Physical Assessment Flashcards
Position to examine head and neck, anterior thorax and lungs, breast, axillae, heart, abdomen, extremities, pulses. (Laying on back)
Supine
Position used to assess head & neck, back, posterior thorax & lungs, anterior thorax & lungs, breast, axillae, heart, vital signs, and upper extremities
Sitting
Position to examine head and neck, anterior thorax and lungs, breasts, axillae, heart, abdomen. (Laying on back with knees flexed)
Dorsal recumbent
Position to examine female genitalia and gnital tract. (On back, knees flexed in air)
Lithotomy
Position to examine rectum and vagina
Side laying, top leg bent and over bottom leg
Sims
Position to examine musculoskeletal system
Laying on tummy
Prone
Position to examine the heart. Laying on side
Lateral recumbent
This position is used to examine the rectum. Knees flexed, bum in air
Knee-chest
Tapping the skin with the fingertips to vibrate underlying tissues and organs
Percussion
Involves listening to sounds the body makes to detect variations from normal.
Auscultation
+1 Edema
2mm depth
+2 edema
4mm depth
+3 edema
6mm depth
+4 edema
8mm depth
Non-blanching, pinpoint-size, red or purple spots on the skin caused by small hemorrhages in the skin layers. May indicate serious clotting issues, drug reactions or liver disease
Petechiae
Sound heard in dependent lobes, right & left lung bases. Caused by random sudden reinflation of groups of alveoli; disruptive passage of air through small airways.
Crackles
Heard over trachea and bronchi.
Caused by muscular spasm, fluid, or mucous in larger airways; new growth or external pressure causing turbulence.
Low loud rumbling during inspiration or expiration.
Rhonchi
What is the diaphragm oh the stethoscope used to hear?
Normal low-pitched lub-dub
What is the bell of the stethoscope used to hear?
High pitched abnormal heart sounds S3 S4
Gas in stomach or intestine
Tympany
Heard all over lungs
Caused by high velocity air flow through severely narrowed or obstructed airway
High pitches continuous musical sounds are like a squeak heard continuously during inspiration or expiration. Usually louder on expiration
Wheeze
Heard over anterior lateral lung field if patient is sitting upright
Caused by inflamed pleura.
Dry running or grating quality heard during inspiration or expiration
Pleural friction rub
The apex usually touches the anterior chest wall at approximately the fourth to fifth intercostal space just medial to the midclavicular line
Apical impulse or point of maximum impulse (PMI)
A continuous palpable sensation that resembles the purring of a cat
Thrill
