Physical Exam Flashcards
Benign
Not harmful
Anatomical Position
A frame of reference used to describe anatomy and movement.
Tenderness
Pain felt upon palpation.
Icterus
Yellowing, also known as jaundice.
Purulent
Pus-like
Erythema
Redness
Organomegaly
Organ enlargement
Perfusion
The flow of blood through the body’s blood vessels.
Affect
The patient’s immediate expression of emotion.
Consolable
Able to be comforted.
GCS
Glasgow Coma Exam – used to assess the level of consciousness in trauma pts.
General/Constitutional – Normal Physical Exam
- No Acute Distress (NAD) – comfortable appearing.
- Well-developed, Well-nourished.
- Alert
General/Constitutional – Abnormal Physical Exam
- Mild/Moderate/Severe Distress (due to pain).
- Cachectic/Emaciated/Malnourished
- Somnolent, Obtunded, Unresponsive.
- C-Collar, Backboard, Oxygenation (91% 10L O2 NC)
Somnolent and Obtunded = drowsy but responsive.
Head – Normal Physical Exam
Atraumatic/Normocephalic (AT/NC)
“a” – without
-cephalic – head
Peri- – around
Periorbital – around the eyes.
Head – Abnormal Physical Exam
- Any signs of trauma
- Sinus tenderness
- Angioedema
- Allergic reaction
Angioedema – swelling of the eyes, lips, throat, or tongue.
Eyes – Normal Physical Exam
- Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light (PERRL)
- Extraocular Movements Intact (EOMI)
- Sclerae Anicteric
- Normal Conjunctiva
- Normal Cornea (External Eye – with Wood’s lamp or Fluorescein)
Sclera – the white part of the eyes.
Anicteric – without yellowing.
Eyes – Abnormal Physical Exam
- Anisocoria (unequal pupils)
- EOM entrapment
- Scleral Icterus (Liver Failure)
- Pale conjunctiva (Anemia)
- Conjunctival injection (Conjunctivitis)
- Fluorescein uptake (Corneal Abrasion or Ulcerations)
! Do NOT use erythema for the eyes, document conjunctival injection, not erythema (the eyes are the exception to erythema).
Ears/Throat – Normal Physical Exam
- Tympanic Membranes (TMs) Normal
- Moist Mucous Membranes
- Oropharynx (OP) Normal
- Normal dentition
Ears/Throat – Abnormal Physical Exam
- TM erythema, bulging, or dullness
*Sometimes the doctor cannot visualize the TM because it’s obstructed by cerumen (earwax)
- Dry mucous membranes (DMM)
- Pharyngeal erythema
- Tonsillar exudate
- Tonsillar hypertrophy (enlargement/overgrowth)
- Edentulous (toothlessness)
- Dental caries (cavities)
- Uvular Shift
- Tonsillar Asymmetry
Uvular Shift and Tonsillar Asymmetry are signs of Peritonsillar Abscess
Tonsillar exudate – fluid secreted by the tonsils in response to infection or inflammation.
! When the doctor checks the TM, look out for OM.
Neck and Cervical Spine – Normal Physical Exam
- Nontender Cervical Spine (C-Spine)
- Supple (free movement of a body part)
- Normal appearance and normal ROM (range of motion).
Neck and Cervical Spine – Abnormal Physical Exam
- Vertebral Point (Midline) vs. Paraspinal Tenderness
- Nuchal rigidity, Meningismus, Limited ROM
- Carotid bruit
- Cervical lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes)
- Jugular Venous Distension (JVD)
- Thyromegaly
! Avoid a contradiction if the patient has a C-collar on – cannot document full ROM.
Vertebral Tenderness – Possible spinal fracture.
Cardiovascular (CV) – Normal Physical Exam
- Regular Rate
- Regular Rhythm
- Heart sounds normal
Rate – The number of times the ventricle contract per minute.
Rhythm – A measurement of whether the heart beats at regular intervals (lub-dub noise).
Cardiovascular (CV) – Abnormal Physical Exam
- Tachycardia(>100 bpm) / Bradycardia (<60 bpm)
- Irregularly Irregular Rhythm
- Murmur (e.g. 2/6 Systolic Ejection Murmur)
- Gallop or Rubs
- Extrasystoles (extra beats)
Murmur – Abnormal heart sounds due to malfunctioning heart valve, rated on a 1-6 scale.
Gallop – Three or four sounds, resembling a horse’s gallop.
Rub – A scratching, grating sound of the heart, concerning for pericarditis (the heart is rubbing the sac surrounding it).
Perfusion – Physical Exam
The flow of blood through the body’s blood vessels.
- Radial Pulse
- Carotid Pulse
- Femoral Pulse
- Dorsalis Pedis (DP) Pulse
- Posterior Tibial (PT) Pulse