Basic Physical Exam

Question 0

Components of Vital signs

Answer 0

Palpate radial pulse bilaterally
Measure respiratory rate
Auscultation blood pressure

Question 1

Components of the Exam

Answer 1

Vitals, Head Face and Cranial Nerves, Eyes, Ears, Nose and Sinuses, Mouth and Pharynx, Neck and Shoulders, Neuromuscular, axillae, carotid and Jugular pulse, heart, abdomen, groin, legs and feet, neurological, back

Question 2

Components of the head, face and cranial nerves

Answer 2

Inspect skin for color and texture
Inspect and palate hair and face
Note deviation of open jaw
Palpate masseter and temporal is muscles with the jaw clenched
Test trigeminal nerve for light touch
Observe for symmetry with eyes opened wide, closed shut, cheeks puffed, and showing teeth
Test for shoulder shrug

Question 3

What are the components of the eye exam

Answer 3

Visual acuity
Check visual fields
Position and alignment of the eyes
Test pupils for reactivity and accommodation
Check eye movement in six cardinal directions
Perform fundoscopic exam

Question 4

What are the components of the ear exam

Answer 4

Check auditory acuity (whisper test)
Exam external ear for pain and the mastoid process
Perform otoscope exam

Question 5

Nose and sinus exam components

Answer 5

Inspect external nose
Inspect internal nose
Palate sinuses for tenderness

Question 6

Mouth and lips exam components

Answer 6

Inspect lips, oral mucosa, teeth and gums
Have the patient say ah
Test gag reflex
Inspect tongue and movement of tongue
Inspect subglossal area

Question 7

Neck and shoulder exam components

Answer 7

Check range of motion of neck and shoulders
Palpate the lymph nodes
Inspect and palpate the thyroid

Question 8

Upper extremities exam components

Answer 8

Inspects nails
Range of motion
Motor strength at wrist, fingers, elbows and shoulders

Question 9

Back, posterior and thorax exam

Answer 9

Inspect spine
Percuss lungs
Auscultate the lungs
Check for costovertebral angle tenderness (hammer fist kidneys)

Question 10

Axillae

Answer 10

Palpate axillae you lymph nodes

Question 11

Auscultate the heart

Answer 11

Listen to aortic arch
Listen to pulmonary arch
Learn tricuspid area
Listen to the mitral area
Palpate the apical index
With patient rolled to left lat decubitus listen to left apex 
Repeat with patient laying down

Question 12

Components of abdominal exam

Answer 12

Auscultation bowel sounds
Auscultation aorta (by the belly button)
Auscultate the inguinal arterys
Percuss liver
Percuss the spleen
Palpate the spleen
Palpate the liver
Palpate the bladder

Question 13

Inguinal area

Answer 13

Palpate and auscultate femoral pulse

Palpate inguinal lymph nodes

Question 14

Legs and feet exam components

Answer 14

Palate joints for pulse and tenderness
Test range of motion Of knees ankles and hips
Check for edema

Question 15

Mental exam components

Answer 15

Orientation (name, location, date)
Attention (spell world backwards, serial 7s from 100)
Memory (three words)
Language (repeat no ifs ands or butts)
Abstract thinking (what is similar about an apple and orange)
Judgement (stamped addressed envelope)
Construct ability (draw a clock face)

Question 16

Musculoskeletal exam components

Answer 16

Strength
Reflexes
Sensation of sharp v dull
Coordination (floppy hands, finger touches, distance finger touch, heel to shin, Palm drift with closed eyes)
Vibration sensation
Walking gait

Question 17

Back exam components

Answer 17

Bend forward to check spine
Bend side to side
Check pelvis height on both sides