The Physical Exam Flashcards
(157 cards)
1
Q
Somnolent
A
Drowsy or sleepy disposition
2
Q
Cachectic/Emaciated
A
Physically wasting (extremely thin)
3
Q
Morbidly Obese
A
Large body mass index (BMI)
4
Q
Nontoxic Appearing
A
Well-appearing patient in minimal distress
Often used to describe well-appearing pediatric patients
5
Q
Normocephalic
A
Normal appearance and size of the head
6
Q
Atraumatic (Head)
A
No signs of trauma present
7
Q
**Cyanosis
A
Bluish discoloration of the skin due to a lack of oxygen
8
Q
Pallor
A
An unhealthy paleness of the skin
9
Q
Erythema
A
Superficial reddening of the skin
10
Q
Jaundice
A
Yellowing of skin due to abnormal bilirubin build-up
11
Q
Abrasion
A
Superficial wound to the top most layer of the skin
12
Q
Contusion
A
A region of skin in which blood capillaries are ruptured; AKA bruise
13
Q
Ecchymosis
A
An area of ruptured blood vessels similar to a contusion; AKA bruise
14
Q
**Laceration
A
A cut in the the skin
15
Q
Puncture
A
A small hole in the skin
16
Q
Wheal
A
Round, localized area of edema on the skin
17
Q
Wheal-and-Flare
A
(A reaction) rash or hives (irregular, blanch raised areas with redness)
18
Q
Urticaria
A
Hives or wheals which are either redder or paler than the
surrounding area and are often accompanied by itching
19
Q
Maculopapular
A
Rash or hives (flat red area covered with small confluent bumps)
20
Q
Pustules
A
Small collection of pus under the skin
21
Q
Bullae
A
Fluid-filled blisters
22
Q
Petechiae
A
A small round flat dark-red spot caused by bleeding into the skin or beneath the mucus membrane
23
Q
Purpura
A
Purple spots or blotches (don’t turn white when pressed)
24
Q
Induration
A
A hardened area of normally soft tissue
25
Fluctuance
Movable and compressible
26
Hemangioma
A benign tumor consisting of blood vessels
27
Cornea
The transparent coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil; lets light into the eye
28
Sclera
The dense fibrous opaque outer coat enclosing the eyeball - except the part covered by the cornea
29
Conjunctiva
White area of the eyes
30
Icterus
Yellowing of sclera due to bilirubin build-up (often seen with jaundice)
31
Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
Bright red patches in conjunctiva of eyes due to ruptured blood vessels
32
Extraocular Movements
| Intact (EOMI)
Appropriate function of the extraocular muscles, tested with “follow my finger”
33
Pupils equal, round and reactive to light (PERRL)
Normal evaluation of the size, shape of the pupils and their reaction to light
34
Papilledema
Swelling of the optic disk due to an increase in intracranial pressure
35
Fundi Sharp
Non-swollen optic nerve on exam of fundus (back of eye) with ophthalmoscope
36
Visual Acuity
Acuteness / sharpness of vision as measured by the eye chart
37
Eyelid Eversion
Flipping the eyelid for exam underneath the eyelid
38
Normal Palpebral Conjunctiva
Eyelid membrane is clear
39
Exophthalmos
Bulging of eyes out of socket
40
Nystagmus
involuntary rapid eye movements – often reported as horizontal, vertical, or rotary
41
Erythema of the External Canal
Redness of outer ear canal
42
Cerumen Impaction
Excessive earwax
43
Tympanic Membrane (TM)
Eardrum
44
Erythematous TM
Red color of the TM
45
Bulging TM
Protruding / outward curvature of the TM
46
Retracted TM
Inward curve of the TM
47
Poor Light Reflect
Cone of light does not reflect on TM
48
Unable to Visualize Landmarks
Provider cannot see landmarks behind TM
49
Hemotympanum
Blood on the TM
50
Mastoid Tenderness
Tenderness over mastoid bone (located posterior to ear)
51
Clear Rhinorrhea
Clear nasal drainage
52
Septal Deviation
Displacement of nasal septum
53
Septal Hematoma
Bruising or bleeding in the nasal septum
54
Dry Mucous Membranes
Dry mouth
55
Tongue Laceration
Cut on the tongue
56
No Signs of Oral Trauma
No cuts/chipped teeth/etc
57
Dental Caries
Cavity
58
Poor Dentition
Bad teeth
59
Pericoronitis
Infection of the gums
60
Parotid Mass
Enlargement of the parotid gland
61
Trismus
Inability to open mouth normally due to spasm of the jaw muscles
62
Normal Jaw Approximation
Normal jaw alignment
63
Malocclusion
Misalignment of the teeth when mouth closed
64
Uvula Midline
No deviation of the uvula to one side or another
65
Pharyngeal Erythema
Redness of the throat
66
Pharyngeal Exudate
Pus seen on the posterior throat
67
Peritonsilar Abscess
Deep abscess adjacent to infected tonsils (collection of
| pus/swelling which is usually only visible if drained)
68
Carotid Bruit
Abnormal flow of blood through the carotid artery
69
Jugular Vein Distension (JVD)
Swelling of the jugular vein (usually seen in heart failure
| patients)
70
Cervical Vertebral Tenderness
Pain along cervical spine
71
No Step-offs or crepitus
No misalignment of the vertebral bodies (spinous processes) as the spine is palpated
72
Anterior Cervical Lymphadenopathy
Swollen lymph nodes under jaw and along anterior neck area
73
Trachea Midline
No deviation of trachea from its usual location
74
Meningismus
Patient has neck stiffness, photophobia, and headache which may suggest meningitis
75
Nuchal Rigidity
Neck stiffness with neck movement
76
**Bradycardia
Slow heart rate; less than 60 beats per minute
77
**Tachycardia
Fast heart rate; greater than 100 beats per minute
78
Murmur
An abnormal sound heard when listening to the heart
79
Systolic Murmur
Heart murmur heard during systole (active pumping)
80
Diastolic Murmur
Heart murmur heard during diastole (rest/active filling)
81
Distant Heart Sounds
Faint-sounding heart beat
82
Rubs
Coarse sounds produced when the heart “rubs” on inflamed pericardium (heart tissue) during contractions
83
Gallops
Extra/abnormal heart sounds (should only hear 2 distinct sounds, but you hear 3 or 4 sounds)
84
Bradypnea
Abnormally slow breathing
85
Tachypnea
Abnormally rapid breathing
86
**Apnea
Temporary absence or cessation of breathing
87
Prolonged Inspiratory Expiratory Phase
Increased time between inspiratory and expiratory phases
88
Rales
Wet, crackling sound with respirations (aka crackles)
89
Rhonchi
A whistling or snoring sound heard on auscultation of the chest when air channels are partially obstructed; plural of rhonchus
90
Wheezes
Difficult breathing with a whistling sound resulting from
| narrowing of the lumen of the respiratory passageways
91
Stridor
Harsh or high-pitched respiratory sound, caused by an
| obstruction of the air passages
92
Intercostal Retractions
Use of intercostal muscles with breathing (indicates severe respiratory distress/work of breathing) – sunken intercostal muscles (can see ribs)
93
Accessory Muscle Use
Using extra muscles to breath (you can usually see an emphasis on use of diaphragm and intercostal muscles)
94
Costovertebral Angle Tenderness (CVAT)
Angle in back where kidneys are (HCP taps); left, right and bilateral – if pain then possible kidney pathology
95
Paraspinal Muscle Tenderness
Tenderness in muscles adjacent to spine
96
Midline Tenderness
Tenderness directly over spine
97
No Step-offs
No misalignment of thoracic/lumbar spine
98
Straight Leg Raise
If pain, indicative of herniated disk
99
Saddle Anesthesia
Loss of sensation around buttocks area
100
Distension
Bloating
101
**Gravid
Pregnant
102
Ascites
Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity
103
Tympanitic
Sound generated by examiner tapping his/her finger in contact with the a belly distended due to extra gas/air in the large or small bowel
104
Organomegaly
Enlarged organ
105
Hepatomegaly
Enlarged liver
106
Splenomegaly
Enlarged spleen
107
Murphy’s Sign
Pain in right upper quadrant that may indicate gallbladder infection
108
Rovsing’s Sign
Palpation of the left lower quadrant causes right lower quadrant pain that may indicate appendicitis
109
Psoas Sign
Pain produced with bending of the patient’s knees to chest that may indicate appendicitis
110
Heel Tap Test
Tap the heal to see if it causes pain, also done by having the patient jump up to see if pain is felt in the abdomen – may indicate appendicitis
111
McBurney’s Point Tenderness
Tenderness to palpation in the mid-point of the right lower quadrant (RLQ) which can indicate appendicitis
112
Umbilical Hernia
Outward protrusion of intra-abdominal tissue and/or bowel through belly button
113
Grey Turner’s Sign
Bruising in flank area (lower back area)
114
Cullen’s Sign
Bruising in the skin around the umbilicus
115
Inguinal Hernia
Protrusion in the groin
116
Cremasteric Reflex
Upward pull of testicles and scrotum due to touch
117
Paraphymosis
Inability to pull back the foreskin back over the glans penis to its normal position
118
Guaiac (Hemoccult) positive/negative
Blood present/absent in stool
119
Rectal Tone
Tone of rectal muscles during digital exam
120
**Melena
Dark, tarry like stool containing blood
121
Cervical Motion Tenderness (CMT)
Pain with movement of cervix
122
Adnexal Tenderness
Tenderness in location of the ovaries and fallopian tubes
123
Os Open/Closed
Cervical os (opening to cervix) is open or closed
124
Vaginal Vault
Vaginal canal
125
POC
Product of conception (fetus, placenta, etc)
126
Clubbing
Deformity of finger/fingernail due to chronic cyanosis
127
Snuff Box Tenderness
Pain in certain area of the wrist indicating a possible scaphoid bone fracture
128
Median/Ulnar/Radial Sensory Function
All these nerves run in forearm...tested in the hand exam
129
Pain Out of Proportion
Excessive pain not matching the expected with pressure applied by the doctor
130
Valgus/Varus Stress Test
Evaluation for knee instability
131
Homan’s Sign
Pain in calf or popliteal region
132
Pitting Edema
Persistent indention of an area of skin when pressed on by the provider due to excess edema
133
AKA / BKA
Above / below knee amputation (Indicate R or L)
134
Ligamentous Laxity
Loose ligaments
135
McMurray’s Test
Rotation of knee causes pain
136
Lachman’s Test
Pivot shift test causes pain
137
Bursa
Small fluid filled sack surrounding a joint
138
Aphasia
Loss of ability to express or understand speech
139
Dysphasia
Having a difficult time finding what words to say
140
Dysarthria
Difficult time communicating or articulation (i.e. slurred speech)
141
Purposeful Movements
Patient moves upon painful stimulation
142
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
A scoring system used to describe the level of consciousness in a person following a traumatic brain injury
143
Localizes to Pain
Withdraws extremity where painful stimulation is applied
144
Grip Strength
Tested usually by patient gripping HCP’s fingers (L+R+Bi)
145
Pronator Drift
Hold palms out upwards and look for movement of palms (rotation)
146
Dysmetria
Finger to nose exam
147
Dysdiadochokinesia
Inability to perform rapid alternating movements
148
Ataxic
Gait walking abnormally and/or unsteadily
149
Heel to Shin Test
Test for coordination
150
Romberg’s Test
Patient stands up with feet together and arms out to see if they can balance
151
Heel Toe Gait
Tests the stability of a patient’s gait
152
Babinski Sign
A reflex - swipe sole of foot to see if big toe flexes up
153
Reflexes
Involuntary/instantaneous movement
154
Affect
The observed emotional state of a person
155
Orientation
Orientation to person, place, time, and event (A/O x 4)
156
Hallucinations (auditory or visual)
An experience involving the apparent perception of something not present
157
Suicidal (SI) /Homicidal Ideation (HI)
Thoughts of suicide / thoughts of homicide
