1. Types, techniques, equipment, and positions
Physical Exams
Types, techniques, equipment, and positions

2. Types of Physical exams

3. types of physical exams
3 major kinds of examinations are:
EENT
GYN
General, or complete, physical

4. Main types of physical exams
EENT: Eye, ear, nose & throat exam
GYN (gynecological): exam of female reproductive organs=vagina, cervix, uterus, ovaries, & breasts. A Pap (Papanicolaou) test is usually done to detect cancer of the cervix or reproductive organs

5. Main types of physical exams
General, or complete, physical: all areas of the body are examined; blood, urine, radiographs, & electrocardiogram may be done. An EENT and/or GYN exam may be done during this exam.

6. Physical exam techniques

7. physical exams techniques
4 main techniques used during exams:
Observation
Palpation
Percussion
Auscultation

8. physical exams techniques
Observation: inspection
Physician looks at the pt to observe things
Example: skin color, rash, swelling, deformities, etc.

9. physical exams techniques
Palpation: feeling
Physician uses their hands to feel various parts of the body.
They are feeling for enlargement, anything out of place, or painful areas
(2:15)

10. physical exams techniques
Percussion: tapping
Physician taps & listens for sounds.
They place fingers of one hand on a part of the body, then use the fingers of the other hand to tap the body part.
The sound emitted tells them the size, density, & position of underlying organs
(1:10)

11. physical exams techniques
Auscultation: listening
Physician uses a stethoscope to listen to sounds coming from within the body.
Can listen to heart, lungs, and intestines

12. Physical Exam equipment

13. Physical Exam Equipment
Some of the instruments and equipment used for different exams can include:
Cervical spatula (Ayer blade)
Laryngeal mirror
Ophthalmoscope
Otoscope
Percussion (reflex hammer)
Sigmoidoscope
Speculum
Sphygmomanometer
Stethoscope
Tongue blade/depressor
Tuning fork

14. Physical Exam Equipment
Cervical spatula (Ayer blade): wooden or plastic blade used to scrape cells from the cervix usually done as part of a Pap smear to check for cancer.

15. Physical Exam Equipment
Laryngeal mirror: instrument with a mirror at one end to examine the larynx

16. Physical Exam Equipment
Ophthalmoscope: lighted instrument used to examine the eyes

17. Physical Exam Equipment
Otoscope: lighted instrument used to examine the ears

18. Physical Exam Equipment
Percussion (reflex) hammer: used to test tendon reflexes

19. Physical Exam Equipment
Sigmoidoscope: lighted instrument used to examine the sigmoid colon

20. Physical Exam Equipment
Speculum: instrument used to examine internal canals of the body (nasal speculum, vaginal speculum, rectal speculum)

21. Physical Exam Equipment
Sphygmomanometer: instrument used to measure BP

22. Physical Exam Equipment
Stethoscope: instrument used for listening to internal body sounds

23. Physical Exam Equipment
Tongue blade/depressor: wood or plastic stick used to depress (hold down) the tongue so the throat can be examined

24. Physical Exam Equipment
Tuning fork: instrument with two prongs used to test hearing acuity

25. Positions for physical exams

26. Physical exam Positions
Supine: used for examination of the anterior side
Pt lies flat on back with legs slightly apart

27. Physical exam Positions
Prone: used for examination of the back or spine
Pt lies on abd & turns head to either side

28. Physical exam Positions
Lateral: used for simple rectal & sigmoidoscopic exams, enemas, rectal temps
Pt lies on left side

29. Physical exam Positions
Fowler’s positions: used to facilitate breathing, relieve distress, encourage drainage, & examine the head, neck, & chest
Low Fowler’s: HOB elevated to 25 degrees
Semi-Fowler’s: HOB elevated to 45 degrees
High Fowler’s: HOB elevate to 90 degrees

30. Physical exam Positions
Low Fowler’s

31. Physical exam Positions
Semi-Fowler’s

32. Physical exam Positions
High Fowler’s

33. Physical exam Positions
Lithotomy: used for vaginal exams, Pap tests, urinary catherizations, cystoscopic exams, & surgery of the pelvic area
Pt lies supine with knees separated & flexed & feet in stirrups

34. Physical exam Positions
Trendelenburg: used to increase circulation of blood to the head and brain, during shock, or for surgery on pelvic organs
Pt lies supine with the bed elevated at the feet (head is lower than the feet)