APEA 3P ACTUAL EXAM 2025
1. When auscultating the lungs, a high-pitched whistling sound most likely
indicates:
A) Pleural friction rub
B) Crackles
C) CORRECT ANSWER: Wheezes
D) Stridor
Explanation: Wheezes are high-pitched sounds caused by narrowed airways,
typical in asthma or bronchospasm.
2. Clubbing of the nails is often associated with:
A) Anemia
B) CORRECT ANSWER: Chronic hypoxia
C) Jaundice
D) Lymphedema
Explanation: Chronic hypoxia, often seen in COPD or interstitial lung disease,
causes nail clubbing.
3. The presence of an S3 heart sound in an adult suggests:
A) Normal finding in young adults
B) CORRECT ANSWER: Heart failure
C) Aortic stenosis
D) Mitral valve prolapse
Explanation: S3 (“ventricular gallop”) indicates volume overload in adults.
4. A bruit heard over the carotid artery suggests:
A) Venous insufficiency
B) CORRECT ANSWER: Turbulent arterial flow
C) Lymphatic obstruction
D) Normal variation
Explanation: Bruits indicate possible arterial narrowing or stenosis.
,APEA 3P ACTUAL EXAM 2025
5. Which technique is best for assessing tactile fremitus?
A) Percussion
B) CORRECT ANSWER: Palpation
C) Auscultation
D) Inspection
Explanation: Fremitus is felt using the palms while the patient speaks.
6. Normal lung percussion note is:
A) Dull
B) Hyperresonant
C) Tympanic
D) CORRECT ANSWER: Resonant
Explanation: Healthy lung tissue produces a resonant sound on percussion.
7. A positive Murphy’s sign suggests:
A) Appendicitis
B) CORRECT ANSWER: Cholecystitis
C) Pancreatitis
D) Gastritis
Explanation: Pain on inspiration while pressing the right upper quadrant
indicates gallbladder inflammation.
8. Which reflex is tested by stroking the cheek?
A) Palmar grasp
B) Moro
C) CORRECT ANSWER: Rooting
D) Babinski
Explanation: Rooting reflex helps infants locate the nipple.
9. Pitting edema is graded on a scale of:
, APEA 3P ACTUAL EXAM 2025
A) 0–1
B) CORRECT ANSWER: 1+ to 4+
C) A–D
D) Mild/Moderate/Severe
Explanation: Clinical edema uses a numeric scale from 1+ (mild) to 4+ (severe).
10. A bruit in the abdominal aorta may indicate:
A) CORRECT ANSWER: Aortic aneurysm
B) Pancreatitis
C) Kidney stone
D) Hepatitis
Explanation: Turbulent flow from a dilated vessel produces a bruit.
11. The correct technique to assess for jugular venous distention (JVD) is:
A) Patient standing
B) Patient sitting at 90°
C) CORRECT ANSWER: Patient at 30–45° angle
D) Patient supine
Explanation: JVD is best assessed with patient reclined 30–45°.
12. An enlarged, tender thyroid gland suggests:
A) Hypothyroidism
B) Goiter
C) CORRECT ANSWER: Thyroiditis
D) Hyperparathyroidism
Explanation: Inflammation of the thyroid (thyroiditis) causes tenderness and
enlargement.
13. Hyperresonant percussion in the lungs may indicate:
A) Pleural effusion
B) Pneumothorax
C) CORRECT ANSWER: Emphysema
1. When auscultating the lungs, a high-pitched whistling sound most likely
indicates:
A) Pleural friction rub
B) Crackles
C) CORRECT ANSWER: Wheezes
D) Stridor
Explanation: Wheezes are high-pitched sounds caused by narrowed airways,
typical in asthma or bronchospasm.
2. Clubbing of the nails is often associated with:
A) Anemia
B) CORRECT ANSWER: Chronic hypoxia
C) Jaundice
D) Lymphedema
Explanation: Chronic hypoxia, often seen in COPD or interstitial lung disease,
causes nail clubbing.
3. The presence of an S3 heart sound in an adult suggests:
A) Normal finding in young adults
B) CORRECT ANSWER: Heart failure
C) Aortic stenosis
D) Mitral valve prolapse
Explanation: S3 (“ventricular gallop”) indicates volume overload in adults.
4. A bruit heard over the carotid artery suggests:
A) Venous insufficiency
B) CORRECT ANSWER: Turbulent arterial flow
C) Lymphatic obstruction
D) Normal variation
Explanation: Bruits indicate possible arterial narrowing or stenosis.
,APEA 3P ACTUAL EXAM 2025
5. Which technique is best for assessing tactile fremitus?
A) Percussion
B) CORRECT ANSWER: Palpation
C) Auscultation
D) Inspection
Explanation: Fremitus is felt using the palms while the patient speaks.
6. Normal lung percussion note is:
A) Dull
B) Hyperresonant
C) Tympanic
D) CORRECT ANSWER: Resonant
Explanation: Healthy lung tissue produces a resonant sound on percussion.
7. A positive Murphy’s sign suggests:
A) Appendicitis
B) CORRECT ANSWER: Cholecystitis
C) Pancreatitis
D) Gastritis
Explanation: Pain on inspiration while pressing the right upper quadrant
indicates gallbladder inflammation.
8. Which reflex is tested by stroking the cheek?
A) Palmar grasp
B) Moro
C) CORRECT ANSWER: Rooting
D) Babinski
Explanation: Rooting reflex helps infants locate the nipple.
9. Pitting edema is graded on a scale of:
, APEA 3P ACTUAL EXAM 2025
A) 0–1
B) CORRECT ANSWER: 1+ to 4+
C) A–D
D) Mild/Moderate/Severe
Explanation: Clinical edema uses a numeric scale from 1+ (mild) to 4+ (severe).
10. A bruit in the abdominal aorta may indicate:
A) CORRECT ANSWER: Aortic aneurysm
B) Pancreatitis
C) Kidney stone
D) Hepatitis
Explanation: Turbulent flow from a dilated vessel produces a bruit.
11. The correct technique to assess for jugular venous distention (JVD) is:
A) Patient standing
B) Patient sitting at 90°
C) CORRECT ANSWER: Patient at 30–45° angle
D) Patient supine
Explanation: JVD is best assessed with patient reclined 30–45°.
12. An enlarged, tender thyroid gland suggests:
A) Hypothyroidism
B) Goiter
C) CORRECT ANSWER: Thyroiditis
D) Hyperparathyroidism
Explanation: Inflammation of the thyroid (thyroiditis) causes tenderness and
enlargement.
13. Hyperresonant percussion in the lungs may indicate:
A) Pleural effusion
B) Pneumothorax
C) CORRECT ANSWER: Emphysema
