SCRIBE PHYSICAL EXAM
TERMINOLOGY QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Somnolent - Answer-drowsy or sleepy disposition (General Appearance)
Cachetctic/Emaciated - Answer-physically wasting (extremely thin) (General Appearance)
Morbidly Obese - Answer-large body mass index (BMI) (General Appearance)
Nontoxic Appearing - Answer-well-appearing patient in minimal distress (often used to describe
well-appearing pediatric patients) (General Appearance)
Normocephalic - Answer-normal appearance and size of the head (Head)
Atraumatic - Answer-no signs of trauma present (Head)
Cyanosis - Answer-bluish discoloration of the skin due to a lack of oxygen (Skin)
Pallor - Answer-an unhealthy paleness of the skin (Skin)
Erythema - Answer-superficial reddening of the skin (Skin)
Jaundice - Answer-yellowing of skin due to abnormal bilirubin build-up (Skin)
Abrasion - Answer-superficial wound to the top most layer of the skin (Skin)
Contusion - Answer-a region of skin in which blood capillaries are ruptured; AKA bruise (Skin)
Ecchymosis - Answer-an area of ruptured blood vessels similar to a contusion; AKA bruise
(Skin)
Laceration - Answer-a cut in the skin (Skin)
Puncture - Answer-a small hole in the skin (Skin)
Wheal - Answer-round, localized area of edema on the skin (Skin)
Wheal-and-Flare - Answer-(a reaction) rash or hives (irregular, blanch raised areas with
redness) (Skin)
Urticaria - Answer-Hives or wheals which are either redder or paler than the surrounding area
and are often accompanied by itching (Skin)
Maculopapular - Answer-rash or hives (flat red area covered with small confluent bumps) (Skin)
Pustules - Answer-small collection of pus under the skin (Skin)
, Bullae - Answer-fluid-filled blisters (Skin)
Petechiae - Answer-a small, round, flat dark-red spot caused by bleeding into the skin or
beneath the mucus membrane (Skin)
Purpura - Answer-purple spots or blotches (don't turn white when pressed) (Skin)
Induration - Answer-a hardened area of normally soft tissue (Skin)
Fluctuance - Answer-movable and compressible (Skin)
Hemangioma - Answer-a benign tumor consisting of blood vessels (Skin)
Cornea - Answer-the transparent coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil; lets light into
the eye (Eyes)
Sclera - Answer-the dense fibrous opaque outer coat enclosing the eyeball (except the part
covered by the cornea (Eyes)
Conjunctiva - Answer-white area of the eyes (Eyes)
Icterus - Answer-yellowing of sclera due to bilirubin build-up (often seen with jaundice) (Eyes)
Subconjunctival Hemorrhage - Answer-bright red patches in conjunctiva of eyes due to ruptured
blood vessels (Eyes)
Extraocular Movements Intact (EOMI) - Answer-appropriate function of the extraocular muscles,
tested with "follow my finger" (Eyes)
Pupils equal, round and reactive to light (PERRL) - Answer-normal evaluation of the size, shape
of the pupils and their reaction to light (Eyes)
Papilledema - Answer-swelling of the optic disk due to an increase in intracranial pressure
(Eyes)
Fundi Sharp - Answer-non-swollen optic nerve on exam of fundus (back of eye) with
opthalmoscope (Eyes)
Visual Acuity - Answer-acuteness/sharpness of vision as measured by the eye chart (Eyes)
Eyelid Eversion - Answer-flipping the eyelid for exam underneath the eyelid (Eyes)
Normal Palpebral Conjunctiva - Answer-eyelid membrane is clear (Eyes)
Exophthalmos - Answer-bulging of eyes out of socket (Eyes)
Nystagmus - Answer-involuntary rapid eye movements (often reported as horizontal, vertical, or
rotary) (Eyes)
Erythema of the External Canal - Answer-redness of outer ear canal (Ears)
TERMINOLOGY QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Somnolent - Answer-drowsy or sleepy disposition (General Appearance)
Cachetctic/Emaciated - Answer-physically wasting (extremely thin) (General Appearance)
Morbidly Obese - Answer-large body mass index (BMI) (General Appearance)
Nontoxic Appearing - Answer-well-appearing patient in minimal distress (often used to describe
well-appearing pediatric patients) (General Appearance)
Normocephalic - Answer-normal appearance and size of the head (Head)
Atraumatic - Answer-no signs of trauma present (Head)
Cyanosis - Answer-bluish discoloration of the skin due to a lack of oxygen (Skin)
Pallor - Answer-an unhealthy paleness of the skin (Skin)
Erythema - Answer-superficial reddening of the skin (Skin)
Jaundice - Answer-yellowing of skin due to abnormal bilirubin build-up (Skin)
Abrasion - Answer-superficial wound to the top most layer of the skin (Skin)
Contusion - Answer-a region of skin in which blood capillaries are ruptured; AKA bruise (Skin)
Ecchymosis - Answer-an area of ruptured blood vessels similar to a contusion; AKA bruise
(Skin)
Laceration - Answer-a cut in the skin (Skin)
Puncture - Answer-a small hole in the skin (Skin)
Wheal - Answer-round, localized area of edema on the skin (Skin)
Wheal-and-Flare - Answer-(a reaction) rash or hives (irregular, blanch raised areas with
redness) (Skin)
Urticaria - Answer-Hives or wheals which are either redder or paler than the surrounding area
and are often accompanied by itching (Skin)
Maculopapular - Answer-rash or hives (flat red area covered with small confluent bumps) (Skin)
Pustules - Answer-small collection of pus under the skin (Skin)
, Bullae - Answer-fluid-filled blisters (Skin)
Petechiae - Answer-a small, round, flat dark-red spot caused by bleeding into the skin or
beneath the mucus membrane (Skin)
Purpura - Answer-purple spots or blotches (don't turn white when pressed) (Skin)
Induration - Answer-a hardened area of normally soft tissue (Skin)
Fluctuance - Answer-movable and compressible (Skin)
Hemangioma - Answer-a benign tumor consisting of blood vessels (Skin)
Cornea - Answer-the transparent coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil; lets light into
the eye (Eyes)
Sclera - Answer-the dense fibrous opaque outer coat enclosing the eyeball (except the part
covered by the cornea (Eyes)
Conjunctiva - Answer-white area of the eyes (Eyes)
Icterus - Answer-yellowing of sclera due to bilirubin build-up (often seen with jaundice) (Eyes)
Subconjunctival Hemorrhage - Answer-bright red patches in conjunctiva of eyes due to ruptured
blood vessels (Eyes)
Extraocular Movements Intact (EOMI) - Answer-appropriate function of the extraocular muscles,
tested with "follow my finger" (Eyes)
Pupils equal, round and reactive to light (PERRL) - Answer-normal evaluation of the size, shape
of the pupils and their reaction to light (Eyes)
Papilledema - Answer-swelling of the optic disk due to an increase in intracranial pressure
(Eyes)
Fundi Sharp - Answer-non-swollen optic nerve on exam of fundus (back of eye) with
opthalmoscope (Eyes)
Visual Acuity - Answer-acuteness/sharpness of vision as measured by the eye chart (Eyes)
Eyelid Eversion - Answer-flipping the eyelid for exam underneath the eyelid (Eyes)
Normal Palpebral Conjunctiva - Answer-eyelid membrane is clear (Eyes)
Exophthalmos - Answer-bulging of eyes out of socket (Eyes)
Nystagmus - Answer-involuntary rapid eye movements (often reported as horizontal, vertical, or
rotary) (Eyes)
Erythema of the External Canal - Answer-redness of outer ear canal (Ears)
