PARAMEDIC NATIONAL REGISTRY
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS.
Stridor - ANS harsh, high-pitched sound, swelling, FB in upper airway
Snoring - ANS tongue blocking airway
Gurgling - ANS indicates presence of fluid in the upper airway, need for suctioning
Decorticate posturing - ANS characterized by upper extremities flexed at the elbows and
held closely to the body and lower extremities that are externally rotated and extended. occurs
when the brainstem is not inhibited by the motor function of the cerebral cortex.
Decerebrate posturing - ANS (worse) extended and internally rotated elbows and legs, teeth
clenched, legs stiff and feet extended
Babinski response - ANS big toe moves upward and other toes fan out when stroking bottom
of foot, means CNS problem
Dilated pupils - ANS Mydriasis
cardiac arrest, shock, cereal hypoxia, cocaine, epinephrine, amphetamines
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,Small/constricted pupils - ANS -Miosis
narcotics, central nervous system disorder, glaucoma medication, bright light
Unequal pupils - ANS -Anisocoria
brain injury, brain tumor, stroke, artificial eye, some eye medications, eye injury or disease, ICP
Nystagmus - ANS rapid involuntary movements of the eyes
Causes of distended neck veins (JVD) - ANS -Tension penumothorax
-Cardiac tamponade
-Right heart failure
-Traumatic asphyxia
-Pulmonary embolus
-Emphysema
-Chronic bronchitis
-best seen at a 45 degree angle
Flat neck viens - ANS -Hemothorax
-Dehydration
-Shock
-best seen with patient supine
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,Apenustic - ANS long, deep breaths that are stopped during inspirations then periods of
apnea
Causes of apneustic breath sounds - ANS CNS injury or stroke
Biot (ataxic) respirations - ANS Irregular pattern, rate, and depth of respirations with
intermittent periods of apnea; result from increased intracranial pressure.
Cheyne-Stokes respiration - ANS Increasing in rate and depth, decreasing in rate and depth
with period of apnea, results from a neurological condition
Hyperventilation - ANS Rapid and shallow
Kussmaul respirations - ANS Deep, rapid breathing; usually the result of an accumulation of
certain acids when insulin is not available in the body.
Fruity breath
Rales/Crackles - ANS Fluid in small airways/alveoli
Causes of Rales/Crackles - ANS CHF, pulmonary edema, drowning, pneumonia, COPD
Rhonchi - ANS Mucus or fluid in larger airways/bronchi
Causes of rhonchi - ANS Bronchitis, COPD, penumonia
Wheezing - ANS Whistling sound due to bronchoconstriction or narrowing of the terminal
bronchioes due to edema
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, Causes of wheezing - ANS Asthma and allergic reactions
Right upper quadrant - ANS -Liver
-Gallbladder
-Stomach
Left upper quadrant - ANS -Spleen
-Liver
-Stomach
-Pancreas
Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) - ANS -Appendix
-Right ovary & tube
-Bladder if distended
Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) - ANS -Left ovary & tube
-Bladder if distended
Somatic pain - ANS -irritation of peritoneal lining
-sharp, localized, throbbing, deep breath increases pain
Referred pain - ANS Discomfort perceived in other parts of body, such as cardiac pain
referred to jaw or arm
Cullen's sign - ANS Ecchymosis around umbilicus, bleeding in abdominal cavity
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS.
Stridor - ANS harsh, high-pitched sound, swelling, FB in upper airway
Snoring - ANS tongue blocking airway
Gurgling - ANS indicates presence of fluid in the upper airway, need for suctioning
Decorticate posturing - ANS characterized by upper extremities flexed at the elbows and
held closely to the body and lower extremities that are externally rotated and extended. occurs
when the brainstem is not inhibited by the motor function of the cerebral cortex.
Decerebrate posturing - ANS (worse) extended and internally rotated elbows and legs, teeth
clenched, legs stiff and feet extended
Babinski response - ANS big toe moves upward and other toes fan out when stroking bottom
of foot, means CNS problem
Dilated pupils - ANS Mydriasis
cardiac arrest, shock, cereal hypoxia, cocaine, epinephrine, amphetamines
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,Small/constricted pupils - ANS -Miosis
narcotics, central nervous system disorder, glaucoma medication, bright light
Unequal pupils - ANS -Anisocoria
brain injury, brain tumor, stroke, artificial eye, some eye medications, eye injury or disease, ICP
Nystagmus - ANS rapid involuntary movements of the eyes
Causes of distended neck veins (JVD) - ANS -Tension penumothorax
-Cardiac tamponade
-Right heart failure
-Traumatic asphyxia
-Pulmonary embolus
-Emphysema
-Chronic bronchitis
-best seen at a 45 degree angle
Flat neck viens - ANS -Hemothorax
-Dehydration
-Shock
-best seen with patient supine
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,Apenustic - ANS long, deep breaths that are stopped during inspirations then periods of
apnea
Causes of apneustic breath sounds - ANS CNS injury or stroke
Biot (ataxic) respirations - ANS Irregular pattern, rate, and depth of respirations with
intermittent periods of apnea; result from increased intracranial pressure.
Cheyne-Stokes respiration - ANS Increasing in rate and depth, decreasing in rate and depth
with period of apnea, results from a neurological condition
Hyperventilation - ANS Rapid and shallow
Kussmaul respirations - ANS Deep, rapid breathing; usually the result of an accumulation of
certain acids when insulin is not available in the body.
Fruity breath
Rales/Crackles - ANS Fluid in small airways/alveoli
Causes of Rales/Crackles - ANS CHF, pulmonary edema, drowning, pneumonia, COPD
Rhonchi - ANS Mucus or fluid in larger airways/bronchi
Causes of rhonchi - ANS Bronchitis, COPD, penumonia
Wheezing - ANS Whistling sound due to bronchoconstriction or narrowing of the terminal
bronchioes due to edema
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, Causes of wheezing - ANS Asthma and allergic reactions
Right upper quadrant - ANS -Liver
-Gallbladder
-Stomach
Left upper quadrant - ANS -Spleen
-Liver
-Stomach
-Pancreas
Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) - ANS -Appendix
-Right ovary & tube
-Bladder if distended
Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) - ANS -Left ovary & tube
-Bladder if distended
Somatic pain - ANS -irritation of peritoneal lining
-sharp, localized, throbbing, deep breath increases pain
Referred pain - ANS Discomfort perceived in other parts of body, such as cardiac pain
referred to jaw or arm
Cullen's sign - ANS Ecchymosis around umbilicus, bleeding in abdominal cavity
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
