1. Which statement suggests that a patient may be at risk for contracting viral hepatitis A?
a. "I am a healthcare worker."
b. "I had a blood transfusion recently."
c. "I have renal failure and have hemodialysis three times a week."
d. "I have recently been overseas." - Answers d
2. The examiner observes venous return on the abdomen of the patient that moves upward from the
pubis to the chest. This finding should make the examiner consider
a. portal hypertension.
b. renal artery stenosis.
c. inferior vena cava obstruction.
d. mesentery arterial hypertension. - Answers c
3. Mrs. Cody is 36 weeks pregnant. She tells the exam- iner that her stomach muscle feels like it is
splitting. A protrusion at the midline of the abdomen is observed. This is recognized as
a. abdominal dehiscence.
b. swelling of the abdominal aorta.
c. diastasis recti.
d. umbilical herniation. - Answers c
4. In which of the following patients would a slight pulsation in the epigastric area be considered a
normal inspection finding?
a. A very thin patient
b. An obese patient
c. A patient with ascites
d. An older patient - Answers a
5. The examiner palpates an organ in the left costal margin. Which technique should the examiner use to
differentiate between an enlarged left kidney and an enlarged spleen?
a. Auscultation, listening for renal bruit
,b. Auscultation, listening for abdominal friction rub
c. Palpation, using indirect fist palpation to assess for tenderness
d. Percussion, listening for dullness - Answers d
6. A hiatal hernia is best described as
a. a protrusion of abdominal contents through a weakening in the abdominal wall.
b. a protrusion of the stomach through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm.
c. an ulcer in the mucosa of the stomach that herniates into the peritoneal cavity.
d. a herniation of the gallbladder into the cystic duct. - Answers b
7. An examiner may wish to use a bimanual technique for abdominal palpation when
a. palpating superficial organs.
b. validating abdominal tenderness in the infant.
c. meeting muscle resistance while performing deep palpation.
d. determining the presence of excessive peritoneal fluid. - Answers c
8. A 21⁄2-year-old child presents with abdominal pain and stools that are red currant jelly in appearance.
Which problem would the examiner suspect?
a. Meckel diverticulum
b. Pyloric stenosis
c. Intussusception
d. Necrotizing enterocolitis - Answers c
9. You note that the midclavicular liver span of an adult male patient is 18 cm. With palpation, you note
that the liver is enlarged and nontender. What do these findings suggest?
a. Diverticulitis
b. Ulcerative colitis
c. Hepatitis
d. Cirrhosis - Answers d
10. The examiner is unable to palpate the liver or kidney on the patient. Which of the following
techniques will help assess tenderness to these organs?
, a. Application of continuous, firm pressure for 3 to 5 minutes
b. Percussion for tympany
c. Percussion for size
d. Indirect fist percussion - Answers d
11. Where is pain felt when an obturator muscle test is positive?
a. Right hip and thigh
b. Right hypogastric area
c. Right lower quadrant and groin
d. Beneath the right shoulder blade - Answers b
12. Which of the following techniques is used to confirm the presence of abdominal ascites?
a. Auscultation of fluid movement within the abdominal cavity
b. Palpation of rebound tenderness
c. Palpation of pitting edema on the abdomen
d. Percussion of dullness over dependent areas of the abdomen - Answers d
13. Which of the following examination findings is indicative of peritoneal irritation or appendicitis?
a. Rebound tenderness on palpation
b. Shifting dullness over the abdomen on percussion
c. Bruit heard over the abdominal aorta on auscultation
d. Dullness over the suprapubic area on percussion - Answers a
14. Which finding on a newborn infant suggests a con- genital anomaly?
a. The umbilical cord has one artery and one vein.
b. The umbilical cord is thick.
c. The umbilical cord is thin.
d. There is a small mass around the umbilicus. - Answers a
15. A 61-year-old man has a presenting complaint of frequent constipation. He tells the examiner that
there has been a change in his bowel movement habits—he gets constipated easily, the stool is very