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NURS 190 Physical Assessment –
Quiz 1 | WCU (2026–2027 Update) |
100% Verified Questions & Answers
| Grade A
4 basic physical assessment techniques
inspection
palpation
percussion
auscultation
How to do a physical assessment on the abdomen? And why?
inspection
auscultation
percussion
palpation
- so that we DO NOT allow for hyperactive bowel sounds before auscultating
What are the sensitive areas of the hand?
• The finger pads are used for discrimination of underlying structures and functions such as
pulses, superficial lymph nodes, or crepitus.
• Vibrations (vibrations) are best perceived by the examiner when using the base of the fingers
(metacarpophalangeal joints).
• The ulnar surface of the hand, including the finger, is most sensitive to vibrations such as
fremitus.
• The palmar aspect of the fingers is used to determine position, consistency, texture, size of
structures, pain, and tenderness.
• The dorsal surface of the fingers is most sensitive to temperature.
• The dominant hand is always more sensitive than the non-dominant hand.
What is light palpation used for?
Light palpation is used with the pads of the fingers to help assess the skin surface, pulses,
textures, tenderness (1cm)
What is deep palpation?
Used to palpate abdomen and internal organs
(2-4cm)
, What is contraindicated for deep palpation?
Dissecting aneurysms, peritonitis, ectopic pregnancy
What is percussion?
tapping the person's skin with short, sharp strokes to assess underlying structures
What is direct percussion?
Technique of tapping the body with the fingertips of the dominant hand.
What is direct percussion used to assess for?
Adult sinuses
What is blunt percussion?
Non dominant hand is flat and dominant hand hits over non dominant with a fist
What is blunt percussion used for?
Assess for pain and tenderness in gallbladder, liver, and kidneys
What is indirect percussion?
It's the technique most commonly used (sounds are clearer & more easily interpreted). A hammer
or tapping finger is used
What is a tympany sound?
loud, high pitched
Where would you hear a tympanic sound?
stomach or intestines
What is a resonance sound?
loud, low pitched, hollow
Where would you hear a resonance sound?
lungs
What is a hyperresonance sound?
loud, low pitched
Where would you hear a hyper resonance sound?
air is trapped in lungs, common among the elderly
NURS 190 Physical Assessment –
Quiz 1 | WCU (2026–2027 Update) |
100% Verified Questions & Answers
| Grade A
4 basic physical assessment techniques
inspection
palpation
percussion
auscultation
How to do a physical assessment on the abdomen? And why?
inspection
auscultation
percussion
palpation
- so that we DO NOT allow for hyperactive bowel sounds before auscultating
What are the sensitive areas of the hand?
• The finger pads are used for discrimination of underlying structures and functions such as
pulses, superficial lymph nodes, or crepitus.
• Vibrations (vibrations) are best perceived by the examiner when using the base of the fingers
(metacarpophalangeal joints).
• The ulnar surface of the hand, including the finger, is most sensitive to vibrations such as
fremitus.
• The palmar aspect of the fingers is used to determine position, consistency, texture, size of
structures, pain, and tenderness.
• The dorsal surface of the fingers is most sensitive to temperature.
• The dominant hand is always more sensitive than the non-dominant hand.
What is light palpation used for?
Light palpation is used with the pads of the fingers to help assess the skin surface, pulses,
textures, tenderness (1cm)
What is deep palpation?
Used to palpate abdomen and internal organs
(2-4cm)
, What is contraindicated for deep palpation?
Dissecting aneurysms, peritonitis, ectopic pregnancy
What is percussion?
tapping the person's skin with short, sharp strokes to assess underlying structures
What is direct percussion?
Technique of tapping the body with the fingertips of the dominant hand.
What is direct percussion used to assess for?
Adult sinuses
What is blunt percussion?
Non dominant hand is flat and dominant hand hits over non dominant with a fist
What is blunt percussion used for?
Assess for pain and tenderness in gallbladder, liver, and kidneys
What is indirect percussion?
It's the technique most commonly used (sounds are clearer & more easily interpreted). A hammer
or tapping finger is used
What is a tympany sound?
loud, high pitched
Where would you hear a tympanic sound?
stomach or intestines
What is a resonance sound?
loud, low pitched, hollow
Where would you hear a resonance sound?
lungs
What is a hyperresonance sound?
loud, low pitched
Where would you hear a hyper resonance sound?
air is trapped in lungs, common among the elderly
