Exam Findings

Accessory muscle use

struggling for breath using muscles in the neck

(Lymph)Adenopathy

enlarged lymph nodes

Bradycardia

slow heart rate

Bradypnea

abnormally slow breathing

Bruit

blowing or swooshing sound heard through a stethoscope when an artery is partially occluded

Cachectic

extremely skinny; bony; malnourished

Clubbing

bulbous enlargement of distal phalanges of fingers and toes that occurs with chronic heart and lung conditions

Crepitus

a crackling or grating sound usually of bones

Cyanotic

bluish skin color due to lack of oxygen

Erythema

redness of the skin

Fluctuance

palpable fluid beneath the skin indicative of infection or pus

Gallop

abnormal heart sound that mimics the gait of a horse; related to abnormal ventricular contraction

Guarding

involuntary muscle contractions (spasms) of the abdominal wall in an effort to protect an inflamed abdomen

Induration

local hard area on the skin

Jaundice

yellowing of the skin

Murmur

abnormal heart sound

Pallor

extreme or unnatural paleness

Rales

crackles; wet crackling noise in lungs

Rebound

pain when releasing the hand from abdominal palpation

Retractions

visible sinking of the area between the ribs and in the neck during inhalation; often indicative of respiratory distress

Rhinorrhea

runny nose

Rhonchi

rattling noise of mucous in the lungs

Rigidity

stiffness; noted on examination of the abdomen

Sputum

material expelled from the lungs by coughing

Wheezes

continuous high-pitched whistling sounds produced during breathing