MAST 1080-101 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
CHAPTER 20 - Assissting with the Physical Examination
the purpose of a complete physical exam - ANS the purpose of the complete physical exam is
to assess the patient's general state of health and detect signs and symptoms of disease; gives
the physician baseline information valuable for future comparison of patient's health
percussion hammer - ANS also called a reflex hammer; it is used to test neurologic reflexes;
the head is used to test reflexes by striking the tendons of the ankle, knee, wrist, and elbow; the
tip of the handle may be used to stroke the sole of the foot to assess the BABINSKI reflex(noted
by the extension of the great toe and abduction of the other toes)some hammers have a brush
and needle in the handle specifically used to test sensory perception;thihs test is a gross
assessment of the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerve impairment
tuning fork - ANS used to test hearing; it is a stainless steel instrument with a handle at one
end and two prongs at the other end; the examiner strikes the prongs against his or her hand,
which causes them to vibrate and produce a humming sound; while vibrating, the the handle is
placed against a bony area of the skull near one of the ears; the patient is asked to describe
what, if anything, is heard in that ear; especially bone conduction
nasal speculum - ANS an instrument used to examine the inside of the nose; stainless steel
instrument used to inspect the lining of the nose, nasal membranes and internal septum;
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, spreads apart to dilate the nostrils; the tip is inserted into the nose, and the handles are
squeezed to allow for visualization; available in disposable form
otoscope - ANS an instrument for examining the external canal and tympanic membrane of
the ear (eardrum); has stainless steel handle at one end and a head with a light, a magnifying
lens, and a cone-shaped hollow speculum at the other end; the hollow speculum cover with a
disopsable cover before it is placed in the ear canal; a special nasal tip may be fitted to the
otoscope for nose exam
audioscope - ANS used to screen patients for hearing loss; divice delivers tones into ear
determine hearing; looks like the otoscope, however, has a variety of indicators and selection
buttons that can adjust its tones; the tip is placed in the patient's ear and the patient is asked to
respond to the tones produced; these results are recorded in the patient's medical record
tympanic membrane - ANS thin membrane in the ear that vibrates to sound; the eardrum. a
structure that separates the outer ear from the middle ear and vibrates in response to sound
waves.
diagnosis - ANS identifying a disease or condition; process of determining the nature of a
disorder by considering the signs, symptoms, medical history, etc. of a patient
clinical diagnosis - ANS a diagnosis based on signs and symptoms of a disease
differential diagnosis - ANS a diagnosis whereby the physician will rely on 3 components: the
medical history, the physical examination, and any laboratory and diagnostic tests; known as
rule out (R/O) - attempt to determine which one of several diseases can be producing the signs
and symptoms that are present
MA responsibilities - ANS assist w/taking medical history
preparing the patient for examination
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
CHAPTER 20 - Assissting with the Physical Examination
the purpose of a complete physical exam - ANS the purpose of the complete physical exam is
to assess the patient's general state of health and detect signs and symptoms of disease; gives
the physician baseline information valuable for future comparison of patient's health
percussion hammer - ANS also called a reflex hammer; it is used to test neurologic reflexes;
the head is used to test reflexes by striking the tendons of the ankle, knee, wrist, and elbow; the
tip of the handle may be used to stroke the sole of the foot to assess the BABINSKI reflex(noted
by the extension of the great toe and abduction of the other toes)some hammers have a brush
and needle in the handle specifically used to test sensory perception;thihs test is a gross
assessment of the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerve impairment
tuning fork - ANS used to test hearing; it is a stainless steel instrument with a handle at one
end and two prongs at the other end; the examiner strikes the prongs against his or her hand,
which causes them to vibrate and produce a humming sound; while vibrating, the the handle is
placed against a bony area of the skull near one of the ears; the patient is asked to describe
what, if anything, is heard in that ear; especially bone conduction
nasal speculum - ANS an instrument used to examine the inside of the nose; stainless steel
instrument used to inspect the lining of the nose, nasal membranes and internal septum;
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, spreads apart to dilate the nostrils; the tip is inserted into the nose, and the handles are
squeezed to allow for visualization; available in disposable form
otoscope - ANS an instrument for examining the external canal and tympanic membrane of
the ear (eardrum); has stainless steel handle at one end and a head with a light, a magnifying
lens, and a cone-shaped hollow speculum at the other end; the hollow speculum cover with a
disopsable cover before it is placed in the ear canal; a special nasal tip may be fitted to the
otoscope for nose exam
audioscope - ANS used to screen patients for hearing loss; divice delivers tones into ear
determine hearing; looks like the otoscope, however, has a variety of indicators and selection
buttons that can adjust its tones; the tip is placed in the patient's ear and the patient is asked to
respond to the tones produced; these results are recorded in the patient's medical record
tympanic membrane - ANS thin membrane in the ear that vibrates to sound; the eardrum. a
structure that separates the outer ear from the middle ear and vibrates in response to sound
waves.
diagnosis - ANS identifying a disease or condition; process of determining the nature of a
disorder by considering the signs, symptoms, medical history, etc. of a patient
clinical diagnosis - ANS a diagnosis based on signs and symptoms of a disease
differential diagnosis - ANS a diagnosis whereby the physician will rely on 3 components: the
medical history, the physical examination, and any laboratory and diagnostic tests; known as
rule out (R/O) - attempt to determine which one of several diseases can be producing the signs
and symptoms that are present
MA responsibilities - ANS assist w/taking medical history
preparing the patient for examination
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
