MEDICAL ASSISTANT EXAMS SCRIPT 2026/2027
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Define bradypnea - ✔✔decrease in the number of respirations. This occurs during
sleep, or certain diseases.
✔✔Define respiratory rhythm - ✔✔refers to the pattern of breathing. Can vary with age:
infants have an irregular rhythm, while adults have regular.
✔✔2 abnormal respiratory rythms - ✔✔1. Cheyenne-Stokes
2. Orthopnea
✔✔Define Cheyenne-Stokes breathing rate - ✔✔a regular pattern of irregular breathing
rate
✔✔Define orthopnea - ✔✔difficulty or inability to breathe unless in the upright position
✔✔Patient position when the head is 90 degrees upright - ✔✔high-Fowler's position
✔✔Define depth of respiration - ✔✔the amount of air that is inspired and expired during
each respiration
✔✔Name 2 abnormalities in the depth of respiration - ✔✔1. hypoventilation
2. hyperventilation
✔✔Define hypoventilation - ✔✔state in which reduced amount of air enters the lungs
resulting in decreased oxygen level and increased carbon dioxide level in blood. It can
be due to breathing that is too shallow, or too slow, or due to diminished lung function
✔✔Define hyperpnea - ✔✔abnormal increase in the depth and rate of breathing
✔✔define hyperventilation - ✔✔state in which there is an increased amount of air
entering the lungs
✔✔Define blood pressure - ✔✔the amount of force exerted by the blood on the
peripheral arterial walls
✔✔How is blood pressure expressed - ✔✔mm of Hg
✔✔The appropriate width of a cuff is what? - ✔✔40% of the circumference of the limb
✔✔The appropriate length of the cuff is what? - ✔✔80% of the circumference of the limb
,✔✔If the blood pressure cuff is too short or narrow, how does this effect bp readings? -
✔✔false high readings
✔✔The bp cuff is centered over which artery - ✔✔brachial
✔✔What is the location of the bp cuff in relation to the anticubital crease? - ✔✔2.5cm
above
✔✔If the brachial artery is far below the heart level, how will this effect the blood
pressure - ✔✔false high
✔✔If the brachial artery is far above heart level, how will this effect the blood pressure
reading - ✔✔false low
✔✔What is the most common artery to use for blood pressure? - ✔✔brachial artery
✔✔How high should the bp cuff be inflated above the palpatory systolic pressure -
✔✔30mm Hg
✔✔What is the rate of release of pressure when taking a bp? - ✔✔2 to 3mm Hg per
second
✔✔When to you take the systolic bp? - ✔✔the level at which you hear the sounds of at
least two consecutive beats
✔✔When do you take the diastolic bp? - ✔✔When beats disappear
✔✔What are the 7 common errors in blood pressure measurements? - ✔✔1. improper
cuff size
2. the arm is not at heart level
3. cuff is not completely deflated before use
4. deflation of the cuff is faster than 2-3mm Hg per second
5. the cuff is re-inflated during the procedure
6. improper cuff placement
7. defective equipment
✔✔Define anthropometric measurements - ✔✔comparative measurements of the body
✔✔Why is length used in anthropometric measurements? - ✔✔because infants and
toddlers are unable to stand for a height measurement
✔✔What are the 4 principles of physical examination? - ✔✔1. inspection
2. palpation
3. percussion
, 4. auscultation
✔✔What does inspection focus on during the physical exam? - ✔✔1. general
appearance
2. state of nutrition
3. body habitus
4. symmetry
5. posture and gait
6. gait
✔✔Define palpation - ✔✔use of the sense of touch to determine the characteristics of
an organ
✔✔Define percussion - ✔✔tapping or striking the body, usually with the fingers or a
small hammer to determine the position, size and density or the underlying organ or
tissue.
✔✔Define auscultation - ✔✔listing to sounds produced by internal organs. Usually done
to evaluate:
1. heart
2. lungs
3. abdomen
✔✔What is the medical assistant's role in the physical examination? - ✔✔1. room
preparation
2. patient preparation
3. assisting the physician
✔✔What sources does the physician use to make a diagnosis? - ✔✔1. past medical
history
2. physical examination
3. laboratory tests
✔✔What position is used for most physical examinations? - ✔✔horizontal recumbent
position
✔✔Describe the horizontal recumbent position - ✔✔patient lies on back with legs
extended. Arms may be above the head, alongside the body, or folded on the chest
✔✔Describe the dorsal recumbent position - ✔✔patient on back with knees flexed and
soles of the feet flat on the exam table.
✔✔MA's responsibility for patient in the dorsal recumbent position - ✔✔fold a sheet
once across the chest and fold a second sheet crosswise over the thigs and legs so that
the genital area is easily exposed
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Define bradypnea - ✔✔decrease in the number of respirations. This occurs during
sleep, or certain diseases.
✔✔Define respiratory rhythm - ✔✔refers to the pattern of breathing. Can vary with age:
infants have an irregular rhythm, while adults have regular.
✔✔2 abnormal respiratory rythms - ✔✔1. Cheyenne-Stokes
2. Orthopnea
✔✔Define Cheyenne-Stokes breathing rate - ✔✔a regular pattern of irregular breathing
rate
✔✔Define orthopnea - ✔✔difficulty or inability to breathe unless in the upright position
✔✔Patient position when the head is 90 degrees upright - ✔✔high-Fowler's position
✔✔Define depth of respiration - ✔✔the amount of air that is inspired and expired during
each respiration
✔✔Name 2 abnormalities in the depth of respiration - ✔✔1. hypoventilation
2. hyperventilation
✔✔Define hypoventilation - ✔✔state in which reduced amount of air enters the lungs
resulting in decreased oxygen level and increased carbon dioxide level in blood. It can
be due to breathing that is too shallow, or too slow, or due to diminished lung function
✔✔Define hyperpnea - ✔✔abnormal increase in the depth and rate of breathing
✔✔define hyperventilation - ✔✔state in which there is an increased amount of air
entering the lungs
✔✔Define blood pressure - ✔✔the amount of force exerted by the blood on the
peripheral arterial walls
✔✔How is blood pressure expressed - ✔✔mm of Hg
✔✔The appropriate width of a cuff is what? - ✔✔40% of the circumference of the limb
✔✔The appropriate length of the cuff is what? - ✔✔80% of the circumference of the limb
,✔✔If the blood pressure cuff is too short or narrow, how does this effect bp readings? -
✔✔false high readings
✔✔The bp cuff is centered over which artery - ✔✔brachial
✔✔What is the location of the bp cuff in relation to the anticubital crease? - ✔✔2.5cm
above
✔✔If the brachial artery is far below the heart level, how will this effect the blood
pressure - ✔✔false high
✔✔If the brachial artery is far above heart level, how will this effect the blood pressure
reading - ✔✔false low
✔✔What is the most common artery to use for blood pressure? - ✔✔brachial artery
✔✔How high should the bp cuff be inflated above the palpatory systolic pressure -
✔✔30mm Hg
✔✔What is the rate of release of pressure when taking a bp? - ✔✔2 to 3mm Hg per
second
✔✔When to you take the systolic bp? - ✔✔the level at which you hear the sounds of at
least two consecutive beats
✔✔When do you take the diastolic bp? - ✔✔When beats disappear
✔✔What are the 7 common errors in blood pressure measurements? - ✔✔1. improper
cuff size
2. the arm is not at heart level
3. cuff is not completely deflated before use
4. deflation of the cuff is faster than 2-3mm Hg per second
5. the cuff is re-inflated during the procedure
6. improper cuff placement
7. defective equipment
✔✔Define anthropometric measurements - ✔✔comparative measurements of the body
✔✔Why is length used in anthropometric measurements? - ✔✔because infants and
toddlers are unable to stand for a height measurement
✔✔What are the 4 principles of physical examination? - ✔✔1. inspection
2. palpation
3. percussion
, 4. auscultation
✔✔What does inspection focus on during the physical exam? - ✔✔1. general
appearance
2. state of nutrition
3. body habitus
4. symmetry
5. posture and gait
6. gait
✔✔Define palpation - ✔✔use of the sense of touch to determine the characteristics of
an organ
✔✔Define percussion - ✔✔tapping or striking the body, usually with the fingers or a
small hammer to determine the position, size and density or the underlying organ or
tissue.
✔✔Define auscultation - ✔✔listing to sounds produced by internal organs. Usually done
to evaluate:
1. heart
2. lungs
3. abdomen
✔✔What is the medical assistant's role in the physical examination? - ✔✔1. room
preparation
2. patient preparation
3. assisting the physician
✔✔What sources does the physician use to make a diagnosis? - ✔✔1. past medical
history
2. physical examination
3. laboratory tests
✔✔What position is used for most physical examinations? - ✔✔horizontal recumbent
position
✔✔Describe the horizontal recumbent position - ✔✔patient lies on back with legs
extended. Arms may be above the head, alongside the body, or folded on the chest
✔✔Describe the dorsal recumbent position - ✔✔patient on back with knees flexed and
soles of the feet flat on the exam table.
✔✔MA's responsibility for patient in the dorsal recumbent position - ✔✔fold a sheet
once across the chest and fold a second sheet crosswise over the thigs and legs so that
the genital area is easily exposed
