1) Introduction to the Emergency Exam Preparation Simplified: Comprehensive Study Guides

Physical Exam Basic flow of a patient: Physical Exam (PEx) - conduct physical exam with different techniques different techniques during physical exam (PEx) - observation - palpation - auscultation - percussion observation visually assess parts of the body looking for distress, abnormal color, shape, size, texture, etc. Palpation requires the physician to touch the patient with his/her hands to assess for level of pain (tenderness), swelling (edema), dislocations, distension, misalignment, etc. auscultation requires that the physician use his/her stethoscope to listen to such organs such as the heart, lungs, and stomach (bowel sounds) percussion involves producing a sound by tapping or scraping a part of the body which can allow determination of parameters such as organ size, density, reflexes, level of pain (tenderness), etc. Instruments to conduct PEx stethoscope, ophthalmoscope, otoscope, speculum, reflex hammer stethoscope listen to organs such as heart, lungs, and stomach ophthalmoscope examine eyes otoscope examine ears, nose, and mouth speculum exam cervix reflex hammer test deep tendon reflexes Other instruments thermometer, blood pressure monitor, cardiac monitor, electrocardiography (ECG or EKG), defibrillator thermometer measure temperature blood pressure monitor measure bp cardiac monitor visual display of the pt's heart rhythm electrocardiography (ECG or EKG) interpretation of the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time, as detected by electrodes attached to the outer surface of the skin and recorded by a device external to the body