AP Patient Assessment & Evaluation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient has a malar flush, night sweats, and a floating-empty pulse. These signs collectively indicate:
- Liver Yang Rising
- Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat (Correct answer)
- Full Heat in the Heart
- Wei Qi Deficiency
Correct answer: Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat
Malar flush, night sweats, and a floating-empty pulse together are classic indicators of Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat.
Question 2: Which of the following is the correct interpretation of a wiry (string-taut) pulse?
- Blood Deficiency
- Liver/Gallbladder disharmony or pain (Correct answer)
- Kidney Yang Deficiency
- Dampness and Phlegm
Correct answer: Liver/Gallbladder disharmony or pain
A wiry pulse is classically associated with Liver and Gallbladder disharmony, as well as pain conditions.
Question 3: In four-examination (Si Zhen), which method involves observing the patient's physical appearance, complexion, and tongue?
- Asking (Wen Zhen)
- Listening/Smelling (Wen Zhen)
- Looking (Wang Zhen) (Correct answer)
- Palpation (Qie Zhen)
Correct answer: Looking (Wang Zhen)
Wang Zhen (Looking/Observation) involves visual inspection of complexion, tongue, body shape, and other visible signs.
Question 4: A patient reports urinary frequency with clear, copious urine. Which pattern does this most likely reflect?
- Damp-Heat in the Bladder
- Kidney Yang Deficiency (Correct answer)
- Heart Fire
- Spleen Qi Deficiency
Correct answer: Kidney Yang Deficiency
Frequent, clear, copious urination is a key sign of Kidney Yang Deficiency, which fails to transform and retain fluids.
Question 5: Which body area is examined to assess the state of the Stomach and Spleen according to tongue diagnosis?
- Tongue tip
- Tongue sides
- Tongue center (Correct answer)
- Tongue root
Correct answer: Tongue center
The center of the tongue reflects the state of the Stomach and Spleen in TCM tongue diagnosis.
Question 6: A patient's chief complaint is headache located at the vertex. Which meridian is most likely involved?
- Stomach meridian
- Gallbladder meridian
- Liver meridian (Correct answer)
- Bladder meridian
Correct answer: Liver meridian
The Liver meridian (Foot Jueyin) travels to the vertex, making vertex headaches classically associated with Liver disharmony.
Question 7: During intake, a patient reports that their pain improves with pressure and warmth. This indicates:
- Excess condition
- Heat pattern
- Deficiency or Cold pattern (Correct answer)
- Blood Stasis
Correct answer: Deficiency or Cold pattern
Pain relieved by pressure (likes pressure) and warmth indicates a Deficiency or Cold pattern in TCM.
AP Patient Assessment & Evaluation 3
A patient has a malar flush, night sweats, and a floating-empty pulse.
These signs collectively indicate: