Introduction to Physical Exam Flashcards
Two tiers of investigation
Screening for new patients
Extended or problem based
Examination Techniques
Inspection (observation)
Percussion
Palpation
Auscultation
Observation
Least mechanical part of physical exam
More diagnoses made during which part of physical exam?
Inspection
Observation includes
What you see, hear, olfactory diagnosis, emotions, dress and hygeine
Inspection general appearance
State of consciousness Signs of distress Apparent state of health Skin Dress and grooming Facial expression Gai and posture Motor activity
Olfactory diagnosis can help with
Certain diseases
Ingestion of toxins
Certain infections
Percussion
Method of physical examination in which the surface of the body is struck to emit sounds that vary in quality according to the density of the underlying tissues
Density and tone relationship
More dense, quieter tone
Sound waves arise from how deep in body tissue?
4 to 6 cm
Sonorous percussion
Determines density
Definitive percussion
Maps extent of border of an area
Easier to move from resonance to dullness
Uses of percussion
Sonorous
Definitive
ID area of tenderness
Direct
Strinking finger, hand, or lunar aspect of fist against body
Indirect
Dominant middle finger used as a hammer to strike the distal joint of non-dom middle finger
Tympany
Gastric Air bubble
Similar to sound against side of mouth
Hyperressonance
Emphysemic lung
Resonance
Healthy lung
Dullness
Liver
Flatness
Muscle, thigh
Tractile sense
Finger pads more sensitive than finger tips
Vibratory sense
Ulnar aspect of hands, palmer metacarpaphalngeal joints
Position and consistency
grasping fingers
Temperature
Dorsum of hand
Qualities elicited by palpatation
Texture Moisture Temperature Masses Precordial Cardiac thrust Crepitus (crunch of knee) Tenderness Vocal fremitus
Stethoscope mechanism
Conveys vibrating column of air from body wall to ears and does not amplify
Excludes outside noise
heart and lung sound frequency
60-3000
Hearing range
30-20000
Components of stethoscope
Chest piece
Rubber tubing
Angled biaurals
Ear pieces
Bell piece
Transmits all sounds
Good for low pitches
Lightly touch test
Rubber edge