PARAMEDIC NATIONAL REGISTRY EXAM REVIEW |
TOP SCORES MADE SIMPLE | TRUSTED TEST
SOLUTIONS!
Stridor Answer: harsh, high-pitched sound, swelling, FB in upper airway
Snoring Answer: tongue blocking airway
Gurgling Answer: indicates presence of fluid in the upper airway, need for
suctioning
Decorticate posturing Answer: characterized by upper extremities flexed at the
elbows and held closely to the body and lower extremities that are externally rotated
and extended. occurs when the brainstem is not inhibited by the motor function of
the cerebral cortex.
Decerebrate posturing Answer: (worse) extended and internally rotated elbows and
legs, teeth clenched, legs stiff and feet extended
Babinski response Answer: big toe moves upward and other toes fan out when
stroking bottom of foot, means CNS problem
Dilated pupils Answer: Mydriasis
cardiac arrest, shock, cereal hypoxia, cocaine, epinephrine, amphetamines
Small/constricted pupils Answer: -Miosis
narcotics, central nervous system disorder, glaucoma medication, bright light
Unequal pupils Answer: -Anisocoria
brain injury, brain tumor, stroke, artificial eye, some eye medications, eye injury or
disease, ICP
1
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,Nystagmus Answer: rapid involuntary movements of the eyes
Causes of distended neck veins (JVD) Answer: -Tension penumothorax
-Cardiac tamponade
-Right heart failure
-Traumatic asphyxia
-Pulmonary embolus
-Emphysema
-Chronic bronchitis
-best seen at a 45 degree angle
Flat neck viens Answer: -Hemothorax
-Dehydration
-Shock
-best seen with patient supine
Apenustic Answer: long, deep breaths that are stopped during inspirations then
periods of apnea
Causes of apneustic breath sounds Answer: CNS injury or stroke
Biot (ataxic) respirations Answer: Irregular pattern, rate, and depth of respirations
with intermittent periods of apnea; result from increased intracranial pressure.
Cheyne-Stokes respiration Answer: Increasing in rate and depth, decreasing in rate
and depth with period of apnea, results from a neurological condition
Hyperventilation Answer: Rapid and shallow
2
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,Kussmaul respirations Answer: Deep, rapid breathing; usually the result of an
accumulation of certain acids when insulin is not available in the body.
Fruity breath
Rales/Crackles Answer: Fluid in small airways/alveoli
Causes of Rales/Crackles Answer: CHF, pulmonary edema, drowning, pneumonia,
COPD
Rhonchi Answer: Mucus or fluid in larger airways/bronchi
Causes of rhonchi Answer: Bronchitis, COPD, penumonia
Wheezing Answer: Whistling sound due to bronchoconstriction or narrowing of the
terminal bronchioes due to edema
Causes of wheezing Answer: Asthma and allergic reactions
Right upper quadrant Answer: -Liver
-Gallbladder
-Stomach
Left upper quadrant Answer: -Spleen
-Liver
-Stomach
-Pancreas
Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) Answer: -Appendix
-Right ovary & tube
-Bladder if distended
Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) Answer: -Left ovary & tube
3
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, -Bladder if distended
Somatic pain Answer: -irritation of peritoneal lining
-sharp, localized, throbbing, deep breath increases pain
Referred pain Answer: Discomfort perceived in other parts of body, such as cardiac
pain referred to jaw or arm
Cullen's sign Answer: Ecchymosis around umbilicus, bleeding in abdominal cavity
Grey Turner's sign Answer: -ecchymosis involving the flanks.
-Indication for bleeding from kidneys, hemorrhagic pancreatitis
Kehr's sign Answer: Refereed pain to shoulder
Ectopic or spleen injury, blood under diaphragm
Murphy's sign Answer: Right upper quadrant pain
Cause of Murphy's sign Answer: Cholecystitis
Homan's sign Answer: Pain in calf on dorsiflexing foot while leg is straight, results
from DVT
Clubbing of fingers Answer: flattening of the nail angle mean chronic hypoxemia
found in conditions such as COPD
How to calculate blood pressure Answer: cardiac output x systemic vascular
resistance
Pulse pressure Answer: difference between systolic and diastolic pressure
Pulse pressure widen or narrows? Answer: pulse pressure narrows in shock
widens in increased ICP
Orthostatic vital signs / tilt test Answer: -supine, sitting and standing
4
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
TOP SCORES MADE SIMPLE | TRUSTED TEST
SOLUTIONS!
Stridor Answer: harsh, high-pitched sound, swelling, FB in upper airway
Snoring Answer: tongue blocking airway
Gurgling Answer: indicates presence of fluid in the upper airway, need for
suctioning
Decorticate posturing Answer: characterized by upper extremities flexed at the
elbows and held closely to the body and lower extremities that are externally rotated
and extended. occurs when the brainstem is not inhibited by the motor function of
the cerebral cortex.
Decerebrate posturing Answer: (worse) extended and internally rotated elbows and
legs, teeth clenched, legs stiff and feet extended
Babinski response Answer: big toe moves upward and other toes fan out when
stroking bottom of foot, means CNS problem
Dilated pupils Answer: Mydriasis
cardiac arrest, shock, cereal hypoxia, cocaine, epinephrine, amphetamines
Small/constricted pupils Answer: -Miosis
narcotics, central nervous system disorder, glaucoma medication, bright light
Unequal pupils Answer: -Anisocoria
brain injury, brain tumor, stroke, artificial eye, some eye medications, eye injury or
disease, ICP
1
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
,Nystagmus Answer: rapid involuntary movements of the eyes
Causes of distended neck veins (JVD) Answer: -Tension penumothorax
-Cardiac tamponade
-Right heart failure
-Traumatic asphyxia
-Pulmonary embolus
-Emphysema
-Chronic bronchitis
-best seen at a 45 degree angle
Flat neck viens Answer: -Hemothorax
-Dehydration
-Shock
-best seen with patient supine
Apenustic Answer: long, deep breaths that are stopped during inspirations then
periods of apnea
Causes of apneustic breath sounds Answer: CNS injury or stroke
Biot (ataxic) respirations Answer: Irregular pattern, rate, and depth of respirations
with intermittent periods of apnea; result from increased intracranial pressure.
Cheyne-Stokes respiration Answer: Increasing in rate and depth, decreasing in rate
and depth with period of apnea, results from a neurological condition
Hyperventilation Answer: Rapid and shallow
2
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
,Kussmaul respirations Answer: Deep, rapid breathing; usually the result of an
accumulation of certain acids when insulin is not available in the body.
Fruity breath
Rales/Crackles Answer: Fluid in small airways/alveoli
Causes of Rales/Crackles Answer: CHF, pulmonary edema, drowning, pneumonia,
COPD
Rhonchi Answer: Mucus or fluid in larger airways/bronchi
Causes of rhonchi Answer: Bronchitis, COPD, penumonia
Wheezing Answer: Whistling sound due to bronchoconstriction or narrowing of the
terminal bronchioes due to edema
Causes of wheezing Answer: Asthma and allergic reactions
Right upper quadrant Answer: -Liver
-Gallbladder
-Stomach
Left upper quadrant Answer: -Spleen
-Liver
-Stomach
-Pancreas
Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) Answer: -Appendix
-Right ovary & tube
-Bladder if distended
Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) Answer: -Left ovary & tube
3
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
, -Bladder if distended
Somatic pain Answer: -irritation of peritoneal lining
-sharp, localized, throbbing, deep breath increases pain
Referred pain Answer: Discomfort perceived in other parts of body, such as cardiac
pain referred to jaw or arm
Cullen's sign Answer: Ecchymosis around umbilicus, bleeding in abdominal cavity
Grey Turner's sign Answer: -ecchymosis involving the flanks.
-Indication for bleeding from kidneys, hemorrhagic pancreatitis
Kehr's sign Answer: Refereed pain to shoulder
Ectopic or spleen injury, blood under diaphragm
Murphy's sign Answer: Right upper quadrant pain
Cause of Murphy's sign Answer: Cholecystitis
Homan's sign Answer: Pain in calf on dorsiflexing foot while leg is straight, results
from DVT
Clubbing of fingers Answer: flattening of the nail angle mean chronic hypoxemia
found in conditions such as COPD
How to calculate blood pressure Answer: cardiac output x systemic vascular
resistance
Pulse pressure Answer: difference between systolic and diastolic pressure
Pulse pressure widen or narrows? Answer: pulse pressure narrows in shock
widens in increased ICP
Orthostatic vital signs / tilt test Answer: -supine, sitting and standing
4
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
