DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS EXAMPREP STUDY
GUIDE 2026 ACCURATE TESTED CONTENT
◉ Conditions affecting the heart muscle. Answer: Obstruction or
restriction
Inflammation
Dilation of distention
◉ Congestive heart failure. Answer: physiologic state in which the
heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the metabolic needs
of the body
inadequate pump performance from either thecardiac valvesor
themyocardium
◉ Abdominal aortic aneurysms. Answer: Aneurysms can be caused
by: Trauma/weight lifting (aging athletes), Congenital vascular
disease, Infection, Atherosclerosis
"pulsating mass in the abdomen"
◉ AAA palpation. Answer: The physical therapist can palpate the
width of the arterial pulses; these pulses (e.g., aortic, femoral)
should be uniform in width from the midline outward on either side.
The normal aortic pulse width is between 2.5 and 4.0 cm.
,◉ Pulmonary pain patters. Answer: The most common sites for
referred pain from the pulmonary system are the chest, ribs, upper
trapezius, shoulder, and thoracic spine.
Tracheobronchial pain is referred to sites in the neck or anterior
chest at the same levels as the points of irritation in the air passages
(think running in cold air).
When the disease progresses enough to extend to the parietal
pleura, pleural irritation occurs and results in sharp, localized pain
that is aggravated by any respiratory movement and is diminished
by autosplinting.
◉ Respiratory acidosis. Answer: Any condition that decreases
pulmonary ventilation increases the retention and concentration of
CO2
◉ Respiratory acidosis symptoms. Answer: Decreased ventilation
Confusion
Sleepiness and unconsciousness
Diaphoresis
Shallow, rapid breathing
Restlessness
Cyanosis
, ◉ Respiratory alkalosis. Answer: An increased respiratory rate and
depth decrease the amount of available CO2
◉ Respiratory alkalosis symptoms. Answer: Hyperventilation
Light-headedness
Dizziness
Numbness and tingling of the face, fingers, and toes
Syncope (fainting)
◉ Kehr sign. Answer: Pain in left shoulder
Pain with pressure placed on the upper abdomen
◉ Danforth sign. Answer: shoulder pain with inspiration) can occur
as a result of free air following laparoscopic surgery or blood in the
abdominal cavity, usually from a ruptured spleen or retroperitoneal
bleeding, causing distention.
◉ Arthralgia. Answer: The relationship between "gut" inflammation
and joint inflammation is well known but not fully understood.
Peripheral joint arthritis and spondylitis with sacroiliitis are the
most common of these manifestations.
◉ Obturator or psoas abscess. Answer: Can cause lower abdominal
pain
GUIDE 2026 ACCURATE TESTED CONTENT
◉ Conditions affecting the heart muscle. Answer: Obstruction or
restriction
Inflammation
Dilation of distention
◉ Congestive heart failure. Answer: physiologic state in which the
heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the metabolic needs
of the body
inadequate pump performance from either thecardiac valvesor
themyocardium
◉ Abdominal aortic aneurysms. Answer: Aneurysms can be caused
by: Trauma/weight lifting (aging athletes), Congenital vascular
disease, Infection, Atherosclerosis
"pulsating mass in the abdomen"
◉ AAA palpation. Answer: The physical therapist can palpate the
width of the arterial pulses; these pulses (e.g., aortic, femoral)
should be uniform in width from the midline outward on either side.
The normal aortic pulse width is between 2.5 and 4.0 cm.
,◉ Pulmonary pain patters. Answer: The most common sites for
referred pain from the pulmonary system are the chest, ribs, upper
trapezius, shoulder, and thoracic spine.
Tracheobronchial pain is referred to sites in the neck or anterior
chest at the same levels as the points of irritation in the air passages
(think running in cold air).
When the disease progresses enough to extend to the parietal
pleura, pleural irritation occurs and results in sharp, localized pain
that is aggravated by any respiratory movement and is diminished
by autosplinting.
◉ Respiratory acidosis. Answer: Any condition that decreases
pulmonary ventilation increases the retention and concentration of
CO2
◉ Respiratory acidosis symptoms. Answer: Decreased ventilation
Confusion
Sleepiness and unconsciousness
Diaphoresis
Shallow, rapid breathing
Restlessness
Cyanosis
, ◉ Respiratory alkalosis. Answer: An increased respiratory rate and
depth decrease the amount of available CO2
◉ Respiratory alkalosis symptoms. Answer: Hyperventilation
Light-headedness
Dizziness
Numbness and tingling of the face, fingers, and toes
Syncope (fainting)
◉ Kehr sign. Answer: Pain in left shoulder
Pain with pressure placed on the upper abdomen
◉ Danforth sign. Answer: shoulder pain with inspiration) can occur
as a result of free air following laparoscopic surgery or blood in the
abdominal cavity, usually from a ruptured spleen or retroperitoneal
bleeding, causing distention.
◉ Arthralgia. Answer: The relationship between "gut" inflammation
and joint inflammation is well known but not fully understood.
Peripheral joint arthritis and spondylitis with sacroiliitis are the
most common of these manifestations.
◉ Obturator or psoas abscess. Answer: Can cause lower abdominal
pain
