Physician Assistant History and Physical Examination 2

Question 1

A 55-year-old man reports chest pain that worsens with inspiration and is relieved by leaning forward. Which component of the history is MOST critical to document next?

Accepted Answer

Onset and duration of pain

Answer

Pleuritic chest pain relieved by leaning forward suggests pericarditis; documenting onset and duration is essential to characterize the presentation.

Question 2

During a funduscopic exam, you observe arteriovenous nicking. This finding is most associated with:

Accepted Answer

Chronic hypertension

Answer

AV nicking, where arterioles compress venules at crossing points, is a classic sign of chronic hypertensive retinopathy.

Question 3

A patient's trachea is deviated to the left. Which finding on physical exam would suggest tension pneumothorax on the right?

Accepted Answer

Hyperresonance and absent breath sounds on the right

Answer

Tension pneumothorax causes hyperresonance and absent breath sounds on the affected side with tracheal deviation away from it.

Question 4

When obtaining a sexual history using the 5 P's framework, which of the following is NOT one of the 5 P's?

Accepted Answer

Prior STIs

Answer

The 5 P's are Partners, Practices, Protection from STIs, Past history of STIs, and Pregnancy intention — 'Prior STIs' is phrased differently but the framework doesn't use that exact term as a standalone P.

Question 5

A 70-year-old woman has a positive Romberg sign. This finding indicates dysfunction of which sensory system?

Accepted Answer

Proprioception and vestibular input

Answer

A positive Romberg sign (increased sway with eyes closed) indicates impaired proprioception or vestibular input, not cerebellar dysfunction.

Physician Assistant Practice Test

Physician Assistant Practice Test

Physician Assistant History and Physical Examination 2