General examination

Question 1

Which bits of the body do you examine and in what order (6)

Answer 1

Hands
Arms
Head
Neck
Chest
Lower limbs

Question 2

General appearance

Answer 2

Temperature
Pulse
Respiratory rate
Skin - sweating, pigmentation, rashes, hydration (pinch test)
Colour - Pallor (pale/grey), jaundice (yellow), cyanosis (blue)

Question 3

Hands

Answer 3

Palmer erythema, finger clubbing, tar staining, muscle wasting, join changes/nodes, pigmentation or pale palmer creases, contractures

Nails: pitting, leukonychia, koilonychia, splinter haemorrhages, clubbing

Capillary refill time

Hand tremor: coarse, fine or flapping

Question 4

Arms (6)

Answer 4

Deformity
Hydration
Venepuncture marks
Scars
Bruising
Joint swelling/pain

Question 5

Head

Answer 5

Face: symmetry, specific facies

Eyes - jaundice sclera, pale conjunctiva, pupils and symmetry

Ears/nose/mouth/teeth/gums/mucosa, fauces

Question 6

Neck

Answer 6

Lymphadenopathy - cervical and head nodes

Start corner of jaw, palpate along jaw then diagonally down to clavicle, along clavicle, along top of trapezoid, up back of skull, down back round posterior of ears, then anterior of ears.

Question 7

Chest

Answer 7

Palpate
Look for any lesions or discolouration
Check temperature

Question 8

Breasts

Answer 8

(if clinically indicated to do so)

Question 9

Lower limbs (4)

Answer 9

Oedema
Ulceration
Varicosities
Feet

Overall appearance: colour, temperature, muscle wasting, symmetry etc