MA CCBMA: Part 2
Parts of the medical history include: - ANSW 1. chief complaint
2. history of present illness (HPI)
3. past, family and social history (PFSH)
4. review of systems (ROS)
Define chief complaint - ANSW what brings the patient in to see the physician
Define history of present illness (HPI) - ANSW explanation of the chief complaint to
determine:
1. onset of illness
2. associated symptoms
3. what the patient has done to treat the illness
Define past medical history - ANSW 1. all health problems
2. major illnesses
3. surgeries
4. current medications complete with reasons for taking them
5. allergies
Define family history - ANSW summary of health problems of siblings, parents and
other blood relatives
Define social history - ANSW Includes:
1. marital status
2. occupation
3. educational attainment
4. hobbies
5. use of alcohol/tobacco/drugs
6. lifestyles
Define review of systems - ANSW orderly and systematic check of each organ and
system of the boy by questions.
What are the 3 vital signs that are necessary for life? - ANSW 1. temperature
2. respiration
3. heart function (blood pressure)
What are the four vital signs of body function? - ANSW 1. temperature
2. pulse
3. respiration
4. blood pressure
,What is the normal range of body temperature? - ANSW 96.6-100.6 F
Define body temperature - ANSW the balance between heat production and heat loss
Body temperature is regulated by what structure? - ANSW the hypothalamus
Site for most accurate body temperature - ANSW Rectum
Least accurate site for body temperature - ANSW Axillary
3 types of fever - ANSW 1. Intermittent
2. Remittent
3. Continuous
Define intermittent fever - ANSW fluctuating fever that returns to or below baseline then
rises again
Define remittent fever - ANSW fluctuating fever that remains elevated: it does not return
to baseline temperature
Define continuous fever - ANSW a fever that remains constant above the baseline: it
does not fluctuate
Which is the most common site for temperatures - ANSW oral
In patients who have just finished eating, drinking, or smoking, how long should you wait
before taking a temperature - ANSW 30 minutes
Patients with heart disease should not have which temperature taken? - ANSW rectal
Normal pulse range - ANSW 60-100 bpm
Most accurate pulse - ANSW apical pulse
Normal respiratory range - ANSW 12 to 20 per minute in adults
3 respiratory rate abnormalities - ANSW 1. apnea
2. tachypnea
3. bradypnea
Define apnea - ANSW temporary complete absence of breathing which may be a result
of a reduction in the stimuli to the respiratory centers of the brain
Define tachypnea - ANSW respiration rate of greater than 40/minute. It is transient in
the newborn and maybe caused by hysteria in the adult
, Define bradypnea - ANSW decrease in the number of respirations. This occurs during
sleep, or certain diseases.
Define respiratory rhythm - ANSW refers to the pattern of breathing. Can vary with age:
infants have an irregular rhythm, while adults have regular.
2 abnormal respiratory rythms - ANSW 1. Cheyenne-Stokes
2. Orthopnea
Define Cheyenne-Stokes breathing rate - ANSW a regular pattern of irregular breathing
rate
Define orthopnea - ANSW difficulty or inability to breathe unless in the upright position
Patient position when the head is 90 degrees upright - ANSW high-Fowler's position
Define depth of respiration - ANSW the amount of air that is inspired and expired during
each respiration
Name 2 abnormalities in the depth of respiration - ANSW 1. hypoventilation
2. hyperventilation
Define hypoventilation - ANSW state in which reduced amount of air enters the lungs
resulting in decreased oxygen level and increased carbon dioxide level in blood. It can
be due to breathing that is too shallow, or too slow, or due to diminished lung function
Define hyperpnea - ANSW abnormal increase in the depth and rate of breathing
define hyperventilation - ANSW state in which there is an increased amount of air
entering the lungs
Define blood pressure - ANSW the amount of force exerted by the blood on the
peripheral arterial walls
How is blood pressure expressed - ANSW mm of Hg
The appropriate width of a cuff is what? - ANSW 40% of the circumference of the limb
The appropriate length of the cuff is what? - ANSW 80% of the circumference of the
limb
If the blood pressure cuff is too short or narrow, how does this effect bp readings? -
ANSW false high readings
The bp cuff is centered over which artery - ANSW brachial
Parts of the medical history include: - ANSW 1. chief complaint
2. history of present illness (HPI)
3. past, family and social history (PFSH)
4. review of systems (ROS)
Define chief complaint - ANSW what brings the patient in to see the physician
Define history of present illness (HPI) - ANSW explanation of the chief complaint to
determine:
1. onset of illness
2. associated symptoms
3. what the patient has done to treat the illness
Define past medical history - ANSW 1. all health problems
2. major illnesses
3. surgeries
4. current medications complete with reasons for taking them
5. allergies
Define family history - ANSW summary of health problems of siblings, parents and
other blood relatives
Define social history - ANSW Includes:
1. marital status
2. occupation
3. educational attainment
4. hobbies
5. use of alcohol/tobacco/drugs
6. lifestyles
Define review of systems - ANSW orderly and systematic check of each organ and
system of the boy by questions.
What are the 3 vital signs that are necessary for life? - ANSW 1. temperature
2. respiration
3. heart function (blood pressure)
What are the four vital signs of body function? - ANSW 1. temperature
2. pulse
3. respiration
4. blood pressure
,What is the normal range of body temperature? - ANSW 96.6-100.6 F
Define body temperature - ANSW the balance between heat production and heat loss
Body temperature is regulated by what structure? - ANSW the hypothalamus
Site for most accurate body temperature - ANSW Rectum
Least accurate site for body temperature - ANSW Axillary
3 types of fever - ANSW 1. Intermittent
2. Remittent
3. Continuous
Define intermittent fever - ANSW fluctuating fever that returns to or below baseline then
rises again
Define remittent fever - ANSW fluctuating fever that remains elevated: it does not return
to baseline temperature
Define continuous fever - ANSW a fever that remains constant above the baseline: it
does not fluctuate
Which is the most common site for temperatures - ANSW oral
In patients who have just finished eating, drinking, or smoking, how long should you wait
before taking a temperature - ANSW 30 minutes
Patients with heart disease should not have which temperature taken? - ANSW rectal
Normal pulse range - ANSW 60-100 bpm
Most accurate pulse - ANSW apical pulse
Normal respiratory range - ANSW 12 to 20 per minute in adults
3 respiratory rate abnormalities - ANSW 1. apnea
2. tachypnea
3. bradypnea
Define apnea - ANSW temporary complete absence of breathing which may be a result
of a reduction in the stimuli to the respiratory centers of the brain
Define tachypnea - ANSW respiration rate of greater than 40/minute. It is transient in
the newborn and maybe caused by hysteria in the adult
, Define bradypnea - ANSW decrease in the number of respirations. This occurs during
sleep, or certain diseases.
Define respiratory rhythm - ANSW refers to the pattern of breathing. Can vary with age:
infants have an irregular rhythm, while adults have regular.
2 abnormal respiratory rythms - ANSW 1. Cheyenne-Stokes
2. Orthopnea
Define Cheyenne-Stokes breathing rate - ANSW a regular pattern of irregular breathing
rate
Define orthopnea - ANSW difficulty or inability to breathe unless in the upright position
Patient position when the head is 90 degrees upright - ANSW high-Fowler's position
Define depth of respiration - ANSW the amount of air that is inspired and expired during
each respiration
Name 2 abnormalities in the depth of respiration - ANSW 1. hypoventilation
2. hyperventilation
Define hypoventilation - ANSW state in which reduced amount of air enters the lungs
resulting in decreased oxygen level and increased carbon dioxide level in blood. It can
be due to breathing that is too shallow, or too slow, or due to diminished lung function
Define hyperpnea - ANSW abnormal increase in the depth and rate of breathing
define hyperventilation - ANSW state in which there is an increased amount of air
entering the lungs
Define blood pressure - ANSW the amount of force exerted by the blood on the
peripheral arterial walls
How is blood pressure expressed - ANSW mm of Hg
The appropriate width of a cuff is what? - ANSW 40% of the circumference of the limb
The appropriate length of the cuff is what? - ANSW 80% of the circumference of the
limb
If the blood pressure cuff is too short or narrow, how does this effect bp readings? -
ANSW false high readings
The bp cuff is centered over which artery - ANSW brachial
