CEN Final EXAM Study Guide | Actual Questions and Answers
Latest Updated 2026/2027 (Graded A+)
• Question
Kehr's sign
Correct Answer: Referred pain down the left shoulder; indicative of a ruptured spleen.
• Question
Homan's sign
Correct Answer: pain in *calf upon dorsiflexion* of foot and may indicate DVT
• Question
Cullen's sign
Correct Answer: superficial edema and bruising in the subcutaneous fatty tissue around
the umbilicus caused by pancreatitis
• Question
Chvostek's sign
Correct Answer: Hypocalcemia (facial muscle spasm upon tapping)
• Question
Trousseau's sign
Correct Answer: arm/carpal spasm associated with hypocalcemia
• Question
Murphy's sign
Correct Answer: pain with palpation of the RUQ during inspiration, indicative of
cholecystitis
• Question
Beck's triad
Correct Answer: Hypotension, JVD, muffled heart sounds; cardiac tamponade
• Question
trauma triad of death
Correct Answer: hypothermia, acidosis, coagulopathy
,• Question
Cushing's triad
Correct Answer: I. Signs of increased intracranial pressure:
II. 1. hypertension
III. 2. bradycardia
IV. 3. irregular respirations
• Question
Battle's sign
Correct Answer: Bruising behind the ears, indicative of a basilar skull fracture
• Question
coarse crackles (rales)
Correct Answer: Low pitched, bubbling, moist sounds that may persist from early
inspiration to early expiration.
May indicate PNEUMONIA
• Question
fine crackles (fine rales)
Correct Answer: high pitched, (rubbing hair by ear, fire); alveoli "popping open" as air
hits previously closed alveoli upon inspiration; Upon expiration, alveoli closing; think
pulmonary edema, fibrosis
• Question
Rhonchi
Correct Answer: loud rumbling sounds heard on auscultation of bronchi obstructed by
thick sputum - COPD, CF, pneumonia
• Question
Stridor
Correct Answer: strained, high-pitched sound heard on inspiration caused by obstruction
in the pharynx or larynx, also caused by croup
• Question
Bronchiolitis
Correct Answer: Inflammation of the bronchioles that usually occurs in children younger
than 2 years and is often caused by the respiratory syncytial virus.
, • Question
Preload
Correct Answer: volume of blood in ventricles at end of diastole
• Question
Afterload
Correct Answer: the amount of resistance to ejection of blood from the ventricle
• Question
cardiac contractility
Correct Answer: the ability of the myocardium to stretch and contract in response to the
filling of the heart with blood
• Question
Mass casualty triage protocol
Correct Answer: Black = dead, red = 1st priority, yellow = 2nd priority, green = minor
injuries, white = no injuries
• Question
Crohn's disease
Correct Answer: a chronic autoimmune disorder that can occur anywhere in the
digestive tract, however it is most often found in the ileum and in the colon
• Question
ulcerative colitis
Correct Answer: a chronic condition of unknown cause in which repeated episodes of
inflammation in the rectum and large intestine cause ulcers and irritation
• Question
Benzo reversal agent
Correct Answer: Flumazenil - it can lower the patient's seizure threshold
• Question
Common causes of respiratory acidosis
Correct Answer: ventilation is inadequate to balance pH - COPD, ARDS, PNA, OSA,
neuromuscular dysfunction - increased risk for hyperkalemia - pH goes down and CO2
goes up
Latest Updated 2026/2027 (Graded A+)
• Question
Kehr's sign
Correct Answer: Referred pain down the left shoulder; indicative of a ruptured spleen.
• Question
Homan's sign
Correct Answer: pain in *calf upon dorsiflexion* of foot and may indicate DVT
• Question
Cullen's sign
Correct Answer: superficial edema and bruising in the subcutaneous fatty tissue around
the umbilicus caused by pancreatitis
• Question
Chvostek's sign
Correct Answer: Hypocalcemia (facial muscle spasm upon tapping)
• Question
Trousseau's sign
Correct Answer: arm/carpal spasm associated with hypocalcemia
• Question
Murphy's sign
Correct Answer: pain with palpation of the RUQ during inspiration, indicative of
cholecystitis
• Question
Beck's triad
Correct Answer: Hypotension, JVD, muffled heart sounds; cardiac tamponade
• Question
trauma triad of death
Correct Answer: hypothermia, acidosis, coagulopathy
,• Question
Cushing's triad
Correct Answer: I. Signs of increased intracranial pressure:
II. 1. hypertension
III. 2. bradycardia
IV. 3. irregular respirations
• Question
Battle's sign
Correct Answer: Bruising behind the ears, indicative of a basilar skull fracture
• Question
coarse crackles (rales)
Correct Answer: Low pitched, bubbling, moist sounds that may persist from early
inspiration to early expiration.
May indicate PNEUMONIA
• Question
fine crackles (fine rales)
Correct Answer: high pitched, (rubbing hair by ear, fire); alveoli "popping open" as air
hits previously closed alveoli upon inspiration; Upon expiration, alveoli closing; think
pulmonary edema, fibrosis
• Question
Rhonchi
Correct Answer: loud rumbling sounds heard on auscultation of bronchi obstructed by
thick sputum - COPD, CF, pneumonia
• Question
Stridor
Correct Answer: strained, high-pitched sound heard on inspiration caused by obstruction
in the pharynx or larynx, also caused by croup
• Question
Bronchiolitis
Correct Answer: Inflammation of the bronchioles that usually occurs in children younger
than 2 years and is often caused by the respiratory syncytial virus.
, • Question
Preload
Correct Answer: volume of blood in ventricles at end of diastole
• Question
Afterload
Correct Answer: the amount of resistance to ejection of blood from the ventricle
• Question
cardiac contractility
Correct Answer: the ability of the myocardium to stretch and contract in response to the
filling of the heart with blood
• Question
Mass casualty triage protocol
Correct Answer: Black = dead, red = 1st priority, yellow = 2nd priority, green = minor
injuries, white = no injuries
• Question
Crohn's disease
Correct Answer: a chronic autoimmune disorder that can occur anywhere in the
digestive tract, however it is most often found in the ileum and in the colon
• Question
ulcerative colitis
Correct Answer: a chronic condition of unknown cause in which repeated episodes of
inflammation in the rectum and large intestine cause ulcers and irritation
• Question
Benzo reversal agent
Correct Answer: Flumazenil - it can lower the patient's seizure threshold
• Question
Common causes of respiratory acidosis
Correct Answer: ventilation is inadequate to balance pH - COPD, ARDS, PNA, OSA,
neuromuscular dysfunction - increased risk for hyperkalemia - pH goes down and CO2
goes up
