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General Physical
Assessment
C. Richard Finley, Ed.D, PA-CAssociate Professor
Acting Department Chair
Assistant Academic Director
Physician Assistant Department
College of Allied Health & Nursing
Examination of the Skin
Exam of the Skin
Examine the patient in good lighting Inspect and palpate skin for the following:
ColorTexture TurgorMoisture
Pigmentation
Lesions
Hair distribution
Warmth: use back of hand
Abnormal Findings
Color Pallor:
• Iron def. anemiaYellow:
• Jaundice• Carotenemia• Hemolysis
Red: • Erythroderma
Pigmentation Hyper pigmentation Localized:
• Pregnancy• BCP ingestion
Generalized:• Thyrotoxicosis• Liver disease• Renal disease
De-pigmentation:• Vitiligo• Injury
Abnormal Findings
Texture Soft: (Thyrotoxicosis) Tight: (Scleroderma) Rough: (Hypothyroidism)
Moisture Dry: (Vitamin A def,
Myxedema) Oily: (Acne)
Turgor
Decreased: (Dehydration) Warmth:
Generalized warmth: (Fever, Hyperthyroidism)
Localized warmth: (Inflammation)
Coolness: (Hypothyroidism, Frostbite, Hypothermia, Shock, Low cardiac output)
MOLE WARNING SIGNS The "ABCD" rule & Melanoma Danger Signs
Asymmetry Unequal or asymmetric moles
are suspicious.
BorderIf the border is irregular or
indistinct, it is more likely to be cancerous (or precancerous)
ColorVariation of color (e.g., more
than one color or shade) within a mole is a suspicious finding
DiameterAny mole that has a diameter
larger than a pencil's eraser in size (> 6 mm) should be considered suspicious.
ElevationIf a mole is elevated, or raised
from of the skin, it should be considered suspicious
Examination of the
Lymph Nodes
Lymph Node Palpation
Palpate with pads of all four fingertips
Examine both sides simultaneously
Use steady gentle pressure
The major lymph node groups are located along the anterior and posterior aspects of the neck and on the underside of the jaw
Cervical Nodes
Exam of Lymph Nodes
Lymph nodes are part of immune system Lymphadenitis
FirmTenderEnlargedWarm
May remain enlarged after infectionLess than 1 cmNontender
Malignancies
Firm Non-tender Matted (i.e. stuck to each other) Fixed (i.e. stuck to underlying tissue Increase in size over time
Common Causes of Lymphadenitis
Pharyngitis or dental infections Diffuse upper airway infections
Mononucleosis Systemic infections
Tuberculosis Inflammatory processes
Sarcoidosis
Examination of the Thyroid
Inspection
Gland lies approximately 2-3 cm below the thyroid cartilageEither side of the
tracheal rings, which may or may not be apparent on visual inspection.
Palpation Stand behind the patient and
place the middle three fingers of both hands along the mid-line of the neck, just below the chin identify and feel the structures from the front
before performing the exam from behind Slide the three fingers of both hands to either
side of the rings Have the patient drink water as you palpate
If enlarged, is it symmetricalUnilateral vs. bilateral
Discrete nodules within either lobe? Gland feels firm
is it attached to the adjacent structures? • (i.e. fixed to underlying tissue.. consistent
with malignancy) freely mobile?
• (i.e. moves up and down with swallowing)
Findings of Exam of Thyroid
Consistency of glandConsistency of muscle tissueUnusual hardness
• Cancer or scarringSoftness, or sponginess
• Toxic goiterTenderness
• Acute infections• Hemorrhage into the gland
Examination of the
Abdomen
General Considerations
Patient should have an empty bladder. Supine on the exam table and
appropriately draped. Examination room must be quiet to
perform adequate auscultation and percussion.
Watch the patient's face for signs of discomfort during the examination
Disorders in the chest will often manifest with abdominal symptoms
It is always wise to examine the chest when evaluating an abdominal complaint
Inguinal/rectal examination in males Pelvic/rectal examination in females
Anatomical Locations
Inspection
Scars, striae, hernias, vascular changes, lesions, or rashes
Movement associated with peristalsis or pulsations
Abdominal contour
• Flat, scaphoid, or protuberant?
Auscultation
Place the diaphragm of stethoscope lightly on the abdomen
Listen for bowel sounds normal increased decreased absent
Listen for bruits over the renal arteries, iliac arteries, and aorta
Percussion
Percuss in all four quadrants Categorize what you hear as tympanic or dull.
Tympany is normally present over most of the abdomen in the supine position.
Unusual dullness may bea clue to an underlying abdominal mass
Liver Span
Percuss downward from the chest in the right midclavicular line to detect the top edge of liver dullness.
Percuss upward from the abdomen in the same line to detect the bottom edge of liver dullness.
Measure the liver span between these two points. This measurement should be 6-12 cm in a normal adult.
Splenic Dullness
Percuss the lowest costal interspace in the left anterior axillary line This area is normally
tympanic. Ask the patient to take a deep
breath and percuss this area again Dullness in this area is a sign
of splenic enlargement.
General Palpation
Light palpationAreas of tendernessMost sensitive indicator is patient’s facial
expression• Watch the patient’s face, not your hands
Voluntary or involuntary guarding may be present
Deep PalpationIdentify abdominal masses or areas of deep
tenderness
Palpation of the Liver
Place the fingers just below the right costal margin and press firmly.
Ask the patient to take a deep breath.
You may feel the edge of the liver press against your fingers Or it may slide under your hand as
the patient exhales. A normal liver is not tender
Palpation of the AortaPress down deeply in the
midline above the umbilicusThe aortic pulsation is
easily felt on most individuals
A well defined, pulsatile mass, greater than 3 cm across, suggests an aortic aneurysm.
Palpation of the SpleenUse the left hand (posteriorly) to lift the
lower rib cage and flank Press down just below the left costal
margin with the right handAsk the patient to take a deep breath
• The spleen is not normally palpable on most individual
Special
Tests
Rebound Tenderness
Test for peritoneal irritationWarn the patient Press deeply on the abdomen
• After a moment, quickly release pressure
• If it hurts more upon release, the patient has rebound tenderness
+CVA is associated with renal disease
Warn the patient what you are about to do
Have the patient sit up on the exam table
Use heel of your closed fist to
strike the patient firmly over
costovertebral angles
Compare the left and right sides
Costovertebral Tenderness
Test for peritoneal fluid (ascites)Percuss the abdomen to outline areas of
dullness and tympanyHave the patient roll away from you
•
• Percuss again
• If dullness has shifted to areas of prior tympany, patient may have excess peritoneal fluid
Shifting Dullness
Have patient lie on left side
Place your left hand on patient’s right hip
Extend the right thigh while applying
counter resistance
Increased abdominal pain indicates a
positive psoas sign
Psoas Sign
Raise the patient's right leg with the knee flexed
Rotate the leg internally at the hip
Increased abdominal pain indicates a
positive obturator sign
Obturator Sign
Evaluation of Stool and Urine
Discolored Urine
ColorlessLow concentration from excessive fluid
intake• Chronic glomerulonephritis• Diabetes mellitus• Diabetes insipidus
Cloudy White: Phosphates in an alkaline urineEpithelial cells from the lower GU tractBacteriaPus
Yellow: Highly concentrated normal urineTetracyclinePyridine
Orange: UrobilinogenSantonin (anthelminthic)Phenindione (anticoagulant)
Orange in Acid/Red in Alkaline:Rhubarb (food and purgative)Senna (cathartic)Aloes (cathartic)
Red:Beets, blackberries, aniline dyes from candy
Brown-Black:Highly concentrated normal urine
• Bilirubin (with yellow froth)
Hematuria
Gross vs. Microscopic
KidneyTraumaNeoplasmsInfections
Stool Evaluation
Acute DiarrheaDefecation of watery or loose stoolsConsistency not frequency
Acute Nonbloody DiarrheaViral gastroenteritisFood intoleranceFecal impaction
Acute Bloody DiarrheaPosterior penetrating duodenal ulcerStaph food poisoningHeavy metal poisoningUlcerative colitis
Chronic Intermittent DiarrheaChronic pancreatitisIrritable colonFibrocystic disease
Chronic Constant DiarrheaUlcerative colitisRegional enteritis
Constipation Acute Constipation
Intestinal obstructionFecal impaction
Chronic ConstipationIrritable colonAtonic colonMegacolon
• Congenital or acquired defects in innervation
Carcinoma of descending colon
Blood in the Feces
Black or Tarry Stools (digestive enzymes convert Hgb to black pigment)
Bloody Red StoolsSite of hemorrhage is in the colon or belowCopious hemorrhage higher may pass
through undigested Occult Blood
Small volume from any site in the alimentary tract