Definition
During a physical examination, a health care provider studies a patient's body to determine the presence or absence of physical problems.
A typical physical examination includes:
- Inspection (looking at the body)
- Palpation (feeling the body with hands)
- Auscultation (listening to sounds)
- Percussion (producing sounds)
Lots More Information:
| • | Inspection |
| • | Palpation |
| • | Auscultation |
| • | Percussion |
Review Date:1/22/2007
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.