A physical examination constitutes a head-to-toe assessment of a patient’s body. It includes the checking of vital signs, the inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation of every major body part, and goes hand-in-hand with the medical history and sometimes basic laboratory tests.
The physical exam is one of the main cornerstones of the diagnostic field. A thorough and differential diagnosis-directed history and physical examination guide healthcare providers to an appropriate patient workup. The probability of diagnostic errors, oversights, and unnecessary tests is increased due to poor physical examination skills.
This exam understandably relies on the previous comprehension of anatomy and physiology. A well-performed physical exam provides the advantages of an enhanced provider-patient relationship, improved patient safety, fewer diagnostic errors, and lower financial costs.
Learning objectives
After the completion of this course, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate competency in performing comprehensive physical exam maneuvers, including focused physical exam maneuvers of the extremities and each organ system.
- Identify abnormal findings during each exam maneuver and the associated clinical significance of each finding.
- Identify and classify heart murmurs, the locations they are best heard in, and clinical significance of each.
- Identify and describe typical physical exam findings for illness with characteristic features, including cirrhosis, Graves’ disease, SLE, hyperthyroidism, and rheumatoid arthritis among others.
- Demonstrate appropriate technique when performing a focused pelvic exam on all genders of patients.
- Describe and demonstrate techniques to maintain privacy and patient comfort.
- Determine appropriate speculum sizing, demonstrate insertion and removal techniques, identify the cervix, and perform a simple PAP smear sample collection.
- Demonstrate appropriate technique for a focused breast exam and classify pathologic findings, distinguishing pathologic and physiologic findings.
- Demonstrate appropriate technique for a complete and focused neurological examination.
- Demonstrate appropriate technique for the assessment of the skin and adnexae.
Course outline
- Introduction to Physical Examination
- Examination of Cardiovascular and Respiratory System
- Examination of the Head and Neck Region
- Examination of the Abdominal Region
- Examinations of the Neck and Back Region
- Examination of the Upper Extremities
- Examination of the Lower Extremities
- Examination of the Male and Female Genitourinary System
- Examination of the Breast and Lymph System
- Examination of the Nervous System
- Examination of the Skin
