Physical examination

Physical examination

1. Definition

   • Routine test that studies your body
     • Determinated if you do or do not have a physical problem

2. Purposes

   • Understand physical and mental well being of the patient
   • Detect diseases in its early stage
   • Determine the cause and the extent of disease
   • Understand any changes in the condition of disease
   • Determine the nature of the treatment or nursing care needed for the patient
   • To contribute to the medical research

3. Techniques

   • Inspection
     • Visual examination
       • In a systematic manner
         • Overall appearance of health or illness
         • Signs of distress
         • Facial expression and mood
         • Body size
         • Grooming and personal hygiene
   • Palpation
     • Use of the hands and fingers to gather information through touch
       • Dorsum (back)
         • Surface of the hand and fingers
           • Are used to measure temperture
       • Palmar (front)
         • Surface of the fingers and fingers pad
           • Used to asses texture, shape, fluid, size, consistency and pulsation
   • Percussion
     • Examination by tapping the fingers on the body to determine the condition of the internal organs
       • Act of striking one object against another produce sound
         • Determine if a structure is air filled, fluid filled or solid
           • Characteristic tones
             • Tympanic
             • Hyper-resonant
             • Resonant
             • Dull
             • Fat
   • Auscultation
     • Process of listening to sounds that are generated within the body
       • Usually done with a sthethoscope
         • Sound of the circulation of blood
         • Breath sound
         • Bowel sounds
   • Manipulation
     • Moving of a part of the body to note its flexibility
       • Limitation of movement is discovered by this movement
         • Texting of reflexes

4. Keywords

   • Give physical examination
   • Checking
     • Vital signs
     • Body parts
   • Examine
   • Assess
   • Test
   • Measure
   • Recording
   • Lie down