Medical Examination Techniques Flashcards

Study Notes

Inspection

Utilizes the sense of sight to assess specific traits of an individual.
Essential for identifying abnormalities in skin color, texture, and overall appearance.

Palpation

Employs the sense of touch to examine physical signs.
Light palpation: Involves 1-2 cm depth, using three fingers to detect swelling, crepitation, and assess joint movement.
Deep palpation: Reaches 2.5 cm or more depending on body fat; typically used in abdominal exams.
Bi-manual palpation: Involves both hands to encircle organs like the spleen, liver, kidneys, and reproductive organs; less common in nursing practice.

Percussion

Combines touch and hearing; involves tapping on the body to assess location and density of structures.
Resonant: Normal sound over healthy lung tissue.
Hyperresonant: Normal sound in children's lungs; not in adults.
Tympany: Indicates air presence over gastric bubbles or intestines.
Dull: Detected over dense organs such as the liver and spleen.
Flat: Sound associated with muscle, bone, or tumors.

Auscultation

Involves listening to internal body sounds using the sense of hearing.
Critical for assessing heartbeats, breath sounds, and bowel activity.

Direct and Indirect Percussion

Direct percussion: Striking hand contacts the body wall to create sound directly.
Indirect percussion: Utilizes both hands; the striking hand taps the stationary hand placed on the skin, commonly used in abdominal assessments to produce sounds and vibrations.

Description

Explore the essential techniques of medical examination, including inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation through these flashcards. Each card highlights key definitions and methods to deepen your understanding of physical assessment skills. Perfect for students and professionals in the health sciences field.