physical examination

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

Overview[edit | edit source]

• Patients with [disease name] usually appear [general appearance]. Physical examination of patients with [disease name] is usually remarkable for [finding 1], [finding 2], and [finding 3].
• Common physical examination findings of [disease name] include [finding 1], [finding 2], and [finding 3].
• The presence of [finding(s)] on physical examination is diagnostic of [disease name].
• The presence of [finding(s)] on physical examination is highly suggestive of [disease name].

Physical Examination[edit | edit source]

• Physical examination of patients with [disease name] is usually remarkable for:[finding 1], [finding 2], and [finding 3].
• The presence of [finding(s)] on physical examination is diagnostic of [disease name].
• The presence of [finding(s)] on physical examination is highly suggestive of [disease name].

Appearance of the Patient[edit | edit source]

• Patients with [disease name] usually appear [general appearance].

Vital Signs[edit | edit source]

• High-grade / low-grade fever
• Hypothermia / hyperthermia may be present
• Tachycardia with regular pulse or (ir)regularly irregular pulse
• Bradycardia with regular pulse or (ir)regularly irregular pulse
• Tachypnea / bradypnea
• Kussmal respirations may be present in _____ (advanced disease state)
• Weak/bounding pulse / pulsus alternans / paradoxical pulse / asymmetric pulse
• High/low blood pressure with normal pulse pressure / wide pulse pressure / narrow pulse pressure

Skin[edit | edit source]

• Cyanosis
• Jaundice
• Pallor
• Bruises

• Description (Adapted from Dermatology Atlas)

  Description (Adapted from Dermatology Atlas)

• 

  Description (Adapted from Dermatology Atlas)

HEENT[edit | edit source]

• Abnormalities of the head/hair may include ___
• Evidence of trauma
• Icteric sclera
• Nystagmus
• Extra-ocular movements may be abnormal
• Pupils non-reactive to light / non-reactive to accomodation / non-reactive to neither light nor accomodation
• Ophthalmoscopic exam may be abnormal with findings of ___
• Hearing acuity may be reduced
• Weber test may be abnormal (Note: A positive Weber test is considered a normal finding / A negative Weber test is considered an abnormal finding. To avoid confusion, you may write "abnormal Weber test".)
• Rinne test may be positive (Note: A positive Rinne test is considered a normal finding / A negative Rinne test is considered an abnormal finding. To avoid confusion, you may write "abnormal Rinne test".)
• Exudate from the ear canal
• Tenderness upon palpation of the ear pinnae / tragus (anterior to ear canal)
• Inflamed nares / congested nares
• Purulent exudate from the nares
• Facial tenderness
• Erythematous throat with/without tonsillar swelling, exudates, and/or petechiae

Neck[edit | edit source]

• Jugular venous distension
• Carotid bruits may be auscultated unilaterally/bilaterally using the bell/diaphragm of the otoscope
• Lymphadenopathy (describe location, size, tenderness, mobility, and symmetry)
• Thyromegaly / thyroid nodules
• Hepatojugular reflux

Lungs[edit | edit source]

• Asymmetric chest expansion / Decreased chest expansion
• Lungs are hypo/hyperresonant
• Fine/coarse crackles upon auscultation of the lung bases/apices unilaterally/bilaterally
• Rhonchi
• Vesicular breath sounds / Distant breath sounds
• Expiratory/inspiratory wheezing with normal / delayed expiratory phase
• Wheezing may be present
• Egophony present/absent
• Bronchophony present/absent
• Normal/reduced tactile fremitus

Heart[edit | edit source]

• Chest tenderness upon palpation
• PMI within 2 cm of the sternum (PMI) / Displaced point of maximal impulse (PMI) suggestive of ____
• Heave / thrill
• Friction rub
• S1
• S2
• S3
• S4
• Gallops
• A high/low grade early/late systolic murmur / diastolic murmur best heard at the base/apex/(specific valve region) may be heard using the bell/diaphgram of the otoscope

Abdomen[edit | edit source]

• Abdominal distention
• Abdominal tenderness in the right/left upper/lower abdominal quadrant
• Rebound tenderness (positive Blumberg sign)
• A palpable abdominal mass in the right/left upper/lower abdominal quadrant
• Guarding may be present
• Hepatomegaly / splenomegaly / hepatosplenomegaly
• Additional findings, such as obturator test, psoas test, McBurney point test, Murphy test

Back[edit | edit source]

• Point tenderness over __ vertebrae (e.g. L3-L4)
• Sacral edema
• Costovertebral angle tenderness bilaterally/unilaterally
• Buffalo hump

Genitourinary[edit | edit source]

• A pelvic/adnexal mass may be palpated
• Inflamed mucosa
• Clear/(color), foul-smelling/odorless penile/vaginal discharge

Neuromuscular[edit | edit source]

• Patient is usually oriented to persons, place, and time
• Altered mental status
• Glasgow coma scale is ___ / 15
• Clonus may be present
• Hyperreflexia / hyporeflexia / areflexia
• Positive (abnormal) Babinski / plantar reflex unilaterally/bilaterally
• Muscle rigidity
• Proximal/distal muscle weakness unilaterally/bilaterally
• ____ (finding) suggestive of cranial nerve ___ (roman numerical) deficit (e.g. Dilated pupils suggestive of CN III deficit)
• Unilateral/bilateral upper/lower extremity weakness
• Unilateral/bilateral sensory loss in the upper/lower extremity
• Positive straight leg raise test
• Abnormal gait (describe gait: e.g. ataxic (cerebellar) gait / steppage gait / waddling gait / choeiform gait / Parkinsonian gait / sensory gait)
• Positive/negative Trendelenburg sign
• Unilateral/bilateral tremor (describe tremor, e.g. at rest, pill-rolling)
• Normal finger-to-nose test / Dysmetria
• Absent/present dysdiadochokinesia (palm tapping test)

Extremities[edit | edit source]

• Clubbing
• Cyanosis
• Pitting/non-pitting edema of the upper/lower extremities
• Muscle atrophy
• Fasciculations in the upper/lower extremity

References[edit | edit source]

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