Certified Medical Assistant Practice Exam

How can a medical assistant document the presence of a firm, moveable abdominal mass in a patient?

1. Percussion

2. Palpation

3. Auscultation

4. Visual inspection

The correct answer is: Palpation

To document the presence of a firm, moveable abdominal mass in a patient, palpation is the appropriate method. Palpation involves using the hands to feel the body and assess various characteristics of structures beneath the skin, including size, shape, consistency, and mobility of masses. In this scenario, palpation allows the medical assistant to directly assess the mass's firmness and confirm its moveability, which are critical aspects in determining the nature of the mass and aiding in diagnosing any underlying condition. This technique provides tactile information that cannot be captured through visual inspection, percussion, or auscultation. Visual inspection might help in identifying superficial abnormalities but does not provide the tactile feedback necessary for evaluating deep structures like abdominal masses. Percussion techniques involve tapping on the body to assess the underlying structures, which could offer information about organ size or fluid presence but wouldn't effectively classify the nature of a mass. Auscultation focuses on listening to bodily sounds, such as breath or heart sounds, and is not relevant for characterizing abdominal masses. Overall, palpation is the most effective and direct method for assessing and documenting the characteristics of an abdominal mass.