Quiz one

Bell – end piece of a stethoscope best for soft, low-pitched sounds such as extra heart sounds or murmurs. Needs to be held lightly against the skin for best sound. If held firmly will act as diaphragm

Bradycardia: heart rate fewer than 50 or 60 beats per minute in the adult (depending on agency)

Diaphragm – end piece of a stethoscope used most often. Best for high-pitched sounds including breathe, bowel, and normal heart sounds. Held firmly against the skin.

Inspection – Concentrated watching. Always comes first in assessment. Requires good lighting, and adequate exposure. May need additional instruments for better viewing

Palpation – Uses sense of touch to assess texture, temperature, moisture, organ size and location, vibration, pulsation, lumps, masses, tenderness, pain.

Fingertips: tactile discrimination

Grasping: organ/mass palpation

Dorsa (back of hands): temperature, skin thinner on back of hand 

Base of fingers/ulnar surface of hands: best for vibration

Percussion – tapping skin with short, sharp strokes to assess underlying structures. Stroke yields a palpable vibration and a characteristic sound to depict the location, size, and density of the underlying organ. 

Map location and size of organ

Density air, fluid, or solid

Detect superficial abnormal mass (5cm deep)

Reflex hammer – deep tendon reflex

Tachycardia: heart rate of > 95 to 100 beats per minute in the adult

Aphasia: loss of power of expression by speech, writing, or signs, or loss of comprehension of spoken or written language

Chorea: sudden, rapid, jerky, purposeless movement involving limbs, trunk, or face

​​Dysarthria: imperfect articulation of speech due to problems of muscular control resulting from central or peripheral nervous system damage

Dysphasia: impairment in speech consisting of lack of coordination and inability to arrange words in their proper order

Flaccidity: loss of muscle tone, limp

Graphesthesia: ability to “read” a number by having it traced on the skin

Hemiplegia: loss of motor power (paralysis) on one side of the body, usually caused by a stroke; paralysis occurs on side opposite the lesion

Plantar: refers to the surface of the sole of the foot

Pronation: turning the forearm so that the palm is down

Proprioception: sensory information concerning body movements and position of the body in space

Stereognosis: ability to recognize objects by feeling their form, size, and weight while the eyes are closed

Supination: turning the forearm so that the palm is up

​​Two-point discrimination: ability to distinguish the separation of two simultaneous pinpricks on the skin