Content Blueprint Organ Areas
The table below illustrates the approximate percentage of exam questions you'll encounter. Other content dimensions cross-sect these categories. For example, up to 20 percent of the questions on any exam may also be related to surgery or infectious disease, and up to two percent may also cover legal or ethical issues.
Although not an exhaustive listing, click on each organ system to view a sample of the diseases, disorders and medical assessments you may encounter during the exam. These lists can provide a foundation for your exam preparation and serve as your blueprint to the exam content.
Each question you encounter will address an organ system from the table below and a physician assistant practice task area.
The Cardiovascular System
Cardiomyopathy
Dilated
Hypertrophic
Restrictive
Conduction Disorders
Atrial fibrillation/flutter
Atrioventricular block
Bundle branch block
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
Premature beats
Sick sinus syndrome
Ventricular tachycardia
Ventricular fibrillation
Torsades de pointes
Congenital Heart Disease
Atrial septal defect
Coarctation of aorta
Patent ductus arteriosus
Tetralogy of Fallot
Ventricular septal defect
Heart Failure
| Hypertension
Essential
Secondary
Hypertensive emergencies Hypotension
Cardiogenic shock
Orthostatic hypotension
Coronary Heart Disease
Acute myocardial infarction
• Non-ST-segment elevation
• ST-segment
Angina pectoris
• Stable
• Unstable
• Prinzmetal variant
Vascular Disease
Aortic aneurysm/dissection
Arterial embolism/thrombosis
Giant cell arteritis
Peripheral artery disease
Phlebitis/thrombophlebitis
Varicose veins
Venous insufficiency
Venous thrombosis | Valvular Disease
Aortic stenosis
Aortic regurgitation
Mitral stenosis
Mitral regurgitation
Mitral valve prolapse
Tricuspid stenosis
Tricuspid regurgitation
Pulmonary stenosis
Pulmonary regurgitation
Other Forms of Heart Disease
Acute and subacute bacterial endocarditis
Acute pericarditis
Cardiac tamponade
Pericardial effusion |
The Dermatologic System
Eczematous Eruptions
Dermatitis
Dyshidrosis
Lichen simplex chronicus
Papulosquamous Diseases
Drug eruptions
Lichen planus
Pityriasis rosea
Psoriasis
Desquamation
Erythema multiforme
Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Toxic epidermal necrolysis
Vesicular Bullae
Bullous pemphigoid
Acneiform Lesions
Acne vulgaris
Rosacea | Verrucous Lesions
Actinic keratosis
Seborrheic keratosis
Insects/Parasites
Lice
Scabies
Spider bites
Neoplasms
Basal cell carcinoma
Kaposi sarcoma
Melanoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Hair and Nails
Alopecia
Onychomycosis
Paronychia
Viral Diseases
Condyloma acuminatum
Exanthems
Herpes simplex
Molluscum contagiosum
Varicella-zoster virus infections
Verrucae | Bacterial Infections
Cellulitis
Erysipelas
Impetigo
Fungal Infections
Candidiasis
Dermatophyte infections
Other
Acanthosis nigricans
Burns
Hidradenitis suppurativa
Lipomas/epithelial inclusion cysts
Melasma
Pilonidal disease
Pressure ulcers
Urticaria
Vitiligo |
Eye Disorders
Blepharitis
Blowout fracture
Cataract
Chalazion
Conjunctivitis
Corneal abrasion
Corneal ulcer
Dacryoadenitis
Ectropion
Entropion
Foreign body
Glaucoma
Hordeolum
Hyphema
Macular degeneration
Nystagmus
Optic neuritis
Orbital cellulitis
Papilledema
Pterygium
Retinal detachment
Retinal vascular occlusion
Retinopathy
Strabismus
| Ear Disorders
Acute/chronic otitis media
Acoustic neuroma
Barotrauma
Cholesteatoma
Dysfunction of eustachian tube
Foreign body
Hearing impairment
Hematoma of external ear
Labyrinthitis
Mastoiditis
Meniere disease
Otitis externa
Tinnitus
Tympanic membrane perforation
Vertigo | Nose/Sinus Disorders
Acute/chronic sinusitis
Allergic rhinitis
Epistaxis
Foreign body
Nasal polyps
Mouth/Throat Disorders
Acute pharyngitis
Aphthous ulcers
Diseases of the teeth/gums
Epiglottitis
Laryngitis
Oral candidiasis
Oral herpes simplex
Oral leukoplakia
Peritonsillar abscess
Parotitis
Sialadenitis
Benign and malignant neoplasms |
Diseases of the Thyroid Gland
Hyperparathyroidism
Hypoparathyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Neoplastic disease
Thyroiditis | Diseases of the Adrenal Glands
Corticoadrenal insufficiency
Cushing syndrome
Neoplastic disease
Diseases of the Pituitary Gland
Acromegaly/gigantism
Diabetes insipidus
Dwarfism
Neoplastic disease
Pituitary adenoma | Diabetes Mellitus
Type 1
Type 2
Lipid Disorders
Hypercholesterolemia
Hypertriglyceridemia |
Esophagus
Esophagitis
Motility disorders
Mallory-Weiss tear
Neoplasms
Strictures
Varices
Stomach
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Gastritis
Neoplasms
Peptic ulcer disease
Pyloric stenosis
Gallbladder
Acute/chronic cholecystitis
Cholangitis
Cholelithiasis
Liver
Acute/chronic hepatitis
Cirrhosis
Neoplasms | Pancreas
Acute/chronic pancreatitis
Neoplasms
Small Intestine/Colon
Appendicitis
Celiac disease
Constipation
Diverticular disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
Intussusception
Irritable bowel syndrome
Ischemic bowel disease
Lactose intolerance
Neoplasms
Obstruction
Polyps
Toxic megacolon | Rectum
Anal fissure
Abscess/fistula
Fecal impaction
Hemorrhoids
Neoplasms
Hernia
Infectious and Noninfectious Diarrhea
Vitamin and Nutritional Deficiencies
Metabolic Disorders
Phenylketonuria |
GU Tract Conditions
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Congenital abnormalities
Cryptorchidism
Erectile dysfunction
Hydrocele/varicocele
Incontinence
Nephrolithiasis/urolithiasis
Paraphimosis/phimosis
Testicular torsion | Infectious/Inflammatory Conditions
Cystitis
Epididymitis
Orchitis
Prostatitis
Pyelonephritis
Urethritis
Neoplastic Diseases
Bladder cancer
Prostate cancer
Renal cell carcinoma
Testicular cancer
Wilms tumor | Renal Diseases
Acute renal failure
Chronic kidney disease
Glomerulonephritis
Hydronephrosis
Nephrotic syndrome
Polycystic kidney disease
Renal vascular disease
Fluid and Electrolyte Disorders
Hypervolemia
Hypovolemia
Acid/Base Disorders |
Anemias
Anemia of chronic disease
Aplastic anemia
Folate deficiency
G6PD deficiency
Hemolytic anemia
Iron deficiency
Sickle cell anemia
Thalassemia
Vitamin B12 deficiency
| Coagulation Disorders
Clotting factor disorders
Hypercoagulable states
Thrombocytopenia
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
• Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura | Malignancies
Acute/chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Acute/chronic myelogenous leukemia
Lymphoma
Multiple myeloma |
Fungal Disease
Candidiasis
Cryptococcosis
Histoplasmosis
Pneumocystis
Bacterial Disease
Acute rheumatic fever
Botulism
Chlamydia
Cholera
Diphtheria
Gonococcal infections
Salmonellosis
Shigellosis
Tetanus | Mycobacterial Disease
Atypical mycobacterial disease
Tuberculosis
Parasitic Disease
Helminth infestations
Malaria
Pinworms
Toxoplasmosis
Spirochetal Disease
Lyme disease
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Syphilis | Viral Disease
Cytomegalovirus infections
Epstein-Barr virus infections
Erythema infectiosum
Herpes simplex
HIV infection
Human papillomavirus infections
Influenza
Measles
Mumps
Rabies
Roseola
Rubella
Varicella-zoster virus infections |
Disorders of the Shoulder
Fractures/dislocations
Soft tissue injuries
Disorders of the Forearm/Wrist/Hand
Fractures/dislocations
Soft tissue injuries
Disorders of the Back/Spine
Ankylosing spondylitis
Back strain/sprain
Cauda equina
Herniated nucleus pulposus
Kyphosis
Lower back pain
Scoliosis
Spinal stenosis | Disorders of the Hip
Avascular necrosis
Development dysplasia
Fractures/dislocations
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis
Disorders of the Knee
Fractures/dislocations
Osgood-Schlatter disease
Soft tissue injuries
Disorders of the Ankle/Foot
Fractures/dislocations
Soft tissue injuries
Infectious Diseases
Acute/chronic osteomyelitis
Septic arthritis
Neoplastic Disease
Bone cysts/tumors
Ganglion | Osteoarthritis
Osteoporosis
Compartment Syndrome
Rheumatologic Conditions
Fibromyalgia
Gout/pseudogout
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Polyarteritis nodosa
Polymyositis
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome)
Rheumatoid arthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic sclerosis (Scleroderma)
Sjögren syndrome |
Diseases of Peripheral Nerves
Complex regional pain syndrome
Peripheral neuropathies
Headaches
Cluster headache
Migraine
Tension headache
Infectious Disorders
Encephalitis
Meningitis
| Movement Disorders
Essential tremor
Huntington disease
Parkinson disease
Vascular Disorders
Cerebral aneurysm
Intracranial hemorrhage
Stroke
Transient ischemic attack | Other Neurologic Disorders
Altered level of consciousness
Cerebral palsy
Concussion
Dementias
Delirium
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Multiple sclerosis
Myasthenia gravis
Postconcussion syndrome
Seizure disorders
Status epilepticus
Syncope
Tourette disorder |
Anxiety Disorders
Generalized anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
Phobias
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Autistic Disorder
Eating Disorders
Anorexia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa
Obesity | Mood Disorders
Adjustment
Bipolar
Depressive
Dysthymic
Personality Disorders
Psychoses
Delusional disorder
Schizophrenia | Somatoform Disorders
Substance Use Disorders
Abuse
Dependence
Withdrawal
Other Behavior/Emotional Disorders
Acute reaction to stress
Child/elder abuse
Conduct disorders
Domestic violence
Grief reaction
Suicide |
Infectious Disorders
Acute bronchitis
Acute bronchiolitis
Acute epiglottitis
Croup
Influenza
Pertussis
Pneumonias
• Bacterial
• Viral
• Fungal
• HIV-related
Respiratory syncytial virus infection
Tuberculosis | Neoplastic Disease
Carcinoid tumors
Lung cancer
Pulmonary nodules
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Asthma
Bronchiectasis
Chronic bronchitis
Cystic fibrosis
Emphysema
Pleural Diseases
Pleural effusion
Pneumothorax | Pulmonary Circulation
Cor pulmonale
Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary hypertension
Restrictive Pulmonary Disease
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Pneumoconiosis
Sarcoidosis
Other Pulmonary Disease
Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Hyaline membrane disease
Foreign body aspiration |
Uterus
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
Endometrial cancer
Endometriosis
Leiomyoma
Prolapse
Ovary
Cysts
Neoplasms
Cervix
Cancer
Cervicitis
Dysplasia
Incompetent
Vagina/Vulva
Cystocele
Neoplasm
Prolapse
Rectocele
Vaginitis | Menstrual Disorders
Amenorrhea
Dysmenorrhea
Premenstrual syndrome
Menopause
Breast
Abscess
Cancer
Fibroadenoma
Fibrocystic disease
Gynecomastia
Galactorrhea
Mastitis
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Contraceptive Methods
Infertility
Uncomplicated Pregnancy
Normal labor/delivery
Prenatal diagnosis/care
| Complicated Pregnancy
Abortion
Abruptio placentae
Cesarean section
Dystocia
Ectopic pregnancy
Fetal distress
Gestational diabetes
Gestational trophoblastic disease
Hypertension disorders in pregnancy
Multiple gestation
Placenta previa
Postpartum hemorrhage
Premature rupture of membranes
Rh incompatibility |
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