MEDICAL ASSISTANT FINAL EXAM 2026/2027 QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔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
✔✔What is Fowler's Position used for? - ✔✔to promote:
1. drainage
2. ease breathing
3. for patients with cardiovascular conditions
4. respiration problems
5. examination of the upper body and head
✔✔Describe Fowler's position - ✔✔sitting or semi-sitting position where the back of the
examination table is elevated to either 45 degrees (semi-fowler's) or 90 degrees (high-
fowler's). Knees raised slightly by placing a pillow underneath, but usually the legs rest
flat on the table
✔✔Define Hyperventilation - ✔✔Abnormally fast or deep respiration resulting in the loss
of carbon dioxide from the blood, thereby causing a decrease in blood pressure and
sometimes fainting.
✔✔Horizontal Recumbent Position - ✔✔
✔✔Used for most physical exams - ✔✔horizontal recumbent position
✔✔Dorsal Recumbent Position - ✔✔
, ✔✔Examination position in which the knees are flexed and the soles of the feet are flat
on the bed - ✔✔dorsal recumbent position
✔✔Fowler's Position - ✔✔
✔✔Semi-Fowler's Position - ✔✔elevate the head 45 degrees
✔✔High-Fowler's Position - ✔✔elevate the head 90 degrees
✔✔Used for patients with cardiovascular or respiratory problems - ✔✔fowler's position
✔✔Dorsal Lithotomy Position - ✔✔
✔✔Used for examination of the pelvic organs - ✔✔dorsal lithotomy position
✔✔Prone Position - ✔✔
✔✔Position used in the examination of the posterior aspect of the body, including the
back and spine - ✔✔prone position
✔✔Which position cannot be used with an unconscious patient or one with an
abdominal incision or breathing difficulty? - ✔✔prone position
✔✔Sim's Position - ✔✔
✔✔Position used for rectal examinations - ✔✔sim's position
✔✔Which position cannot be used when leg injuries or arthritis is present - ✔✔sim's
position
✔✔Knee-Chest Position - ✔✔
✔✔Which position is used for rectal and vaginal examinations and as treatment to bring
the uterus into normal position? - ✔✔knee-chest position
✔✔Trendelenburg Position - ✔✔
✔✔Describe trendelenburg position - ✔✔head 45 degrees lower than the body.
✔✔When is the trendelenburg position used - ✔✔1. surgical procedures of the pelvis
and abdomen
2. shock
AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔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
✔✔What is Fowler's Position used for? - ✔✔to promote:
1. drainage
2. ease breathing
3. for patients with cardiovascular conditions
4. respiration problems
5. examination of the upper body and head
✔✔Describe Fowler's position - ✔✔sitting or semi-sitting position where the back of the
examination table is elevated to either 45 degrees (semi-fowler's) or 90 degrees (high-
fowler's). Knees raised slightly by placing a pillow underneath, but usually the legs rest
flat on the table
✔✔Define Hyperventilation - ✔✔Abnormally fast or deep respiration resulting in the loss
of carbon dioxide from the blood, thereby causing a decrease in blood pressure and
sometimes fainting.
✔✔Horizontal Recumbent Position - ✔✔
✔✔Used for most physical exams - ✔✔horizontal recumbent position
✔✔Dorsal Recumbent Position - ✔✔
, ✔✔Examination position in which the knees are flexed and the soles of the feet are flat
on the bed - ✔✔dorsal recumbent position
✔✔Fowler's Position - ✔✔
✔✔Semi-Fowler's Position - ✔✔elevate the head 45 degrees
✔✔High-Fowler's Position - ✔✔elevate the head 90 degrees
✔✔Used for patients with cardiovascular or respiratory problems - ✔✔fowler's position
✔✔Dorsal Lithotomy Position - ✔✔
✔✔Used for examination of the pelvic organs - ✔✔dorsal lithotomy position
✔✔Prone Position - ✔✔
✔✔Position used in the examination of the posterior aspect of the body, including the
back and spine - ✔✔prone position
✔✔Which position cannot be used with an unconscious patient or one with an
abdominal incision or breathing difficulty? - ✔✔prone position
✔✔Sim's Position - ✔✔
✔✔Position used for rectal examinations - ✔✔sim's position
✔✔Which position cannot be used when leg injuries or arthritis is present - ✔✔sim's
position
✔✔Knee-Chest Position - ✔✔
✔✔Which position is used for rectal and vaginal examinations and as treatment to bring
the uterus into normal position? - ✔✔knee-chest position
✔✔Trendelenburg Position - ✔✔
✔✔Describe trendelenburg position - ✔✔head 45 degrees lower than the body.
✔✔When is the trendelenburg position used - ✔✔1. surgical procedures of the pelvis
and abdomen
2. shock
