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History Taking and Physical Examination MCQs

1. Which of the following is the first step in clinical history taking?

(A) Chief complaint


(B) Past medical history


(C) History of present illness


(D) Family history



2. Which question is best to start when eliciting the chief complaint?

(A) “Where do you live?”


(B) “What brings you here today?”


(C) “What is your past medical history?”


(D) “What medications are you taking?”



3. The duration, onset, and progression of symptoms are recorded in:

(A) Chief complaint


(B) History of present illness


(C) Family history


(D) Review of systems



4. The mnemonic SOCRATES is used to assess:

(A) Pain


(B) Cough


(C) Dyspnea


(D) Palpitations



5. Which of the following belongs to past medical history?

(A) Surgeries undergone


(B) Current complaint


(C) Marital status


(D) Present medications only



6. Family history is most useful for identifying:

(A) Infectious diseases


(B) Genetic and hereditary diseases


(C) Trauma-related conditions


(D) Accidents



7. Review of systems means:

(A) A general physical examination


(B) Systematic inquiry about symptoms from each body system


(C) Asking about past hospital admissions


(D) Checking vital signs only



8. Which of the following is a component of social history?

(A) Diet and exercise


(B) Present illness


(C) Blood pressure


(D) Genetic disorders



9. Which vital sign is usually measured first in physical examination?

(A) Temperature


(B) Pulse


(C) Respiratory rate


(D) Blood pressure



10. A blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg is classified as:

(A) Normal


(B) Elevated


(C) Hypertension


(D) Hypotension



11. Tachycardia is defined as pulse rate above:

(A) 80/min


(B) 90/min


(C) 100/min


(D) 120/min



12. The normal respiratory rate in adults is:

(A) 8–12/min


(B) 12–20/min


(C) 20–30/min


(D) 30–40/min



13. Clubbing of fingers is commonly associated with:

(A) Hypertension


(B) Chronic lung disease


(C) Diabetes mellitus


(D) Acute infection



14. Cyanosis is best seen in:

(A) Palms


(B) Tongue and lips


(C) Forehead


(D) Ears



15. Which is the best position to examine the precordium?

(A) Supine position


(B) Sitting upright


(C) Left lateral position


(D) Prone position



16. Which tool is used to examine the eye fundus?

(A) Otoscope


(B) Ophthalmoscope


(C) Stethoscope


(D) Laryngoscope



17. The “lub-dub” heart sounds correspond to:

(A) Valve closure


(B) Valve opening


(C) Muscle contraction


(D) Murmur formation



18. Which cranial nerve is tested by pupillary light reflex?

(A) CN II and CN III


(B) CN IV and CN VI


(C) CN V and CN VII


(D) CN VIII



19. Murphy’s sign is used to examine:

(A) Appendicitis


(B) Cholecystitis


(C) Renal colic


(D) Hernia



20. McBurney’s point tenderness is suggestive of:

(A) Pancreatitis


(B) Appendicitis


(C) Gastritis


(D) Peritonitis



21. The GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) assesses:

(A) Pain


(B) Neurological function and consciousness


(C) Cardiac function


(D) Respiratory rate



22. The normal pupillary reaction to light is:

(A) Dilatation


(B) Constriction


(C) No change


(D) Irregularity



23. Auscultation is done with:

(A) Tongue depressor


(B) Ophthalmoscope


(C) Stethoscope


(D) Reflex hammer



24. Crepitus in a joint indicates:

(A) Inflammation


(B) Fluid collection


(C) Cartilage damage


(D) Normal movement



25. Which of the following is NOT part of inspection?

(A) Skin color


(B) Shape


(C) Temperature


(D) Scars



26. The first step in physical examination of the abdomen is:

(A) Percussion


(B) Auscultation


(C) Palpation


(D) Inspection



27. The technique of tapping to detect underlying structures is called:

(A) Inspection


(B) Percussion


(C) Palpation


(D) Auscultation



28. A “bounding pulse” is most commonly seen in:

(A) Aortic regurgitation


(B) Mitral stenosis


(C) Atrial fibrillation


(D) Heart block



29. Which cranial nerve is tested by checking facial symmetry?

(A) CN V


(B) CN VII


(C) CN IX


(D) CN XII



30. The Babinski sign is a test for:

(A) Cerebellar lesion


(B) Upper motor neuron lesion


(C) Lower motor neuron lesion


(D) Peripheral neuropathy



31. Which lobe of the lung is best examined from the anterior chest?

(A) Upper lobe


(B) Middle lobe (right)


(C) Lower lobe


(D) All lobes equally



32. Jugular venous pressure is a marker of:

(A) Right atrial pressure


(B) Left atrial pressure


(C) Aortic pressure


(D) Pulmonary artery pressure



33. Which of the following is a red flag in history taking?

(A) Sudden severe headache


(B) Mild cough


(C) Short-lived abdominal pain


(D) Occasional dizziness



34. Orthopnea is typically seen in:

(A) Heart failure


(B) COPD


(C) Asthma


(D) Pneumonia



35. Which is the normal capillary refill time?

(A) <1 second


(B) <2 seconds


(C) <4 seconds


(D) <5 seconds



36. Palpation of the thyroid gland is best done from:

(A) Behind the patient


(B) In front of the patient


(C) Side of the patient


(D) Supine position



37. A positive straight leg raising test indicates:

(A) Hip arthritis


(B) Sciatica


(C) Knee injury


(D) Ankle sprain



38. Pallor is best observed in:

(A) Nails


(B) Tongue and conjunctiva


(C) Lips only


(D) Skin only



39. Which cranial nerve is tested by checking hearing?

(A) CN V


(B) CN VII


(C) CN VIII


(D) CN IX



40. The most important sign of dehydration in adults is:

(A) Sunken eyes


(B) Skin turgor


(C) Dry mouth


(D) Hypotension



41. The normal apex beat is felt in which intercostal space?

(A) 3rd


(B) 4th


(C) 5th


(D) 6th



42. Percussion note in pleural effusion is:

(A) Resonant


(B) Dull


(C) Hyperresonant


(D) Tympanic



43. The best place to check for pitting edema is:

(A) Hand


(B) Face


(C) Ankle


(D) Abdomen



44. Which sign is checked to diagnose meningeal irritation?

(A) Murphy’s sign


(B) Rovsing’s sign


(C) Kernig’s sign


(D) Psoas sign



45. Which cranial nerve controls tongue movements?

(A) CN IX


(B) CN X


(C) CN XI


(D) CN XII



46. The gait seen in Parkinson’s disease is:

(A) Ataxic gait


(B) Festinating gait


(C) Hemiplegic gait


(D) High-stepping gait



47. A “thrill” felt on palpation indicates:

(A) Venous obstruction


(B) Severe heart murmur


(C) Hypertension


(D) Respiratory crackles



48. A stethoscope diaphragm is best used for:

(A) Low-pitched sounds


(B) High-pitched sounds


(C) Very faint sounds


(D) Bone conduction



49. The normal liver span in the mid-clavicular line is:

(A) 4–6 cm


(B) 6–12 cm


(C) 12–18 cm


18 cm” onclick=”checkAnswer(‘q49’, ‘6–12 cm’)”> (D) >18 cm



50. The knee jerk reflex is mediated by which spinal roots?

(A) L1–L2


(B) L2–L4


(C) L4–L5


(D) S1–S2



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