Medical Assistant Certification Exam Questions and Answers
What are the 4 parts to a chief complaint (CC), history of present illness (HPI), Past,
patient's medical history? Family and Social History (PFSH), and review of systems
(ROS)
Vital signs reflect the body temperature, respiration and heart function
functions of what
three body processes
necessary for life?
what are the 4 vital signs of temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure
body function?
rectal 98.6-100
Give the normal temp
oral 97.6-99.6
ranges for the following
axillary 96.6-98.6
sites: rectal, oral, axillary
tympanic 9.8.6
and tympanic
membrane?
febrile v afebrile febrile is the presence of fever, afebrile is absence of fever
3 types of fever? intermittent, remittent and continuous
oral temperature is not taken infants and children less than 6 yo, patients who had face,
from which patients? neck nose or mouth surgery, those receiving oxygen,
patients w altered mental status and others
how long should you wait 30 minutes
for patients who just
finished eating drinking or
smoking to
take temp?
What method of taking temp axillary (underarm)
is the least accurate?
normal adult pulse range 60-100 BPM
what is the site most radial artery in wrist
commonly used for taking
pulse?
normal range for adults 12-20 per minute
respiration?
, apnea- temporary complete
what are 3 respiration rate absence of breathing tachypnea-
abnormalities?
rate > 40.min
bradypnea- decease in number of respirations
What are to abnormalities in Cheyne-Stokes- regular pattern of
respiratory rhythm? irregular breathing rate Orthopnea-
difficult to breathe unless in upwright
position
what does depth of respiration amount of air that is inspired and expired during respiration
refer to?
hypoventilation-reduced amt of air
what are three abnormalities
enters lungs hypernea- abnormal inc
in depth of respirations?
in depth and rate of breathing
hyperventilation- increased amt of
air entering lungs
measurement of the amt of force exerted by the blood on
Define blood pressure
the peripheral arterial walls and is expressed in mmHg
BP consists of what 2 highest (systole) and lowest (diastole) amt of pressure exerted
components? during cardiac cycle
Name some common improper cuff size, arm is not at heart level, cuff not
errors in blood pressure deflated, improper cuff placement
measurmens
anthropometric refers to comparative measurements of the bdoy
what?
What are the 4 principles of inspection, palpation, percussion, ausculatationq
physical examination?
to make a diagnosis the patient's health history, physical exam, and lab tests
physician utilizes what 3
sources?
used for most physical exams
horizontal recumbent position
dorsal recumbent position
What are the 4 parts to a chief complaint (CC), history of present illness (HPI), Past,
patient's medical history? Family and Social History (PFSH), and review of systems
(ROS)
Vital signs reflect the body temperature, respiration and heart function
functions of what
three body processes
necessary for life?
what are the 4 vital signs of temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure
body function?
rectal 98.6-100
Give the normal temp
oral 97.6-99.6
ranges for the following
axillary 96.6-98.6
sites: rectal, oral, axillary
tympanic 9.8.6
and tympanic
membrane?
febrile v afebrile febrile is the presence of fever, afebrile is absence of fever
3 types of fever? intermittent, remittent and continuous
oral temperature is not taken infants and children less than 6 yo, patients who had face,
from which patients? neck nose or mouth surgery, those receiving oxygen,
patients w altered mental status and others
how long should you wait 30 minutes
for patients who just
finished eating drinking or
smoking to
take temp?
What method of taking temp axillary (underarm)
is the least accurate?
normal adult pulse range 60-100 BPM
what is the site most radial artery in wrist
commonly used for taking
pulse?
normal range for adults 12-20 per minute
respiration?
, apnea- temporary complete
what are 3 respiration rate absence of breathing tachypnea-
abnormalities?
rate > 40.min
bradypnea- decease in number of respirations
What are to abnormalities in Cheyne-Stokes- regular pattern of
respiratory rhythm? irregular breathing rate Orthopnea-
difficult to breathe unless in upwright
position
what does depth of respiration amount of air that is inspired and expired during respiration
refer to?
hypoventilation-reduced amt of air
what are three abnormalities
enters lungs hypernea- abnormal inc
in depth of respirations?
in depth and rate of breathing
hyperventilation- increased amt of
air entering lungs
measurement of the amt of force exerted by the blood on
Define blood pressure
the peripheral arterial walls and is expressed in mmHg
BP consists of what 2 highest (systole) and lowest (diastole) amt of pressure exerted
components? during cardiac cycle
Name some common improper cuff size, arm is not at heart level, cuff not
errors in blood pressure deflated, improper cuff placement
measurmens
anthropometric refers to comparative measurements of the bdoy
what?
What are the 4 principles of inspection, palpation, percussion, ausculatationq
physical examination?
to make a diagnosis the patient's health history, physical exam, and lab tests
physician utilizes what 3
sources?
used for most physical exams
horizontal recumbent position
dorsal recumbent position
