................................................................................ 57
Chapter 08: growth and nutrition ..................................................................................... 73
Chapter 09: skin, hair, and nails ........................................................................................ 98
Chapter 10: lymphatic system ........................................................................................ 129
Chapter 11: head and neck ............................................................................................. 143
Chapter 12: eyes ............................................................................................................ 155
Chapter 13: ears, nose, and throat ................................................................................. 168
Chapter 14: chest and lungs ........................................................................................... 177
Chapter 15: heart ........................................................................................................... 184
Chapter 16: blood vessels .............................................................................................. 192
Chapter 17: breasts and axillae ...................................................................................... 202
Chapter 18: abdomen .................................................................................................... 210
Chapter 19: female genitalia .......................................................................................... 220
Chapter 20: male genitalia ............................................................................................. 231
Chapter 21: anus, rectum, and prostate .......................................................................... 242
Chapter 22: musculoskeletal system ............................................................................... 253
Chapter 23: neurologic system ....................................................................................... 266
Chapter 24: putting it all together .................................................................................. 285
Chapter 25: sports participation evaluation .................................................................... 304
Chapter 26: emergency or life-threatening situations ..................................................... 309
,Chapter 01: cultural competency
Multiple choice
1. Which statement is true regarding the relationship of physical characteristics and
culture?
A. Physical characteristics should be used to identify members of cultural groups.
B. There is a difference between distinguishing cultural characteristics and distinguishing
physical characteristics.
C. To be a member of a specific culture, an individual must have certain identifiable
physical characteristics.
D. Gender and race are the two essential physical characteristics used to identify cultural
groups.
Answer: b
Physical characteristics are not used to identify cultural groups; there is a difference between
the two, and they are considered separately. Physical characteristics should not be used to
identify members of cultural groups. To be a member of a specific culture, an individual does
not need to have certain identifiable physical characteristics. You should not confuse physical
characteristics with cultural characteristics. Gender and race are physical characteristics, not
cultural characteristics, and are not used to identify cultural groups.
Dif: cognitive level: understanding (comprehension)
Obj: nursing process—assessment msc: physiologic integrity: physiologic adaptation
2. An image of any group that rejects its potential for originality or individuality is known as
a(n)
A. Acculturation.
B. Norm.
C. Stereotype.
D. Ethnos.
Answer: c
A fixed image of any group that rejects its potential for originality or individuality is the
, Definition of stereotype. Acculturation is the process of adopting another culture’s behaviors. A
norm is a standard of allowable behavior within a group. Ethnos implies the same race or
nationality.
Dif: cognitive level: remembering (knowledge)
Obj: nursing process—assessment msc: physiologic integrity: physiologic adaptation
3. Mr. L presents to the clinic with severe groin pain and a history of kidney stones. Mr. L’s
son tells you that for religious reasons, his father wishes to keep any stone that is passed into
the urine filter that he has been using. What is your most appropriate response?
A. with your father’s permission, we will examine the stone and request that it be returned
to him.
B. the stone must be sent to the lab for examination and therefore cannot be kept.
C. we cannot let him keep his stone because it violates our infection control policy.
D. we don’t know yet if your father has another kidney stone, so we must analyze this one.
Answer: a
We should be willing to modify the delivery of health care in a manner that is respectful and in
keeping with the patient’s cultural background. with your father’s permission, we will examine
the stone and request that it be returned to him is the most appropriate response.
the stone must be sent to the lab for examination and therefore cannot be kept and we don’t
know yet if your father has another kidney stone, so we must analyze this one do not support
the patient’s request. we cannot let him keep his stone because it violates our
Infection control policy does not provide a reason that it would violate an infection control
policy.
Dif:cognitive level: analyzing (analysis)
Obj:nursing process—assessment msc: physiologic integrity: physiologic adaptation
4. The motivation of the healthcare professional to want to engage in the process of
becoming culturally competent, not have to, is called
A. Cultural knowledge.
B. Cultural awareness.
by Joyce E. Dains DrPH JD APRN FNP-BC FNAP FAANP FAAN, John A. Flynn MD MBA MEd,
JoAnne Silbert-Flagg, Barry S. Solomon MD MPH, Rosalyn W. Stewart MD MS MBA (2026)
11th Edition
,table of contents
Chapter 01: cultural competency ........................................................................................ 3
Chapter 02: the history and interviewing process ............................................................. 12
Chapter 03: examination techniques and equipment ........................................................ 23
Chapter 04: taking the next steps: clinical reasoning ......................................................... 36
Chapter 05: the health record .......................................................................................... 43
Chapter 06: vital signs and pain assessment ..................................................................... 52
Chapter 07: mental status ................................................................................................ 57
Chapter 08: growth and nutrition ..................................................................................... 73
Chapter 09: skin, hair, and nails ........................................................................................ 98
Chapter 10: lymphatic system ........................................................................................ 129
Chapter 11: head and neck ............................................................................................. 143
Chapter 12: eyes ............................................................................................................ 155
Chapter 13: ears, nose, and throat ................................................................................. 168
Chapter 14: chest and lungs ........................................................................................... 177
Chapter 15: heart ........................................................................................................... 184
Chapter 16: blood vessels .............................................................................................. 192
Chapter 17: breasts and axillae ...................................................................................... 202
Chapter 18: abdomen .................................................................................................... 210
Chapter 19: female genitalia .......................................................................................... 220
Chapter 20: male genitalia ............................................................................................. 231
Chapter 21: anus, rectum, and prostate .......................................................................... 242
Chapter 22: musculoskeletal system ............................................................................... 253
Chapter 23: neurologic system ....................................................................................... 266
Chapter 24: putting it all together .................................................................................. 285
Chapter 25: sports participation evaluation .................................................................... 304
Chapter 26: emergency or life-threatening situations ..................................................... 309
,Chapter 01: cultural competency
Multiple choice
1. Which statement is true regarding the relationship of physical characteristics and
culture?
A. Physical characteristics should be used to identify members of cultural groups.
B. There is a difference between distinguishing cultural characteristics and distinguishing
physical characteristics.
C. To be a member of a specific culture, an individual must have certain identifiable
physical characteristics.
D. Gender and race are the two essential physical characteristics used to identify cultural
groups.
Answer: b
Physical characteristics are not used to identify cultural groups; there is a difference between
the two, and they are considered separately. Physical characteristics should not be used to
identify members of cultural groups. To be a member of a specific culture, an individual does
not need to have certain identifiable physical characteristics. You should not confuse physical
characteristics with cultural characteristics. Gender and race are physical characteristics, not
cultural characteristics, and are not used to identify cultural groups.
Dif: cognitive level: understanding (comprehension)
Obj: nursing process—assessment msc: physiologic integrity: physiologic adaptation
2. An image of any group that rejects its potential for originality or individuality is known as
a(n)
A. Acculturation.
B. Norm.
C. Stereotype.
D. Ethnos.
Answer: c
A fixed image of any group that rejects its potential for originality or individuality is the
, Definition of stereotype. Acculturation is the process of adopting another culture’s behaviors. A
norm is a standard of allowable behavior within a group. Ethnos implies the same race or
nationality.
Dif: cognitive level: remembering (knowledge)
Obj: nursing process—assessment msc: physiologic integrity: physiologic adaptation
3. Mr. L presents to the clinic with severe groin pain and a history of kidney stones. Mr. L’s
son tells you that for religious reasons, his father wishes to keep any stone that is passed into
the urine filter that he has been using. What is your most appropriate response?
A. with your father’s permission, we will examine the stone and request that it be returned
to him.
B. the stone must be sent to the lab for examination and therefore cannot be kept.
C. we cannot let him keep his stone because it violates our infection control policy.
D. we don’t know yet if your father has another kidney stone, so we must analyze this one.
Answer: a
We should be willing to modify the delivery of health care in a manner that is respectful and in
keeping with the patient’s cultural background. with your father’s permission, we will examine
the stone and request that it be returned to him is the most appropriate response.
the stone must be sent to the lab for examination and therefore cannot be kept and we don’t
know yet if your father has another kidney stone, so we must analyze this one do not support
the patient’s request. we cannot let him keep his stone because it violates our
Infection control policy does not provide a reason that it would violate an infection control
policy.
Dif:cognitive level: analyzing (analysis)
Obj:nursing process—assessment msc: physiologic integrity: physiologic adaptation
4. The motivation of the healthcare professional to want to engage in the process of
becoming culturally competent, not have to, is called
A. Cultural knowledge.
B. Cultural awareness.
