Physical assessment

• obtaining physical data about a client

  physical assessment
• head to toe


  cephalocaudal
• near to far


  proximodistal
• middle to sides


  mediolateral
• position used for height & weight measurement, posture (spine), gait, balance

  standing
• position used for vital signs taking (thorax)

  sitting
• position that allows relaxation of abdominal muscles (posterior thorax; spine)

  supine
• position used in patients having difficulty maintaining supine position (abdominal palpation)

  dorsal recumbent
• position used in assessment of rectum & vagina (rectal area; posterior thorax)

  sim's or lateral
• position used for assessment of the hip and posterior thorax (posterior thorax)

  prone
• position used for assessment of rectal area (for brief period)

  knee-chest
• position used for assessment of female rectum and vagina (for brief period)

  lithotomy
• Acronym for methods of inspection

  IPPA - Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
• observation or visual examination of the patient

  inspection
• examination of body using sense of touch

  palpation
• pads of fingers are used in palpation due to nerve endings sensitive to tactile discrimination
• fingertips and finger pads of the hand used in palpation/used for discriminatory sensation (texture, vibration, presence of fluid)

  palmar surface
• back of the hand used to assess for surface temperature

  dorsum
• type of palpation that uses light pressure with one hand

  light palpation
• type of palpation used to check muscle tone and assess for tenderness

  light palpation
• type of palpation that uses two hands and deep pressure

  deep palpation
• type of palpation used to identify abdominal organs and abdominal masses (used with caution as it can damage internal organs)

  deep palpation
• striking body surface with short, sharp strokes to elicit palpable vibrations

  percussion
• percussion that uses sharp, rapid movements from the wrist & is used to assess sinuses in adults

  direct percussion
• percussion that uses 2 hands, plexor strikes finger of other hand

  indirect percussion
• middle finger of non-dominant hand

  pleximeter
• percussion sound that is soft (ex. thigh area)

  flat
• percussion sound that is medium (ex. liver)

  dull
• percussion sound that is loud (ex. normal lung)

  resonance
• percussion sound that is very loud (ex. emphysematous lung)

  hyperresonance
• percussion sound that is loud (ex. puffed out cheek)

  tympany
• listening to sounds produced within the body

  auscultation
• auscultation characteristic that ranges from high to low

  pitch
• auscultation characteristic that ranges from soft to loud

  loudness
• auscultation characteristic (ex. gurgling or swishing)


  quality
• auscultation characteristic that ranges from short, medium, or long

  duration
• part of stethoscope that detects high-pitch sounds

  diaphragm
• part of stethoscope that detects low-pitch sounds

  bell