Equipment Essentials
This device funnels light into the ear canal to visualize the tympanic membrane.
What is an otoscope?
This device blocks extraneous noise but does not amplify sound.
What is a stethoscope?
The part of the hand best for fine tactile discrimination.
What are the fingertips?
The correct sequence for most physical examinations.
What is inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation?
This sense is used to observe skin color, posture, symmetry, and movement.
What is sight?
This device illuminates internal eye structures.
What is an ophthalmoscope?
This part of the stethoscope is best for high-pitched sounds.
What is the diaphragm?
The part of the hand best for assessing temperature.
What is the dorsum (back) of the hand?
This step should begin the moment you first see the patient.
What is inspection?
This sense may detect fruity breath, wound infection, or poor hygiene.
What is smell?
This tool is used to test vibration sensation
What is a tuning fork?
This part of the stethoscope is best for low-pitched sounds.
What is the bell?
The hand surface best for detecting vibration.
What is the ulnar surface or base of the fingers?
This step uses tapping to assess underlying structures.
What is percussion?
This sense is used to assess temperature, vibration, texture, and tenderness.
What is touch?
This piece of equipment is used to assess reflexes.
What is a reflex hammer?
These diaphragms allow assessment of both high- and low-pitched sounds with pressure changes.
What are tunable diaphragms?
The stationary finger used in percussion is called this.
What is the pleximeter?
This step involves listening to internal body sounds.
What is auscultation?
This sense is essential for detecting heart, lung, and bowel sounds.
What is hearing?
This equipment is required to measure blood pressure accurately.
What is a sphygmomanometer?
Name two characteristics of sound assessed during auscultation.
What are pitch, amplitude, quality, or duration?
The striking finger used during percussion is called this.
What is the plexor?
The only body system where auscultation is performed before palpation and percussion.
What is the abdomen?
Physical examination differs from health history because it relies primarily on this type of data.
What is objective data?