Physician Assistant History and Physical Examination 4

Question 1

A 28-year-old presents with a painless ulcer on the glans penis with indurated edges. Which historical detail is MOST important to obtain first?

Accepted Answer

Sexual history and partner information

Answer

A painless indurated penile ulcer is characteristic of primary syphilis (chancre); sexual history is essential to assess exposure and guide STI workup.

Question 2

On thyroid examination, which technique best differentiates a thyroid mass from another neck mass?

Accepted Answer

Ask the patient to swallow and observe if the mass moves superiorly

Answer

Thyroid masses move upward with swallowing because the thyroid is attached to the trachea by the pretracheal fascia.

Question 3

A 65-year-old with COPD has a barrel chest. Which physical exam finding would you also expect?

Accepted Answer

Hyperresonance to percussion

Answer

Air trapping in COPD leads to hyperinflation, causing hyperresonance to percussion and an increased AP:lateral diameter ratio (barrel chest).

Question 4

During review of systems (ROS), a patient reports 'constitutional symptoms.' Which cluster of symptoms does this term encompass?

Accepted Answer

Fever, chills, fatigue, weight loss, and night sweats

Answer

Constitutional symptoms refer to systemic, non-organ-specific complaints including fever, chills, fatigue, unintentional weight loss, and night sweats.

Question 5

A patient has 3+ pitting edema to the knee bilaterally. Which of the following would be LEAST likely to cause this finding?

Accepted Answer

Peripheral arterial disease

Answer

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) causes ischemia, not dependent edema; bilateral pitting edema results from volume overload or reduced oncotic pressure.

Physician Assistant Practice Test

Physician Assistant Practice Test

Physician Assistant History and Physical Examination 4