Free NPTE® Sample Practice Questions
We understand that it’s all about the content. That’s why we our have high-yield practice questions written and screened by high-performing physical therapists, and why they are updated on a regular basis to ensure our SmartBanks stay up-to-date with exam blueprint changes.
See what we mean with this free physical therapy board exam sample question.
Your Free NPTE Practice Question
A physical therapist is assessing a patient with reports of right flank and low back pain over the last year. The patient has a history of cholecystitis. The therapist decides to perform a physical examination of the abdominal region and begins with Murphy’s sign for cholecystitis. Murphy’s test is performed in which abdominal quadrant?
- Left upper quadrant
- Right upper quadrant
- Right lower quadrant
- Left lower quadrant
The Answer and Explanation
Did you get it right? The correct answer is: B
Murphy’s sign is a test for cholecystitis. Cholecystitis is the blockage or impaction of gallstones in the cystic duct, which leads to infection or inflammation of the gallbladder. This condition may be acute or chronic, causing painful distention of the gallbladder. The affected individual may feel a steady, severe pain that rapidly increases in intensity, lasting several minutes to several hours. Nausea, vomiting, and fever may be present.
Murphy’s sign test is performed with the patient in the supine position and the examiner placing his or her hands on the right upper abdominal quadrant at the inferior costal margin. The patient inspires, and the examiner palpates deeply in the subcostal region with the fingertips. The test is considered positive if pain is perceived during inspiration or the patient stops inspiration because of discomfort.
The right upper quadrant contains the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas.
Incorrect Answer Explanations:
Answer A:
The left upper quadrant contains the spleen and stomach.
Answer C:
The right lower quadrant contains the small intestine, appendix, and portions of the large intestine.
Answer D:
The left lower quadrant contains the small and large intestine (descending and sigmoid colon).
Bottom Line:
The right upper quadrant contains the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas. Murphy’s test is performed with the patient in the supine position and the examiner placing his or her hands on the right upper abdominal quadrant at the inferior costal margin.
For more information, see:
Lonneman ME, Burke-Doe A: Special Tests for Medical Screening, Chapter 24: In Placzek JD., Boyce DA: Orthopedic Physical Therapy Secrets. 3rd Edition. Elsevier Publisher.
Blueprint Outline