ATI RN
Jarvis Physical Examination and Health Assessment Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 9
A patient presents with ear pain. She is an avid swimmer. The history includes pain and drainage from the left ear. On examination, she has pain when the ear is manipulated, including manipulation of the tragus. The canal is narrowed and erythematous, with some white debris in the canal. The rest of the examination is normal. What diagnosis would you assign this patient?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient's history of swimming and presenting symptoms of ear pain, drainage, and manipulation tenderness are suggestive of external otitis, commonly known as swimmer's ear. External otitis is an infection of the outer ear canal, which can be caused by prolonged moisture exposure, trauma, or bacterial/fungal infections. The narrowed and erythematous canal with white debris is characteristic of this condition. Otitis media (Choice A) typically presents with deep ear pain, hearing loss, and sometimes fever, but does not involve the ear canal. Perforation of the tympanum (Choice C) would present with sudden relief of pain and possible drainage from the ear. Cholesteatoma (Choice D) is characterized by a painless cyst or mass in the middle ear, not presenting with these acute ear canal symptoms.
Question 2 of 9
Mr. Edwards complains of cramps and difficulties with walking. The cramps occur in his calves consistently after walking about 100 yards. After a period of rest, he can start to walk again, but after 100 yards these same symptoms recur. Which of the following would suggest spinal stenosis as a cause of this pain?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Relief of the pain with bending at the waist is a key hallmark of spinal stenosis. This position helps relieve the pressure on the nerves in the spinal canal, which is often the root cause of the leg symptoms experienced by the patient. The symptoms described by Mr. Edwards, such as cramps in the calves after walking a certain distance, followed by relief with rest and recurrence upon walking again, are highly suggestive of spinal stenosis. This condition involves narrowing of the spinal canal, leading to compression of the nerves and resulting in symptoms like leg cramps, weakness, and difficulty walking, especially with prolonged activity. The relief of symptoms when bending forward (e.g., leaning on a shopping cart while walking) is a characteristic feature of neurogenic claudication associated with spinal stenosis.
Question 3 of 9
A 32-year-old white male comes to your clinic, complaining of aching on the right side of his testicle. He has felt this aching for several months. He states that as the day progresses the aching increases, but when he wakes up in the morning he is pain-free. He denies any pain with urination and states that the pain doesn't change with sexual activity. He denies any fatigue, weight gain, weight loss, fever, or night sweats. His past medical history is unremarkable. He is a married hospital administrator with two children. He notes that he and his wife have been trying to have another baby this year but have so far been unsuccessful despite frequent intercourse. He denies using tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs. His father has high blood pressure but his mother is healthy. On examination you see a young man appearing his stated age with unremarkable vital signs. On visualization of his penis, he is circumcised with no lesions. He has no scars along his inguinal area, and palpation of the area shows no lymphadenopathy. On palpation of his scrotum you feel testes with no discrete masses. Upon placing your finger through the right inguinal ring you feel what seems like a bunch of spaghetti. Asking him to bear down, you feel no bulges. The left inguinal ring is unremarkable, with no bulges on bearing down. His prostate examination is unremarkable. What abnormality of the scrotum does he most likely have?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The most likely abnormality of the scrotum that the patient has is a varicocele. This is indicated by the presence of a "bag of worms" feeling upon palpation of the right scrotum through the inguinal ring. Varicoceles are enlarged, twisted veins in the scrotum, similar to varicose veins that occur in the legs. They are more common on the left side, but can occur on the right side as well.
Question 4 of 9
Which of the following percussion notes would you obtain over the gastric bubble?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tympany is the percussion note you would obtain over the gastric bubble. Tympany is a drum-like sound and is typically heard over air-filled structures in the body, such as the stomach, intestines, and lungs. When percussing over the gastric bubble (air-filled stomach), you would expect to hear a tympanic note due to the presence of air in the stomach creating resonance. Resonance (choice A) is a low-pitched, hollow sound heard over normal lung tissue. Hyperresonance (choice C) is an abnormally loud, booming sound heard over hyperinflated lungs, as in conditions like emphysema. Flatness (choice D) is a dull sound heard over solid organs or areas of tissue consolidation, such as over the liver or a pleural effusion.
Question 5 of 9
What is the most appropriate amount for a weekly weight reduction goal?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The most appropriate amount for a weekly weight reduction goal is typically .5 to 1 pound per week. This rate of weight loss is considered safe and sustainable in the long term. Losing weight too quickly (options B, C, D) can be harmful to your health and may lead to muscle loss, nutritional deficiencies, and a slow metabolism. Rapid weight loss is also harder to maintain in the long run. Gradual weight loss of .5 to 1 pound per week allows for healthy changes to diet and exercise habits, making it more likely to be maintained over time. It is also more likely to result in lasting weight loss and overall improvements in health and well-being.
Question 6 of 9
A patient presents with ear pain. She is an avid swimmer. The history includes pain and drainage from the left ear. On examination, she has pain when the ear is manipulated, including manipulation of the tragus. The canal is narrowed and erythematous, with some white debris in the canal. The rest of the examination is normal. What diagnosis would you assign this patient?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient's history of swimming and presenting symptoms of ear pain, drainage, and manipulation tenderness are suggestive of external otitis, commonly known as swimmer's ear. External otitis is an infection of the outer ear canal, which can be caused by prolonged moisture exposure, trauma, or bacterial/fungal infections. The narrowed and erythematous canal with white debris is characteristic of this condition. Otitis media (Choice A) typically presents with deep ear pain, hearing loss, and sometimes fever, but does not involve the ear canal. Perforation of the tympanum (Choice C) would present with sudden relief of pain and possible drainage from the ear. Cholesteatoma (Choice D) is characterized by a painless cyst or mass in the middle ear, not presenting with these acute ear canal symptoms.
Question 7 of 9
Sudden, painful unilateral loss of vision may be caused by which of the following conditions?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A sudden, painful unilateral loss of vision is a medical emergency that may be caused by central retinal artery occlusion. This condition occurs when the main artery supplying blood to the retina becomes blocked, leading to a sudden and severe reduction in blood flow to the eye. The lack of blood flow can cause irreversible damage to the retina, resulting in a significant loss of vision. Patients with central retinal artery occlusion typically present with sudden, painless, and severe vision loss in one eye. Immediate medical attention is crucial to try to restore blood flow and minimize potential permanent vision loss in these cases. Vitreous hemorrhage, macular degeneration, and optic neuritis do not typically present with sudden, painful unilateral loss of vision as seen in central retinal artery occlusion.
Question 8 of 9
A 30-year-old man notices a firm, 2-cm mass under his areola. He has no other symptoms and no diagnosis of breast cancer in his first-degree relatives. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In a 30-year-old man with a firm, 2-cm mass under his areola and no other symptoms, the most likely diagnosis is breast tissue. Gynecomastia is a common condition in males where there is proliferation of breast tissue. It typically presents as a firm subareolar mass and can occur due to hormonal imbalances, medication use, or underlying medical conditions. Given the lack of family history of breast cancer, absence of other symptoms, and the age of the patient, breast tissue is the most probable diagnosis in this case. Breast cancer is less likely in this scenario, especially without any additional concerning findings or family history. Fibrocystic disease and lymph node involvement are also less likely given the presentation of a firm mass under the areola.
Question 9 of 9
A 57-year-old maintenance worker comes to your office for evaluation of pain in his legs. He has smoked two packs per day since the age of 16, but he is otherwise healthy. You are concerned that he may have peripheral vascular disease. Which of the following is part of common or concerning symptoms for the peripheral vascular system?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Intermittent claudication is a common symptom of peripheral vascular disease. It is characterized by muscle pain or cramping in the legs, usually in the calves, thighs, or buttocks, that occurs during physical activity such as walking and is relieved by rest. This symptom is due to inadequate blood flow to the muscles during exercise. It is important to assess for intermittent claudication in patients with risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, and hypertension, as it may indicate underlying peripheral arterial disease. The other symptoms listed (chest pressure with exertion, shortness of breath, knee pain) are not typically associated with peripheral vascular disease.