VITUITY SCRIBE - THE PHYSICAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Somnolent - Answer-Drowsy or sleepy disposition
Cachetic/Emaciated - Answer-Physically wasting ( extremely thin)
Nontoxic Appearing - Answer-Well-appearing patient in minimal distress (often used to
describe well-appearing pediatric patients)
Normocephalic - Answer-Normal appearance and size of head
Atraumatic - Answer-No signs of trauma present
Cyanosis - Answer-Bluish discoloration of the skin due to a lack of oxygen
Pallor - Answer-An unhealthy paleness of the skin
Erythema - Answer-Superficial reddening of the skin
Jaundice - Answer-Yellowing of skin due to abnormal bilirubin build-up
Abrasion - Answer-Superficial wound to the top most layer of the skin
Contusion - Answer-A region of skin in which blood capillaries are ruptured; AKA bruise
Ecchymosis - Answer-An area of ruptured blood vessels similar to a contusion; AKA
bruise
Laceration - Answer-A cut in the skin
Puncture - Answer-A small hole in the skin
Wheal - Answer-Round, localized area of edema on the skin
Wheal-and-flare - Answer-(a reaction) rash or hives (irregular, blanch raised areas with
redness)
Urticaria - Answer-hives or wheals which are either redder or paler than the surrounding
areas and are often accompanied by itching
Maculopapular - Answer-rash or hives (flat red area covered with small confluent
bumps)
, Pustules - Answer-Small collection of pus under the skin
Bullae - Answer-Fluid-filled blisters
Petechiae - Answer-A small round flat dark-red spot caused by bleeding into the skin or
beneath the mucus membrane
Purpura - Answer-Purple spots or blotches (don't turn white when pressed)
Induration - Answer-A hardened area of normally soft tissue
Fluctuance - Answer-Movable and compressible
Hemangioma - Answer-A benign tumor consisting of blood vessels
Cornea - Answer-The transparent coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil, lets
light into the eye
Sclera - Answer-The dense, fibrous, opaque outer coat enclosing the eyeball - except
the part covered by the cornea
Conjuctiva - Answer-White area of the eyes
Icterus - Answer-Yellowing of the sclera due to bilirubin build-up (often seen with
jaundice)
Subconjunctival hemorrhage - Answer-Bright red patches in conjunctiva of eyes due to
ruptured blood vessels
Extraocular Movements Intact (EOMI) - Answer-Appropriate function of the extraocular
muscles, tested with "follow my finger"
Pupils equal, round and reactive to light (PERRL) - Answer-Normal evaluation of the
size, shape of the pupils and their reaction to light
Papilledema - Answer-Swelling of the optic disk due to an increase in intracranial
pressure
Fundi sharp - Answer-Non-swollen optic nerve on exam of fundus (back of eye) with
opthalmoscope
Visual acuity - Answer-Acuteness/sharpness of vision as measured by the eye chart
Eyelid eversion - Answer-Flipping the eyelid for exam underneath the eyelid
Normal palpebral conjuctiva - Answer-Eyelid membrane is clear
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Somnolent - Answer-Drowsy or sleepy disposition
Cachetic/Emaciated - Answer-Physically wasting ( extremely thin)
Nontoxic Appearing - Answer-Well-appearing patient in minimal distress (often used to
describe well-appearing pediatric patients)
Normocephalic - Answer-Normal appearance and size of head
Atraumatic - Answer-No signs of trauma present
Cyanosis - Answer-Bluish discoloration of the skin due to a lack of oxygen
Pallor - Answer-An unhealthy paleness of the skin
Erythema - Answer-Superficial reddening of the skin
Jaundice - Answer-Yellowing of skin due to abnormal bilirubin build-up
Abrasion - Answer-Superficial wound to the top most layer of the skin
Contusion - Answer-A region of skin in which blood capillaries are ruptured; AKA bruise
Ecchymosis - Answer-An area of ruptured blood vessels similar to a contusion; AKA
bruise
Laceration - Answer-A cut in the skin
Puncture - Answer-A small hole in the skin
Wheal - Answer-Round, localized area of edema on the skin
Wheal-and-flare - Answer-(a reaction) rash or hives (irregular, blanch raised areas with
redness)
Urticaria - Answer-hives or wheals which are either redder or paler than the surrounding
areas and are often accompanied by itching
Maculopapular - Answer-rash or hives (flat red area covered with small confluent
bumps)
, Pustules - Answer-Small collection of pus under the skin
Bullae - Answer-Fluid-filled blisters
Petechiae - Answer-A small round flat dark-red spot caused by bleeding into the skin or
beneath the mucus membrane
Purpura - Answer-Purple spots or blotches (don't turn white when pressed)
Induration - Answer-A hardened area of normally soft tissue
Fluctuance - Answer-Movable and compressible
Hemangioma - Answer-A benign tumor consisting of blood vessels
Cornea - Answer-The transparent coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil, lets
light into the eye
Sclera - Answer-The dense, fibrous, opaque outer coat enclosing the eyeball - except
the part covered by the cornea
Conjuctiva - Answer-White area of the eyes
Icterus - Answer-Yellowing of the sclera due to bilirubin build-up (often seen with
jaundice)
Subconjunctival hemorrhage - Answer-Bright red patches in conjunctiva of eyes due to
ruptured blood vessels
Extraocular Movements Intact (EOMI) - Answer-Appropriate function of the extraocular
muscles, tested with "follow my finger"
Pupils equal, round and reactive to light (PERRL) - Answer-Normal evaluation of the
size, shape of the pupils and their reaction to light
Papilledema - Answer-Swelling of the optic disk due to an increase in intracranial
pressure
Fundi sharp - Answer-Non-swollen optic nerve on exam of fundus (back of eye) with
opthalmoscope
Visual acuity - Answer-Acuteness/sharpness of vision as measured by the eye chart
Eyelid eversion - Answer-Flipping the eyelid for exam underneath the eyelid
Normal palpebral conjuctiva - Answer-Eyelid membrane is clear
