TCM Tests Daily Questions: Foundations
Board Exam Prep UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Which needle direction will puncture the lung when needling HE-1 (jiquan)?
A. lateral insertion
B. medial insertion
C. superior insertion
D. inferior insertion - CORRECT ANSWER -
In Five Element pulse diagnosis, what is the Yang organ Inch position on the left side?'
A. Stomach
B. Large Intestine
C. Small Intestine
D. Gallbladder' - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Large Intestine
A patient has breast distention prior to menstruation, odorless vaginal discharge, depressed
essence-spirit, and normal or light red menses. What would you expect the menstruation to be?
A. shortened
,B. indeterminate
C. dripping for several days
D. prolonged - CORRECT ANSWER - B. indeterminate
Source: This is Liver Depression, Qi Stagnation - Practical Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese
Medicine, Deng, 1999, page 362
Which of the following has an INCORRECT correspondence between the part of the eye and
associated organ?
A. the pupil / Heart
B. the iris / Liver
C. the sclera / Lungs
D. the eyelids / Spleen - CORRECT ANSWER - A. the pupil / Heart
Source: The pupil is associated with the Kidneys. Both canthi are associated with the Heart. The
theory of the Five Wheels is used in the diagnosis of eye disorders. It divides the eyes into five
areas called Wheels. The BLOOD WHEEL is associated with the Heart and corresponds to both
canthi. The Heart goversn the Blood. In the inner canthi are small openings (called palace of
tears) from which tears flow and disperse essential qi that moistens and nourish the eyeball. The
WIND WHEEL is asociated with the Liver and corresponds to the iris (black of the eye) and
defends the pupil-spirit. The Liver governs Wind. The QI WHEEL is associated with the Lungs
,and corresponds to the sclera (whites of the eye) which protects the inner system of the eyeball.
The Lungs govern qi. The WATER WHEEL is associated with the Kidneys and corresponds to
the pupil-spirit which should be clear and bright, reflecting the importance to vision. The
Kidneys govern water. The FLESH WHEEL is associated with the Spleen and corrresponds to
the eyelids (top and bottom). The upper eyelid and the eye lashes help to protect the eyeball. The
Spleen governs the muscles.
The theory of the Five Wheels is used in the diagnosis of eye disorders. It divides the eyes into
five areas. Which of the following has an INCORRECT correspondence?
A. Qi Wheel refers to the sclera
B. Wind Wheel refers both canthi
C. Water Wheel refers to the pupil
D. Flesh Wheel refers to the eyelids - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Wind Wheel refers both
canthi
Source: It is the Blood Wheel that refers to both canthi. The Wind Wheel refers to the iris. These
five wheels are used to determine the physiology and pathology of the eye and help in
diagnosing. It is important to combine the the Five Wheels with the other types of diagnosis and
patterns of differentiation in order to arrive at a determination of energetic configuration.
In index finger diagnosis in children, the first joint is the
A. Qi bar
B. Blood bar
C. Wind bar
, D. Life bar - CORRECT ANSWER - C. Wind bar
Source: There are only three bars. The first index finger joint (closest to the knuckle) is the Wind
Bar, the middle joint is the Qi Bar, and the last joint is the Life Bar. In children it is important to
look at the veins of the index finger. The veins are a result of the protrusion of the yin Lung
channel. The veins are relatively clear on children three years and under. - Practical Diagnosis in
Traditional Chinese Medicine, Deng, 1999, page 26
A patient has no appetite, hot sensations in the afternoon, dry stools, epigastric pain, desire to
drink small sips, full feeling after eating, tongue without root, and floating-empty pulse on the
right middle position. What is the Stomach zang-fu pattern?
A. Stomach Yin Deficiency
B. Blood Stasis in the Stomach
C. Stomach Fire
D. Stomach Phlegm-Fire - CORRECT ANSWER - A. Stomach Yin Deficiency
Source: this is Stomach Yin Xu (dry mouth/throat/stool, burning epigastric pain, fullness after
eating) with Empty Heat (night sweating, afternoon fever); the floating-empty pulse and rootless
coating can manifest in either (just Stomach Yin Xu or Stomach Yin Xu with Empty Heat); there
are symptoms of dryness because the fluids (yin) originate in the Stomach; when the Stomach is
deficient there can be symptoms of dryness; what is unique and typical about Stomach Yin
Deficiency is the dry mouth with a desire to drink in small amounts; if the only sign is an
absence of coating at the center of the tongue, is enough to make the diagnosis of Stomach Yin
Deficiency; the treatment principle is Nourish Stomach Yin and Nourish Fluids - The
Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, 2015, page 658; 2005 Edition, page 622; 1989
Edition, page 268
Board Exam Prep UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Which needle direction will puncture the lung when needling HE-1 (jiquan)?
A. lateral insertion
B. medial insertion
C. superior insertion
D. inferior insertion - CORRECT ANSWER -
In Five Element pulse diagnosis, what is the Yang organ Inch position on the left side?'
A. Stomach
B. Large Intestine
C. Small Intestine
D. Gallbladder' - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Large Intestine
A patient has breast distention prior to menstruation, odorless vaginal discharge, depressed
essence-spirit, and normal or light red menses. What would you expect the menstruation to be?
A. shortened
,B. indeterminate
C. dripping for several days
D. prolonged - CORRECT ANSWER - B. indeterminate
Source: This is Liver Depression, Qi Stagnation - Practical Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese
Medicine, Deng, 1999, page 362
Which of the following has an INCORRECT correspondence between the part of the eye and
associated organ?
A. the pupil / Heart
B. the iris / Liver
C. the sclera / Lungs
D. the eyelids / Spleen - CORRECT ANSWER - A. the pupil / Heart
Source: The pupil is associated with the Kidneys. Both canthi are associated with the Heart. The
theory of the Five Wheels is used in the diagnosis of eye disorders. It divides the eyes into five
areas called Wheels. The BLOOD WHEEL is associated with the Heart and corresponds to both
canthi. The Heart goversn the Blood. In the inner canthi are small openings (called palace of
tears) from which tears flow and disperse essential qi that moistens and nourish the eyeball. The
WIND WHEEL is asociated with the Liver and corresponds to the iris (black of the eye) and
defends the pupil-spirit. The Liver governs Wind. The QI WHEEL is associated with the Lungs
,and corresponds to the sclera (whites of the eye) which protects the inner system of the eyeball.
The Lungs govern qi. The WATER WHEEL is associated with the Kidneys and corresponds to
the pupil-spirit which should be clear and bright, reflecting the importance to vision. The
Kidneys govern water. The FLESH WHEEL is associated with the Spleen and corrresponds to
the eyelids (top and bottom). The upper eyelid and the eye lashes help to protect the eyeball. The
Spleen governs the muscles.
The theory of the Five Wheels is used in the diagnosis of eye disorders. It divides the eyes into
five areas. Which of the following has an INCORRECT correspondence?
A. Qi Wheel refers to the sclera
B. Wind Wheel refers both canthi
C. Water Wheel refers to the pupil
D. Flesh Wheel refers to the eyelids - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Wind Wheel refers both
canthi
Source: It is the Blood Wheel that refers to both canthi. The Wind Wheel refers to the iris. These
five wheels are used to determine the physiology and pathology of the eye and help in
diagnosing. It is important to combine the the Five Wheels with the other types of diagnosis and
patterns of differentiation in order to arrive at a determination of energetic configuration.
In index finger diagnosis in children, the first joint is the
A. Qi bar
B. Blood bar
C. Wind bar
, D. Life bar - CORRECT ANSWER - C. Wind bar
Source: There are only three bars. The first index finger joint (closest to the knuckle) is the Wind
Bar, the middle joint is the Qi Bar, and the last joint is the Life Bar. In children it is important to
look at the veins of the index finger. The veins are a result of the protrusion of the yin Lung
channel. The veins are relatively clear on children three years and under. - Practical Diagnosis in
Traditional Chinese Medicine, Deng, 1999, page 26
A patient has no appetite, hot sensations in the afternoon, dry stools, epigastric pain, desire to
drink small sips, full feeling after eating, tongue without root, and floating-empty pulse on the
right middle position. What is the Stomach zang-fu pattern?
A. Stomach Yin Deficiency
B. Blood Stasis in the Stomach
C. Stomach Fire
D. Stomach Phlegm-Fire - CORRECT ANSWER - A. Stomach Yin Deficiency
Source: this is Stomach Yin Xu (dry mouth/throat/stool, burning epigastric pain, fullness after
eating) with Empty Heat (night sweating, afternoon fever); the floating-empty pulse and rootless
coating can manifest in either (just Stomach Yin Xu or Stomach Yin Xu with Empty Heat); there
are symptoms of dryness because the fluids (yin) originate in the Stomach; when the Stomach is
deficient there can be symptoms of dryness; what is unique and typical about Stomach Yin
Deficiency is the dry mouth with a desire to drink in small amounts; if the only sign is an
absence of coating at the center of the tongue, is enough to make the diagnosis of Stomach Yin
Deficiency; the treatment principle is Nourish Stomach Yin and Nourish Fluids - The
Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, 2015, page 658; 2005 Edition, page 622; 1989
Edition, page 268
