Assessment Techniques

Question 0

What is inspection?

Answer 0

“concentrated watching”
general inspection, then local
Uses visual, auditory, and olfactory senses
detects majority of physical signs

Question 1

What are the physical examination assessment techniques? (4)

Answer 1

• Inspection
• Palpation
• Percussion
• Auscultation

Question 2

What is palpation?

Answer 2

• uses your sense of touch
• LIGHT - no deep or bimanual
• Slowly, gently and systematically assess: texture; temperature; moisture; lumps and bumps (organs); vibration/pulsations; rigidity; crepitation; tenderness; and pain.

Question 3

Methods of palpation

Answer 3

fingertips - fine tactile discrimination for: skin texture, swelling, pulsation and presence of lumps
fingers and thumb - graps - detects position, shape and consistency of an organ or mass
dorsa (backs) of hands and fingers - used for determining temperature
Base of fingers (ball of hand), palmar or ulnar surface of the hand - best for vibration

Question 4

What is percussion?

Answer 4

• produces a vibration which determines location, size and density of structures
• Indirect percussion - stationary hand; striking hand

Question 5

Characteristics of percussion notes

Answer 5

• resonant - hollow (ex: air-filled lungs)
• hyperresonant - louder (ex: child’s lungs)
• tympany - drum-like (ex: gas in abdomen)
• dull - thud (ex: liver - dense organ)
• flat - shorter, flat sound (ex: bone)

Question 6

What is auscultation?

Answer 6

• listening to sounds produced by parts of the body

Question 7

Stethoscope - diaphragm

Answer 7

• larger end; high-pitched sounds; press firmly to surface; useful for normal heart sounds

Question 8

Stethoscope - bell

Answer 8

• smaller end; low-pitched sounds; lightly press to seal on surface; useful for murmurs