Health Assessment Techniques Overview

Inspection

Visual assessment of body aspects and behavior.

Palpation

Touching to assess surface characteristics.

Percussion

Tapping to create sound waves for assessment.

Auscultation

Listening to internal body sounds.

Direct Inspection

Visual assessment using direct observation.

Indirect Inspection

Visual assessment using tools or techniques.

Tangential Light

Lighting technique to enhance visual inspection.

Symmetry

Assessment of balanced body structure.

Texture

Surface feel of skin or tissue.

Masses

Abnormal growths detected during palpation.

Tenderness

Pain response during palpation.

Light Palpation

Gentle touch to assess surface characteristics.

Deep Palpation

Firm touch to assess internal organs.

Direct Percussion

Tapping directly on the body to assess organs.

Indirect Percussion

Tapping using a finger on the body.

Indirect Fist Percussion

Blunt percussion to assess organ tenderness.

Tympany

High-pitched, drum-like sound indicating air presence; Examples: Gastric air-filled structures such asintestines, if heard over chest indicates excessiveair (pneumothorax)

Dullness

Thud-like sound indicating fluid or solid mass; Examples: Liver, full bladder, solid organs or mass.When fluid or solid tissue replaces air in the lungs(pneumonia)

Resonance

Low-pitched, hollow sound. Examples: Normal Lung

Hyperresonance

Low-pitched booming sound, Examples: Hyperinflated lungs (COPD, asthma).

Flatness

High-pitched, dull sound. Examples: Muscles, bone, joints, solid mass.

Stethoscope

Device for amplifying body sounds.

When we inspect a patient, what are we inspecting for?

Symmetry, Location, Size, Color, Pattern, Shape, Odors

When we lightly palpate a patient, what are we palpating for?

Texture, Masses, Tenderness

When we deeply palpate a patient, what are we palpating for?

Organ size and location, Masses, Tenderness

When we do percussion, what we listening for?

Pitch (high, low, or dull) Intensity (tone) Duration, Quality of Sounds: Tympany, Dullness, Resonance, Hyperresonance, Flatness