Inspection and Palpation Flashcards
Inspection 1
Shape
Scars
Prominent veins
Resp rate and rhythm
Chest wall movement
Intercostal recession
Added sounds
Cyanosis
Sputum
Inspection 2
we inspect for
Shape of chest wall and spine
Scars – surgery
Prominent veins – SVC obstruction
RR = normal values
Chest wall movement – symmetrical, hyperinflated, paradoxical etc
The chest and abdomen move in the same direction during breathing
Symmetrical
Occur when air gets trapped in the lungs and causes then to overinflate
Hyperinflated lungs
It can be caused by blockages in the air passages or by air sacs that are less elastic, which interferes with the explosion of air from the lungs
Hyperinflated Lungs
An obvious sign that the portion of the chest wall is not assisting with the breathing function
Paradoxical Movement
Palpation
Tenderness
Position of apex beat
Chest wall expansion
The actual beat which you can feel is the very tip of the left ventricle pushing against the chest wall as the left ventricle contracts and the heart is pushed against it
Apex beat
Where is apex beat can heard
Left ventricle
when do you feel the apex beat
in time with the carotid pulse
What are you assessing in chest wall expansion
(symmetric or asymmetric) = presence of chest wall pathology, lung volume loss or obstruction
What is the normal range of chest expansion
2-5cm
