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Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Diseases & Conditions

Think You Know Medical Signs & Symptoms? Take the Quiz!

Challenge yourself with clinical signs questions in this physical exam symptoms test!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art stethoscope heart thermometer pill icons on sky blue background for signs and symptoms quiz

This Signs & Symptoms quiz helps you practice reading clinical signs and symptoms so you can spot the likely cause fast. Use it to check gaps before an exam or shift and sharpen your physical exam skills. Want a quick warm-up? Try sudden illness scenarios next.

What term describes an oral temperature above 38°C (100.4°F)?
Hypothermia
Hyperpyrexia
Hyperthermia
Fever
An oral temperature above 38°C (100.4°F) is defined as a fever, indicating the body's immune response to infection or inflammation. Hyperthermia refers to an unregulated rise in body temperature, while hyperpyrexia is an extreme form of fever above 41°C. Hypothermia describes a core temperature below 35°C. Monitoring fever is crucial in diagnosing and managing infections.
What is the medical term for yellow discoloration of the skin and sclera?
Jaundice
Erythema
Cyanosis
Pallor
Yellow discoloration of the skin and sclera results from elevated bilirubin levels in the blood, a condition known as jaundice. Cyanosis refers to bluish discoloration due to deoxygenated hemoglobin. Erythema is redness from increased blood flow, and pallor is paleness often from anemia. Identifying jaundice helps in diagnosing liver or hemolytic disorders.
Which of the following is a hallmark symptom of pharyngitis?
Photophobia
Hematuria
Sore throat
Abdominal pain
Pharyngitis primarily presents with a sore or scratchy throat, often accompanied by difficulty swallowing. Abdominal pain, photophobia, and hematuria are not characteristic of pharyngitis. Identifying throat pain early aids in differentiating bacterial from viral causes. Management often includes supportive care and, if indicated, antibiotics.
Which symptom best describes difficulty breathing?
Dysuria
Dyspepsia
Dysphagia
Dyspnea
Dyspnea is the medical term for difficulty or labored breathing. Dysphagia refers to difficulty swallowing, dyspepsia describes indigestion, and dysuria means painful urination. Recognizing dyspnea is critical for evaluating respiratory or cardiac issues. It guides further diagnostic tests such as pulse oximetry and chest imaging.
Bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to low oxygen saturation is called:
Petechiae
Erythema
Clubbing
Cyanosis
Cyanosis is the term for bluish discoloration caused by increased deoxygenated hemoglobin. Erythema is redness, clubbing involves nail bed rounding, and petechiae are small hemorrhagic spots. Cyanosis may indicate severe respiratory or cardiac compromise. Prompt recognition can expedite oxygen therapy or advanced airway management.
Which clinical finding is most characteristic of right-sided heart failure?
Orthopnea
Hemoptysis
Jugular venous distention
Pulmonary crackles
Right-sided heart failure often causes systemic venous congestion, manifesting as jugular venous distention. Pulmonary crackles and orthopnea are more typical of left-sided failure. Hemoptysis is not a hallmark of isolated right ventricular dysfunction. Recognizing JVD helps distinguish between sides of cardiac failure.
What is often the earliest skin manifestation of anaphylaxis?
Urticaria (hives)
Petechiae
Purpura
Morbilliform rash
Urticaria, or hives, frequently appears early in anaphylaxis as raised, pruritic wheals. Petechiae and purpura indicate capillary bleeding, not allergic reactions. A morbilliform rash is more common in drug eruptions. Early identification of urticaria is critical for prompt epinephrine administration.
Which physical exam maneuver indicates meningeal irritation in suspected meningitis?
Kernig's sign
Babinski sign
Tinel's sign
Romberg test
Kernig's sign - pain and resistance on knee extension when the hip is flexed - suggests meningeal irritation. Tinel's sign tests for peripheral nerve compression, Babinski tests upper motor neuron lesions, and Romberg assesses proprioception. A positive Kernig's sign supports a diagnosis of meningitis and warrants further workup.
Which clinical sign is most suggestive of a pulmonary embolism?
Bradycardia
Tachypnea
Clubbing
Wheezing
Tachypnea is the most common sign of pulmonary embolism due to impaired gas exchange. Bradycardia is uncommon, wheezing is more typical of asthma, and clubbing indicates chronic hypoxia. Rapid recognition of tachypnea can prompt imaging such as CT pulmonary angiography. Early diagnosis reduces morbidity and mortality.
Which of the following is a criterion for systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)?
SpO? >95%
Heart rate <60 bpm
Respiratory rate >20 breaths per minute
Blood glucose >200 mg/dL
SIRS is identified by at least two criteria, one of which is a respiratory rate over 20 breaths per minute. A heart rate below 60 bpm and SpO? above 95% are not SIRS criteria. Blood glucose is also not included in the standard SIRS definition. Recognizing SIRS is important for early sepsis detection.
Which characteristic is most indicative of pleuritic chest pain rather than ischemic cardiac pain?
Crushing central chest discomfort
Pain not affected by breathing
Sharp pain worsens with inspiration
Pressure-like pain radiating to the arm
Pleuritic pain is sharp and worsens with breathing or coughing due to inflamed pleura. Ischemic cardiac pain is often a non-positional, crushing pressure that may radiate to the arm. Pain unaffected by respiration argues against pleurisy. Differentiating these guides further diagnostics like ECG or chest imaging.
Hyperpigmentation in Addison's disease is primarily due to:
Autoimmune destruction of melanocytes
Excess ACTH stimulating melanocytes
Elevated cortisol levels
Adrenal androgen hypersecretion
In primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's), low cortisol leads to increased ACTH from the pituitary. ACTH shares a precursor with MSH, stimulating melanocytes and causing hyperpigmentation. Elevated cortisol and adrenal androgen excess are not present in Addison's. Recognizing this sign aids early diagnosis.
A slowly progressive headache days after minor head trauma suggests which intracranial hemorrhage?
Epidural hematoma
Intracerebral hemorrhage
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Subdural hematoma
Subdural hematomas often present with gradual headache and confusion days after injury due to venous bleeding. Epidural bleeds cause rapid deterioration after trauma. Subarachnoid hemorrhage presents with a sudden thunderclap headache. Intracerebral hemorrhage typically has focal neurologic deficits. Imaging confirms the diagnosis.
Which finding is characteristic of Guillain - Barré syndrome?
Ocular movement deficits
Ascending symmetrical weakness with areflexia
Spastic paralysis with hyperreflexia
Glove-and-stocking sensory loss
Guillain - Barré syndrome presents with rapidly progressive, symmetrical ascending muscle weakness and diminished or absent reflexes. Spastic paralysis and hyperreflexia indicate central lesions, while glove-and-stocking loss is peripheral neuropathy. Ocular movement deficits suggest brainstem involvement. Early diagnosis is key to respiratory support.
Which laboratory finding is most consistent with hypovolemic shock?
Decreased lactate levels
Decreased blood urea nitrogen
Hyperkalemia
Elevated hematocrit from hemoconcentration
Hypovolemic shock causes volume loss, leading to hemoconcentration and an elevated hematocrit. Blood urea nitrogen typically rises, and lactate increases due to tissue hypoperfusion. Hyperkalemia is more common in renal failure or cell lysis. Recognizing hemoconcentration aids prompt fluid resuscitation.
Asterixis (liver flap) is most commonly associated with which condition?
Parkinson's disease
Multiple sclerosis
Myasthenia gravis
Hepatic encephalopathy
Asterixis is a tremor of the hands when the wrists are dorsiflexed, often seen in hepatic encephalopathy. It reflects metabolic encephalopathy from liver dysfunction. It is not characteristic of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or myasthenia gravis. Identifying asterixis prompts evaluation of liver function.
Which finding indicates central rather than peripheral cyanosis?
Bluish toes only
Mottled skin in cold environment
Bluish fingertips only
Bluish discoloration of the tongue and mucous membranes
Central cyanosis affects well-perfused tissues like the tongue and mucous membranes, indicating systemic arterial desaturation. Peripheral cyanosis involves only extremities and can result from local vasoconstriction. Mottled skin in the cold often reflects peripheral circulation changes. Differentiating these guides evaluation for underlying cardiopulmonary pathology.
Which laboratory profile is most consistent with SIADH as a paraneoplastic syndrome in small-cell lung cancer?
Hypernatremia with high serum osmolality
Hypokalemia with metabolic alkalosis
Hyponatremia with low serum osmolality
Hypercalcemia with high PTH
SIADH causes excessive ADH secretion, leading to water retention and dilutional hyponatremia with low serum osmolality. Hypernatremia and high osmolality indicate dehydration, not SIADH. Hypokalemia and hypercalcemia patterns reflect other endocrine disorders. Early recognition of SIADH in small-cell lung cancer improves electrolyte management.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Major Clinical Signs -

    Recognize and recall key signs and symptoms of common conditions by practicing targeted medical questions and answers on symptoms.

  2. Differentiate Similar Presentations -

    Compare and contrast overlapping symptoms to distinguish between conditions in clinical signs questions accurately.

  3. Apply Diagnostic Reasoning -

    Use systematic approaches to interpret findings from the signs and symptoms quiz and enhance diagnostic confidence.

  4. Evaluate Physical Exam Findings -

    Assess and integrate examination results into a cohesive clinical picture during physical exam assessments.

  5. Boost Exam Preparedness -

    Strengthen your test-taking skills with a fun, fast-paced medical exam quiz to improve retention and readiness.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Vital Signs Normal Ranges -

    Master the normal parameters - temperature 36.5 - 37.5°C, heart rate 60 - 100 bpm, respiratory rate 12 - 20 breaths/min, and blood pressure 120/80 mmHg - since these form the backbone of any physical exam assessment (Johns Hopkins Medicine). You can use the mnemonic "T-P-R-H" (Temperature, Pulse, Respiration, Blood Pressure) to recall them quickly in a medical symptoms test or medical exam quiz setting. Recognizing deviations early boosts your diagnostic confidence and equips you for medical questions and answers symptoms in any medical exam quiz.

  2. IPPA Sequence for Systematic Exam -

    Follow the IPPA order - Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation - to ensure no clinical signs slip through during your physical exam assessment (Bates' Guide to Physical Examination). A handy phrase is "I Please Pay Attention" to lock in the inspection-first approach. This structured flow streamlines answering medical questions and answers symptoms in a medical exam quiz with confidence.

  3. ABCDE Melanoma Mnemonic -

    Use ABCDE - Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter >6 mm, Evolving - to spot suspicious skin lesions in a medical symptoms test (American Academy of Dermatology). Remember "A Bad Cancer Dies Eventually" as a memory trick when tackling medical questions and answers symptoms in a signs and symptoms quiz. Early detection of melanoma signs can be lifesaving and is a classic clinical signs question in exams.

  4. Cardinal Signs of Inflammation -

    Recall PRISH - Pain, Redness, Immobility, Swelling, Heat - to quickly identify inflammatory processes on a clinical exam (Kumar & Clark). This easy-to-use mnemonic sharpens your analysis in medical questions and answers symptoms, as inflammation underlies many disease states. Recognizing these five features boosts accuracy on your medical exam quiz and clinical signs questions.

  5. UMN vs LMN Lesion Findings -

    Differentiate upper from lower motor neuron lesions by spotting hyperreflexia and spasticity (UMN) versus hyporeflexia and flaccidity (LMN) in neurological exams (Harrison's Neurology). A quick check: "UP = Spastic, DOWN = Flaccid" helps lock in the concept when facing neurology clinical signs questions. Being able to classify these signs quickly enhances your performance on medical questions and answers symptoms as well as any signs and symptoms quiz or medical symptoms test.

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