TERMINOLOGIES OF PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

 BMI – Body Mass Index – weight in Kg / square of Height in metre

 Turgor – degree of elasticity of skin
 Lesion – Any pathological or traumatic discontinuity of the tissue.
 Blisters – Collection of serum between epidermis and the skin
 Alopecia – Loss of Hair
 Dandruff – white scales shed from the scalp
 Pediculosis – Condition of being infested with lice.
 Clubbing – Broadening and thickening of tips of fingers due to poor circulation
 Cyanosis – Bluish discoloration of skin and mucous membrane due to decreased
oxygenation
 Icterus / Jaundice – Yellow discoloration of skin and mucous membrane
 Paronychia – An abscess near the finger nail.
 Koilonychia – Brittle and spoon shaped nails
 Tenderness – pain or discomfort when an affected area is touched
 Oedema – an excess amount of interstitial fluid in body tissues
 Anasarca – Generalized oedema – oedema all over the body
 Bromhidrosis: foul-smelling perspiration
 Diaphoresis:
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 Ptosis – drooping of eyelids
 Ectropion – eversion of eyelids
 Entropion – Inversion of eyelids
 Stye/Hordeolum – infection of sebaceous glands of eye lashes
 Corneal reflex – involuntary blinking of the eyelids by touching or by a foreign body.
 Keratitis – inflammation of cornea
 Conjunctivitis – inflammation of conjunctiva
 Mydriasis – dilation of pupil of eye
 Miosis – constriction of pupil of eye
 Anisocoria – unequal size of pupils of two eyes
 Accomodation – adjustment of cilliary muscles which controls the shape of lens
 Astigmatism – inequality of refractive power of eye due to curvature of cornea
 Myopia - shortsightedness
 Hypermetropia – long sightedness
 Presbyopia – normal loss of near focussing ability that occurs with aging
 Cataract – opacity of lens of eye
 Glaucoma – Increased intr ocular pressure
 Impacted creumen – presence of wax in the ear secreted by glands in the ear
 Weber’s test – test for hearing using the tuning fork
 Rinne’s test - test for hearing using the tuning fork
 DNS – Deviated nasal septum
 Polyp – A pedunculated tumour of mucous membrane
 Crust – formed by dried serum or pus on the surface of the skin
 Oral thrush – fungal infection of oral mucous membrane by candida
 Leukoplakia – white patches on oral mucous membrane especially on tongue, gums
and inside the cheeks
 Dental caries – tooth decay or cavities
 Tonsillitis – infection and inflammation of tonsils
 Gag reflex – reflex action occurs when the back of the throat is stimulated
 Lymphadenopathy – disease of lymph node i.e increase in size, number or consistency
 Hypertrophy – increase in size of tissues or structure
 Hyperplasia – increase in the number of cells
 Tracheal shift – Deviation in the normal position of trachea
 Laboured Breathing/ Dyspnoea – difficulty in breathing
 Apnea – Temporary cessation in breathing
 Tachypnea – increase in the respiratory rate
 Inspection – examination of body using the sense of sight.
 Palpation - examination of body using the sense of touch
 Percussion – Act of striking the body surface to elicit sounds that can be heard or
vibrations can be felt.
 Auscultation – examination by listening to sounds produced within the body.
 Chest excursion – movement of thoracic diaphragm during breathing. Normal 3-5 cm
 Vocal fremitus – thrill or vibration that produced in the chest by speaking and felt on
palpation.
 NVBS – normal vesicular breath sounds heard over lungs on auscultation.
 Adventitious breath sounds – abnormal breath sounds
 Rhonchi – adventitious breath sounds heard when there is free liquid in airways more
during expiration.
 Rales/ crackles - adventitious breath sounds when there is free liquid in airways more
during inspiration.
 Wheeze – adventitious breath sounds with whistling sound during respiration due to
obstruction of airways.
 Stridor – harsh shrill sound produced during the partial obstruction of the airways.
 Bronchial – normal high pitched breath sounds heard over trachea.
 Bronchovesicular - soft sounds heard in the centre part of chest and between the
scapula.
 S1 – heart sound produced by the closure mitral and tricuspid valves (atrioventricular
valves) heard on auscultation.
 S2 – heart sound produced by the closure of semilunar valves i.e aortic and pulmonic
valves heard on auscultation.
 Murmur – abnormal heart sound heard on auscultation.
 Arrhythmia (dysrhythmia): a pulse with an abnormal rhythm
 Lump – a localized swelling or mass under the skin
 Ascites – abnormal fluid collection in peritoneal cavity.
 Abrasion – a superficial injury where skin and mucous membrane is rubbed or torn
 Pruritis – itching or irritation of the skin
 Abdominal guarding – tensing of the abdominal wall muscles to guard inflamed
organs within the abdomen.
 Fluid thrill – test for ascites
 Hyper resonance – An exaggerated very loud chest resonance heard in pulmonary
conditions. Eg Emphysema
 Resonance – hollow sound heard over normal air filled lungs.
 Flatness – high pitch soft sound heard over muscles and bones
 Dullness – thud like sound heard over normal liver and heart
 Tympany – drum like sound heard over stomach.
 Fissure – a painful crack in the mucous membrane of the anus
 Fistula – an abnormal passage/ connection between two epithelial surfaces of the
body.
 Evisceration: extrusion of the internal organs
 Haemorrhoid – abnormal swelling of veins in the region of anus leads to bleeding.
 Constipation – incomplete or infrequent action of bowel resulting in filling of rectum
with hard faeces.
 Encopresis: The passage or leakage of feces in children who are past the age of
toilet training
 Urinary Retention –incomplete emptying of bladder with distended bladder
 Incontinence – involuntary passage of urine
 Anuria: the failure of the kidneys toproduce urine, resulting in a total lackof
urination or output of less than 100mL per day in an adult
 Diuresis (polyuria)
 the production of abnormally large amounts of urine by the kidneys without an
increased fluid intake
 Enuresis
 bedwetting; involuntary pass-ing of urine in children after bladdercontrol is
achieved
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 Diurnal enuresis
 involuntary urination during the daytime
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 Oliguria:
 Urgency – feeling of urge to void urine at once
 Frequency – voiding at frequent intervals more than usual.
 Scoliosis – lateral curvature of spine
 Lordosis – abnormal forward curvature of spine
 Kyphosis – backward curvature of spine
 Pallor – abnormal paleness of skin due to decreased Hemoglobin in the blood
 Varicose vein – swollen and dilated veins in the legs
 Conscious – a state of being awake and aware
 Semiconscious – a condition from which patient can be roused.
 Tremor – abnormal muscular quivering of muscles
 PMI – point of maximal impulse
 Capillary refill test – test for assessing the blood flow to peripheral tissues.
 Gingivitis – inflammation of gums
 Glossitis – inflammation of tongue
 Cheilosis – maceration at angles of mouth due to riboflavin vitamin deficiency.
 Stomatitis – inflammation of oral mucous membrane
 Halitosis – bad odour of breath
 Plaque – a flat patch on teeth due to deposition of food
 Dentin
 chief substance of the teeth
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 Pigeon chest – abnormal chest in which sternum is prominent
 Barrel chest – barrel shaped chest
 Flatulence – excessive formation of gases in the stomach.
 Aphasia
 inability to communicate through speech, writing, or signs, caused by
dysfunction of brain centre
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