Ch 21. Physical Assessment Flashcards
accommodation response
a measure of eye muscles’s ability to focus on an image up close & in the distance
adventitious breath sounds
abnormal breath sounds, including crackles, rhonchi, wheezes, pleural friction rub, & stridor
atelectasis
severe pneumonia or lung collapse that causes a lack of or decreased excursion on one side of the chest
auscultation
listening to the sounds produced by the body
cheilitis
inflammation of the lips
consensual reflex
rapid, equal, & simultaneous constriction of the pupils that results from stimulation of the optic nerve by shining light in either eye
crackles
discontinuous breath sounds usually heard during inspiration that may be either fine or coarse
dysphagia
difficulty swallowing
dysphasia
difficulty coordinating & organizing the words correctly in a sentence
eructation
belching (burping)
excursion
equal chest expansion during respiration
guarding
the defense mechanism of tightening the abdominal muscles to prevent further compression of tender or inflamed areas
halitosis
bad breath
jaundice
yellowing of the eyes or skin resulting from excessive blood levels of bilirubin
lethargic
describes drowsiness or mental sluggishness
ophthalmoscope
a lighted instrument used to assess & examine the internal structures of the eyes
otoscope
light instrument used to assess/examine inside of the nose, the tympanic membranes, & the ear canals
palpation
to examine by touch or feel
percussion
striking body parts with the tips of the fingers to elicit sounds that can help locate & determine the size of structures beneath the surface, to identify whether the structure is solid or hollow, & to detect areas containing air or fluid
peristalsis
rhythmic, wavelike movements that begin in the esophagus & continue to the rectum to propel a bolus of food through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract
PERRLA
acronym used in documentation that stands for pupils equal and round and reactive to light and accommodation.
Used to document patient’s pupils that are bilaterally brisk and equally reactive to light & accommodation
retractions
abnormal movements in which a patient’s chest wall appears depressed, or sunken in, b/w the ribs or under the xiphoid process when the patient inhales.
these movements indicate acute respiratory problems that need attention
rhonchi
abnormal breath sounds, such as snoring, rattling, gurgling, squeaking, & low-pitched wheezes, caused by either secretions or partial occlusion of the airways.
- deeper and more rumbling sounds than crackles and usually heard during expiration
ptosis
drooping of eyelids
signs
evidence of illness or injury that are objective and measurable
solar lentigines
numerous spots of yellowish-brown discoloration caused by years of sun exposure; often evident in older adults
sordes
dried mucus or food caked on the lips & teeth that can be treated with good oral hygiene
stridor
an audible, high-pitched crowing sound that results from partial obstruction of airways
symptoms
evidence of illness or injury verbalized by patient that is subjective and not directly merasureable
turgor
skin elasticity, which is an indicator of hydration level in all ages of patients except older adults.
- the skin of older patients loses its elasticity and is not a reliable assessment tool for hydration
wheezes
