Physical Examination

Definition
A physical examination is an evaluation of the body and its functions using inspection, palpation (feeling with the hands), percussion (tapping with the fingers), and auscultation (listening). A complete health assessment also includes gathering information about a person's medical history and lifestyle, doing laboratory tests, and screening for disease.

Purpose
The annual physical examination has been replaced by the periodic health examination. How often this is done depends on the patient's age, sex, and risk factors for disease. The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) has developed guidelines for preventative health examinations that health care professionals widely follow. Organizations that promote detection and prevention of specific diseases, like the American Cancer Society, generally recommend more intensive or frequent examinations. A comprehensive physical examination provides an opportunity for the healthcare professional to obtain baseline information about the patient for future use, and to establish a relationship before problems happen. It provides an opportunity to answer questions and teach good health practices. Detecting a problem in its early stages can have good long-term results.

Precautions
The patient should be comfortable and treated with respect throughout the examination. As the examination procedes, the examiner should explain what he or she is doing and share any relevant findings.

Description
A complete physical examination usually starts at the head and proceeds all the way to the toes. However, the exact procedure will vary according to the needs of the patient and the preferences of the examiner. An average examination takes about 30 minutes. The cost of the examination will depend on the charge for the professional's time and any tests that are done. Most health plans cover routine physical examinations including some tests. The examination First, the examiner will observe the patient's appearance, general health, and behavior, along with measuring height and weight. The vital signsincluding pulse, breathing rate, body temperature, and blood pressureare recorded. With the patient sitting up, the following systems are reviewed: Skin. The exposed areas of the skin are observed; the size and shape of any lesions are noted. Head. The hair, scalp, skull, and face are examined. Eyes. The external structures are observed. The internal structures can be observed using an ophthalmoscope (a lighted instrument) in a darkened room. Ears. The external structures are inspected. A lighted instrument called an otoscope may be used to inspect internal structures. Nose and sinuses. The external nose is examined. The nasal mucosa and internal structures can be observed with the use of a penlight and a nasal speculum. Mouth and pharynx. The lips, gums, teeth, roof of the mouth, tongue, and pharynx are inspected. Neck. The lymph nodes on both sides of the neck and the thyroid gland are palpated (examined by feeling with the fingers).

Back. The spine and muscles of the back are palpated and checked for tenderness. The upper back, where the lungs are located, is palpated on the right and left sides and a stethoscope is used to listen for breath sounds. Breasts and armpits. A woman's breasts are inspected with the arms relaxed and then raised. In both men and women, the lymph nodes in the armpits are felt with the examiner's hands. While the patient is still sitting, movement of the joints in the hands, arms, shoulders, neck, and jaw can be checked.

Then while the patient is lying down on the examining table, the examination includes: Breasts. The breasts are palpated and inspected for lumps. Front of chest and lungs. The area is inspected with the fingers, using palpation and percussion. A stethoscope is used to listen to the internal breath sounds.

The head should be slightly raised for: Heart. A stethoscope is used to listen to the heart's rate and rhythm. The blood vessels in the neck are observed and palpated.

The patient should lie flat for: Abdomen. Light and deep palpation is used on the abdomen to feel the outlines of internal organs including the liver, spleen, kidneys, and aorta, a large blood vessel. Rectum and anus. With the patient lying on the left side, the outside areas are observed. An internal digital examination (using a finger), is usually done if the patient is over 40 years old. In men, the prostate gland is also palpated. Reproductive organs. The external sex organs are inspected and the area is examined for hernias. In men, the scrotum is palpated. In women, a pelvic examination is done using a speculum and a Papamnicolaou test (Pap test) may be taken. Legs. With the patient lying flat, the legs are inspected for swelling, and pulses in the knee, thigh, and foot area are found. The groin area is palpated for the presence of lymph nodes. The joints and muscles are observed. Musculoskeletel system. With the patient standing, the straightness of the spine and the alignment of the legs and feet is noted. Blood vessels. The presence of any abnormally enlarged veins (varicose), usually in the legs, is noted.

In addition to evaluating the patient's alertness and mental ability during the initial conversation, additional inspection of the nervous system may be indicated: Neurologic screen. The patient's ability to take a few steps, hop, and do deep knee bends is observed. The strength of the hand grip is felt. With the patient sitting down, the reflexes in the knees and feet can be tested with a small hammer. The sense of touch in the hands and feet can be evaluated by testing reaction to pain and vibration. Sometimes additional time is spent examining the 12 nerves in the head (cranial) that are connected directly to the brain. They control the sense of smell, strength of muscles in the head, reflexes in the eye, facial movements, gag reflex, and muscles in the jaw. General muscle tone and coordination, and the reaction of the abdominal area to stimulants like pain, temperature, and touch would also be evaluated.

Preparation
Before visiting the health care professional, the patient should write down important facts and dates about his or her own medical history, as well as those of family members. He or she should have a list of all

medications with their doses or bring the actual bottles of medicine along. If there are specific concerns about anything, writing them down is a good idea. Before the physical examination begins, the bladder should be emptied and a urine specimen can be collected in a small container. For some blood tests, the patient may be told ahead of time not to eat or drink after midnight. The patient usually removes all clothing and puts on a loose-fitting hospital gown. An additional sheet is provided to keep the patient covered and comfortable during the examination.

Aftercare
Once the physical examination has been completed, the patient and the examiner should review what laboratory tests have been ordered and how the results will be shared with the patient. The medical professional should discuss any recommendations for treatment and follow-up visits. Special instructions should be put in writing. This is also an opportunity for the patient to ask any remaining questions about his or her own health concerns.

Normal results
Normal results of a physical examination correspond to the healthy appearance and normal functioning of the body. For example, appropriate reflexes will be present, no suspicious lumps or lesions will be found, and vital signs will be normal.

Abnormal results
Abnormal results of a physical examination include any findings that indicated the presence of a disorder, disease, or underlying condition. For example, the presence of lumps or lesions, fever, muscle weakness or lack of tone, poor reflex response, heart arhythmia, or swelling of lymph nodes will point to a possible health problem.

Resources
Books Bates, Barbara. A Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking. Philadelphia: Lippincott Co., 1995.

Key terms
Auscultation The process of listening to sounds that are produced in the body. Direct auscultation uses the ear alone, such as when listening to the grating of a moving joint. Indirect auscultation involves the use of a stethoscope to amplify the sounds from within the body, like a heartbeat. Hernia The bulging of an organ, or part of an organ, through the tissues normally containing it; also called a rupture. Inspection The visual examination of the body using the eyes and a lighted instrument if needed. The sense of smell may also be used. Ophthalmoscope Lighted device for studying the interior of the eyeball. Otoscope An instrument with a light for examining the internal ear. Palpation The examination of the body using the sense of touch. There are two types: light and deep. Percussion An assessment method in which the surface of the body is struck with the fingertips to obtain sounds that can be heard or vibrations that can be felt. It can determine the position, size, and consistency of an internal organ. It is done over the chest to determine the presence of normal air content in the lungs, and over the abdomen to evaluate air in the loops of the intestine. Reflex An automatic response to a stimulus. Speculum An instrument for enlarging the opening of any canal or cavity in order to facilitate inspection of its interior. Stethoscope A Y-shaped instrument that amplifies body sounds such as heartbeat, breathing, and air in the intestine. Used in auscultation. Varicose veins The permanent enlargement and twisting of veins, usually in the legs. They are most often seen in people with occupations requiring long periods of standing, and in pregnant women.

Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

physical examination
n. Abbr. PE A medical examination to determine a person's health or physical fitness, especially for a specified activity or service.
The American Heritage Medical Dictionary Copyright 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

physical examination,
an investigation of the body to determine its state of health, using any or all of the techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation, and smell. The physical examination, history, and initial laboratory tests constitute the data base on which a diagnosis is made and on which a plan of treatment is developed.

Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. 2009, Elsevier.

examination [eg-zam-nashun]
inspection or investigation, especially as a means of diagnosing disease.

breast examination in the NURSING INTERVENTIONS CLASSIFICATION, a nursing INTERVENTION defined as inspection and palpation of the breasts and related areas.

mental status examination a standardized procedure to gather data to determine etiology, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment for patients with mental disorders.

pelvic examination physical assessment of the internal pelvic organs. It includes inspection with a speculum, a PAPANICOLAOU SMEAR, bimanual palpation, and a rectovaginal examination.

physical examination examination of the bodily state of a patient by ordinary physical means, as inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.

postmortem examination autopsy.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

physical,
adj relating to the body, as distinguished from the mind.

physical examination,

n a diagnostic inspection of the body to determine its state of health, using palpation, auscultation, percussion, and smell.

physical fitness,

n the ability to carry out daily tasks with alertness and vigor, without undue fatigue, and with enough energy reserve to meet emergencies or to enjoy leisure time.

physical medicine,

n the use of physical therapy techniques to return physically diseased or injured patients to a useful life.

physical plant,

n the entire architectural and decorated suite of offices in which the dental professional operates.

physical therapy,

n the treatment of disorders with physical agents and methods, such as massage, manipulation, therapeutic exercises, cold, heat (including shortwave, microwave, and ultrasonic diathermy), hydrotherapy, electric stimulation, and light to assist in rehabilitating patients and in restoring normal function after an illness or injury. Also called physiotherapy.

Mosby's Dental Dictionary, 2nd edition. 2008 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

physical
pertaining to the body, to material things, or to physics.

physical agent the physical causes of disease. Includes altitude, radiation, wetness, exercise, fire, electricity including lightning. physical diagnosis a preliminary diagnosis made solely on the basis of a physical examination. Often all that is possible in private practice. physical examination examination of the bodily state of a patient by ordinary physical means, as inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation. physical exhaustion see physical exhaustion. physical findings results of a physical examination. Observations made visually, by auscultation, palpation, smell, percussion, succussion and ballottement. physical fitness quality of being able to perform physically, to turn in a good physical performance. Best tested by performance but in horses can be vaguely predicted by a series of tests including hemoglobin content of blood, heart size, duration of the QRS interval on an ECG, and low levels of muscle enzymes in blood. physical insults physical agencies that cause disease. These include trauma, stress (physical as in stress fracture of long bones in horses), hyperthermia (as a cause of congenital defects), persistent wetting, high altitude, lightning stroke, electrocution, bushfire and fire injury, volcanic eruption and exposure to radiation. physical map in genetics, determination of the array of genes within a DNA segment of a chromosome. physical restraint the use of halters, collars and chains, ropes, harness, twitches of various sorts, squeeze cages, hog holders, dog catchers and many more devices. As distinct from the use of analeptic agentschemical restraint. physical stress see stress. physical therapist one who is skilled in the physical and therapeutic techniques of helping to alleviate suffering from muscle, nerve, joint and bone diseases and from injuries and to overcome or prevent disabilities. Among the procedures used by the physical therapist are exercise to increase strength, endurance, coordination, and range of motion; electrical stimulation to activate paralyzed muscles; massage, vibrators and many other patented devices to try to improve the circulation and condition of a part. Called also physiotherapist.
Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary, 3 ed. 2007 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved

physical examination
Medtalk A systematic investigation by a physician or other health care provider of the body to identify evidence of disease

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Patient discussion about physical examination.

Q. What is ERD examination?My doctor want to find where is nerve is sprained. How this examonation will help? If the nerve is sprained by muscles or vertebrae what treat may be given by a doctor? A. Sorry, but never heard of an examination called ERD, especially not for sprained muscle. Do you mean ERS? Anyway, you may read more here: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sprainsandstrains.html Q. I had found a lump during self breast examination. I am 23 years old. I had found a lump during self breast examination. I didnt have pain in my breast. I went to the doctor for checkup. Many tests were done and no treatment is prescribed. No medicines were given. I suddenly found that the lump had almost doubled in size a month after my check with the doctor. They had previously told me that I do not have breast cancer. If thats the case, why is the lump growing? A. A breast cancer can double in a month in some younger women. But its occurrence is very less. And your doctor had made it clear that you do not have a breast cancer. Some infection can also cause lumps. Lumps in breast can also be formed because of fat and blood vessels. There are chances that it may be fibro adenoma. This also grows like a tumor. No treatment is given as it can reduce in size but if it increases then it have to be removed by a surgery. So you must meet your doctor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGevlG1yL0s&eurl=http://www.imedix.com/health_community/vEGevl G1yL0s_survey_women_confused_cervical_cancer_prevention?q=cervical%20cancer&feature=player_e mbedded