physical assessment praticum flash cards

🧠 QUICK CHEAT SHEET

⭐ MEMORIZE THIS TABLE FIRST!

👁 CN III (3) — Oculomotor

👀

← ↑ →

↓

Function

Moves the eyes

Raises eyelids

Constricts pupils

How

✔ PERRLA

✔ Accommodation

✔ Six Cardinal Fields

Say

🗣

"I'm assessing CN III by checking pupil reaction and extraocular movement."

Normal

✅ PERRLA

✅ Eyes move together

✅ No drooping eyelid

Remember

👁

CN III = PERRLA

👁 CN IV (4) — Trochlear

👀

↙

Function

Moves eye

DOWN and IN

How

✔ Six Cardinal Fields

Say

🗣

"Follow my finger with only your eyes."

Normal

Eyes move smoothly.

Remember

📖

Reading a book

Eyes move DOWN.

👁 CN VI (6) — Abducens

👀 →

Function

Moves eye OUT.

How

✔ Six Cardinal Fields

Say

🗣

"Continue following my finger."

Normal

Eyes move equally.

Remember

👉

Abducens

ABDUCTS the eye.

⭐ PERRLA

👁 🔦 👁

Means

P

Equal

Round

Reactive

Light

Accommodation

How

1️⃣ Observe pupils.

2️⃣ Shine light.

3️⃣ Watch constriction.

4️⃣ Bring finger near nose.

Say

🗣

"Pupils are equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation."

Normal

✅ Equal

✅ Round

✅ React to light

✅ Accommodation intact

Memory

✨

Healthy pupils.

⭐ Accommodation

👀 ☝️

Far → Near

Purpose

Checks ability to focus.

How

Move finger

Far

↓

Near nose.

Say

🗣

"Please look at my finger as I move it closer."

Normal

Eyes converge.

Pupils constrict.

Remember

Near = pupils get SMALL.

⭐ Six Cardinal Fields

↑

↖ ← • → ↗

↓

↙ ↘

Purpose

Checks CN III

CN IV

CN VI

How

Move finger in an H.

Patient follows ONLY with eyes.

Say

🗣

"Keep your head still and follow my finger with your eyes."

Normal

✅ Smooth movement

✅ No jerking

Remember

Draw an H.

⭐ Ptosis

🙂

👁

👁

😕

👁

⬇

Meaning

Drooping eyelid.

Normal

No drooping.

Remember

Ptosis = lid falls.

⭐ Nystagmus

👀↔👀↔👀

Meaning

Jerking eye movement.

Normal

NO nystagmus.

Remember

Nystagmus = shaking eyes.

⭐ Strabismus

👀

⬅ ➡

Eyes not aligned.

Normal

Eyes aligned.

Remember

Lazy eye.

😊 CN VII (7) Facial

😊 😁 😮 😑

Function

Facial muscles.

Ask Patient

😊 Smile.

😁 Show teeth.

😮 Puff cheeks.

🙄 Raise eyebrows.

😑 Close eyes tightly.

Say

🗣

"I'm assessing facial symmetry and strength."

Normal

Everything symmetrical.

Remember

😊

Facial = Smile.

👂 CN VIII (8) Vestibulocochlear

👂

Function

Hearing.

How

Whisper test

OR

Rub fingers.

Say

🗣

"Please repeat the word I whisper."

Normal

Repeats correctly.

Remember

🎧

VIII = Ear.

😛 CN IX (9) Glossopharyngeal

❤️ CN X (10) Vagus

These are ALWAYS tested together.

😛

AHHHH

Function

Swallowing.

Gag.

Uvula.

Ask

🗣

"Open your mouth and say 'Ahhhh.'"

Look For

✔ Soft palate rises.

✔ Uvula stays MIDLINE.

Say

"I'm assessing movement of the soft palate and uvula."

Normal

Symmetrical rise.

Remember

AHHH = IX & X

💪 CN XI (11) Accessory

🤷

Function

Shoulder strength.

Head movement.

Ask

"Shrug your shoulders."

Push against them.

Then

"Turn your head against my hand."

Say

🗣

"I'm assessing shoulder and neck strength."

Normal

Strong.

Equal.

Remember

🤷

Shoulder Shrug.

🔨 REFLEXES

💪 Biceps

🔨

💪

How

Arm relaxed.

Strike tendon.

Normal

Arm flexes.

💪 Brachioradialis

🔨

🦴

How

Strike tendon above wrist.

Normal

Forearm flexes.

🦵 Patellar

🔨

🦵

How

Leg dangling.

Tap tendon.

Normal

Leg kicks.

Remember

Knee jerk.

🦶 Achilles

🔨

🦶

How

Foot relaxed.

Tap Achilles.

Normal

Foot plantarflexes.

👣 Babinski

Heel

⬇

⬆

Toes

How

Stroke outside of foot.

Heel →

Little toe →

Across ball.

Normal (Adult)

✅ Toes curl DOWN.

Abnormal

❌ Big toe UP.

Other toes fan out.

Remember

Adults

⬇

Babies

⬆

⭐ 30 SECOND NEURO REVIEW

🚨 COMMON PRACTICUM MISTAKES

❌ Forgetting to tell patient:

"Keep your head still."

during cardinal fields.

❌ Forgetting accommodation after PERRLA.

❌ Forgetting to compare BOTH sides.

❌ Saying "Say Ah" but forgetting to LOOK at the uvula.

❌ Hitting the wrong tendon during reflexes.

🧠 EASY MEMORY

Eyes 👀 = 3, 4, 6

Smile 😊 = 7

Hear 👂 = 8

Say "Ah" 😛 = 9 & 10

Shrug 🤷 = 11

Foot 👣 = Babinski

⭐ MUSCULOSKELETAL QUICK CHEAT SHEET

⭐ Memorize this table first!

💪 Inspection

🙂

💪 💪

🦵 🦵

Purpose

Look at muscles.

Look For

✅ Size

✅ Symmetry

Say

🗣

"I'm inspecting muscle size and symmetry."

Normal

Equal on both sides.

Remember

LOOK before TOUCH.

🚶 Gait

🚶

Purpose

Watch patient walk.

Look For

✅ Balance

✅ Arm swing

✅ Base of support

✅ Stride

Say

🗣

"Please walk across the room and back."

Normal

✔ Smooth

✔ Steady

✔ Arms swing equally

Remember

Walk = Watch.

⚖ Balance

🙂

Look For

Standing steady.

Normal

No swaying.

Say

🗣

"Balance is steady."

🦷 TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint)

🙂

🦷

Purpose

Jaw movement.

How

Place fingers in front of ears.

Ask:

🗣

"Open and close your mouth."

Look For

Smooth movement.

No clicking.

No pain.

Say

🗣

"I'm assessing the temporomandibular joint."

Normal

✔ Smooth

✔ No pain

✔ No crepitus

Remember

TMJ = Jaw.

🙏 Phalen Test

🙏

Backs of hands together

Purpose

Checks for

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

How

Backs of hands together.

Hold

⏰ 60 seconds.

Positive

❌ Tingling

❌ Numbness

Normal

No numbness.

Say

🗣

"I'm assessing for signs of carpal tunnel syndrome."

Remember

Prayer backwards.

🦴 CERVICAL ROM

1️⃣ Flexion

🙂

⬇

Ask

"Touch your chin to your chest."

Normal

Smooth movement.

2️⃣ Extension

🙂

⬆

Ask

"Look up toward the ceiling."

3️⃣ Rotation

🙂

⬅ ➡

Ask

"Turn your head left and right."

4️⃣ Lateral Flexion

🙂

↙ ↘

Ask

"Touch your ear to your shoulder."

Say

🗣

"I'm assessing cervical range of motion."

Remember

Neck moves

⬇⬆⬅➡

🦴 THORACIC / LUMBAR ROM

Flexion

🙇

Ask

"Touch your toes."

Extension

🙂

⬅

Ask

"Lean backwards."

Lateral Flexion

🙆

Ask

"Slide your hand down each leg."

Rotation

🙂

↩ ↪

Ask

"Turn your shoulders left and right."

Normal

Smooth movement.

No pain.

💪 SHOULDER ROM

Flexion

🙋

Ask

"Raise your arms in front."

Extension

🙆

Ask

"Move your arms behind you."

Abduction

🙆

Ask

"Raise your arms out to the side."

Adduction

🙋

Ask

"Bring your arms back."

Normal

Full ROM.

💪 ELBOW

Flexion

💪

Ask

"Touch your shoulders."

Extension

🦾

Ask

"Straighten your arms."

Say

🗣

"I'm assessing elbow range of motion."

🙌 Supination

🤲

Means

PALMS UP.

Ask

"Turn your palms up."

Remember

Holding soup.

🍜

SUPination

SUP = Soup

👋 Pronation

👇

Means

PALMS DOWN.

Ask

"Turn your palms down."

Remember

Push down.

🦵 HIP

Flexion

🦵⬆

Ask

"Lift your leg."

Extension

🦵⬇

Ask

"Push your leg backwards."

Abduction

🦵➡

Ask

"Move your leg away."

Adduction

⬅🦵

Ask

"Bring your leg back."

🦵 KNEE

Flexion

🦵

╯

Ask

"Bend your knee."

Extension

🦵────

Ask

"Straighten your knee."

🦶 ANKLE

Dorsiflexion

🦶⬆

Means

TOES UP.

Ask

"Pull your toes toward your nose."

Remember

Toes to Nose.

Plantarflexion

🦶⬇

Means

TOES DOWN.

Ask

"Push down like you're pressing a gas pedal."

Remember

Gas pedal.

⭐ MOST CONFUSING TERMS

🚨 COMMON PRACTICUM MISTAKES

❌ Forgetting to compare both sides.

❌ Mixing up abduction and adduction.

❌ Forgetting supination = palms up.

❌ Saying plantarflexion when patient pulls toes up.

❌ Not telling the patient what movement to perform.

❌ Forgetting to ask about pain if the patient appears uncomfortable.

🧠 30-SECOND MUSCULOSKELETAL REVIEW

⭐ MEMORY HACK (You'll NEVER forget these!)

🛸 ABduction = Alien ABducts you AWAY

➕ ADduction = ADD it BACK to your body

🍜 SUPination = Hold a bowl of SOUP

👋 PROnation = Push DOWN

👃 DORSIflexion = Toes to NOSE

🚗 PLANTARflexion = Press the GAS PEDAL

CARDIOVASCULAR-❤️ QUICK CHEAT SHEET

⭐ Memorize this first!

❤️ JVD (Jugular Venous Distention)

🙂

|

🫀

Purpose

Checks neck veins.

How

✔ Patient at 30–45° (semi-Fowler's)

✔ Turn head slightly away.

✔ Look at right side of neck.

Say

🗣

"I'm inspecting for jugular venous distention."

Normal

✅ Neck veins NOT visible.

Abnormal

❌ Bulging neck veins.

Remember

JVD = Jugular Vein Bulging

❤️ Carotid Pulse

🙂

👇 👇

Purpose

Assess blood flow.

How

✔ Palpate ONE side ONLY

❌ NEVER both together.

Say

🗣

"I'm palpating the carotid pulse one side at a time."

Normal

Strong.

Equal.

Professor Tip ⭐

🚫 Never palpate both carotids at the same time.

❤️ Carotid Bruit

🔔

🙂

Purpose

Listen for turbulent blood flow.

Equipment

🔔 Bell

How

Place bell over carotid.

Ask patient:

🗣

"Take a deep breath and hold it."

Listen.

Repeat other side.

Normal

No bruit.

Abnormal

Whooshing sound.

Remember

Bell = Bruit.

❤️ PMI (Point of Maximal Impulse)

❤️

5th ICS

Left Midclavicular Line

Purpose

Locate heart apex.

Location

⭐ 5th Intercostal Space

⭐ Left Midclavicular Line

Say

🗣

"I'm palpating the point of maximal impulse."

Normal

Small impulse.

Found at 5th ICS MCL.

Memory

❤️

PMI = Apex Beat

❤️ HEART LANDMARKS

⭐ APTM

Memorize this!!

A

P P

T

M

❤️ Aortic

2nd ICS

RIGHT

Remember

❤️ Aortic

Right

❤️ Pulmonic

2nd ICS

LEFT

❤️ Erb's Point

3rd ICS

LEFT

❤️ Tricuspid

4th ICS

LEFT Sternal Border

❤️ Mitral

5th ICS

Left Midclavicular Line

Same place as PMI.

❤️ Memory

A P E T M

All Physicians Enjoy Teaching Medicine

(Aortic, Pulmonic, Erb's, Tricuspid, Mitral)

❤️ Heart Sounds

S1

❤️

"LUB"

Mitral & Tricuspid close.

S2

❤️

"DUB"

Aortic & Pulmonic close.

Say

🗣

"I'm auscultating heart sounds with the diaphragm, then the bell."

Normal

Regular rhythm.

S1

S2

❤️ Pulses

Know ALL these!

Say

🗣

"I'm palpating pulses bilaterally."

Normal

Equal.

2+.

❤️ Capillary Refill

💅

Press

Release

Purpose

Checks circulation.

How

Press nail.

Release.

Normal

⭐ <2 seconds

Say

🗣

"Capillary refill is less than two seconds."

Remember

2 seconds.

❤️ Edema

👇

🦵

Purpose

Checks swelling.

How

Press shin.

Press ankle.

Normal

No edema.

If Present

Pitting edema.

Say

🗣

"No edema noted."

❤️ Allen Test

✊

👇👇

🤲

Purpose

Checks circulation to the hand.

How

1️⃣ Patient makes fist.

2️⃣ Occlude radial & ulnar arteries.

3️⃣ Patient opens hand.

4️⃣ Release ulnar artery.

5️⃣ Watch color return.

Normal

Color returns within 5 seconds.

Positive

Delayed return.

Say

🗣

"I'm assessing collateral circulation using Allen's test."

Remember

✊

Fist.

Release.

Pink.

⭐ CARDIO PRACTICAL SCRIPT

If your professor says:

"Perform a cardiovascular assessment."

You do this:

✅ Inspect JVD

↓

✅ Palpate carotid (ONE side)

↓

✅ Auscultate carotid with bell

↓

✅ Palpate PMI

↓

✅ Listen APTM

↓

✅ Check pulses

↓

✅ Cap refill

↓

✅ Edema

↓

✅ Allen Test

Done. ✔

🚨 COMMON MISTAKES

❌ Palpating BOTH carotids.

❌ Forgetting bell for carotid bruit.

❌ Forgetting APTM order.

❌ Mixing right and left heart landmarks.

❌ Forgetting PMI location.

❌ Forgetting cap refill.

❌ Forgetting Allen Test.

🧠 30 SECOND REVIEW

🎯 MEMORY HACKS

❤️ APTM = All Physicians Enjoy Teaching Medicine

❤️ PMI = 5th ICS Left Midclavicular Line

❤️ Bell = Bruit

❤️ Carotid = ONE side only

❤️ Cap refill = <2 sec

❤️ Allen = ✊ Fist → Release → Pink hand

RESPIRATORY ASSESSMENT-

⭐ REMEMBER THE ORDER

👀 LOOK

↓

✋ FEEL

↓

👊 TAP

↓

🎧 LISTEN

Inspection → Palpation → Percussion → Auscultation

⭐ Never listen before you inspect.

⭐ QUICK CHEAT SHEET

👀 INSPECTION

🙂

🫁

Purpose

LOOK at the chest.

Look For

✅ Nasal flaring

✅ Pursed lips

✅ Lip color

✅ Nail color

✅ Chest shape

✅ Symmetry

✅ Breathing pattern

✅ Retractions

✅ Barrel chest

Say

🗣

"I'm inspecting the chest for symmetry, respiratory effort, breathing pattern, nasal flaring, pursed lips, and use of accessory muscles."

Normal

✔ Symmetrical chest

✔ No retractions

✔ No nasal flaring

✔ Regular breathing

Remember

👀

LOOK FIRST.

⭐ BARREL CHEST

Normal

🙂

()

Barrel

🙂

(O)

Meaning

Rounded chest.

Normal

NO barrel chest.

Remember

Barrel = Round.

⭐ RETRACTIONS

Ribs

↓↓↓

Meaning

Skin pulls inward while breathing.

Normal

No retractions.

Remember

Retractions = Hard to breathe.

✋ PALPATION

✋

🫁

Purpose

FEEL chest.

Feel For

✅ Temperature

✅ Tenderness

✅ Crepitus

Say

🗣

"Please let me know if you have any pain or tenderness."

Normal

✔ Warm

✔ No tenderness

✔ No crepitus

⭐ CREPITUS

✋

Rice Krispies

Meaning

Crackling under skin.

Normal

None.

Remember

Rice Krispies.

Snap.

Crackle.

Pop.

⭐ CHEST EXPANSION

✋ 🫁 ✋

Purpose

Checks lungs expand equally.

How

Hands on lower ribs.

Ask

🗣

"Take a deep breath."

Normal

Both sides move equally.

Remember

Equal movement.

⭐ TACTILE FREMITUS

✋

99

99

99

Purpose

Feel vibration.

Ask

🗣

"Please say ninety-nine."

Normal

Equal vibration.

Say

"I'm assessing tactile fremitus."

Remember

TOUCH

99

👊 PERCUSSION

👆

👆

Tap

Tap

Purpose

Check underlying tissue.

How

Tap middle finger.

Compare side to side.

Normal

⭐ Resonance

(Hollow)

Say

🗣

"I'm percussing the lung fields."

Remember

Tap.

Listen.

⭐ PERCUSSION SOUNDS

🎧 AUSCULTATION

🎧

🫁

Purpose

Listen to lungs.

How

Posterior

⭐ 9 spots each side

Anterior

⭐ 5 spots each side

Ask

🗣

"Please take slow deep breaths through your mouth."

Listen For

Normal breath sounds.

Normal

Clear.

Equal.

Say

🗣

"Breath sounds are clear bilaterally."

Remember

9 Back

5 Front

⭐ BRONCHOPHONY

🎧

99

99

99

Purpose

Checks voice transmission.

Ask

🗣

"Please say ninety-nine."

Normal

Words are muffled.

Positive

Words become LOUD.

Remember

LISTEN

99

⭐ BREATHING PATTERN

Look For

✅ Regular

✅ Even

✅ Unlabored

⭐ ACCESSORY MUSCLES

😤

⬆ Neck

Meaning

Using neck muscles to breathe.

Normal

No accessory muscle use.

⭐ LUNG LANDMARKS

Posterior

🫁

① ② ③

④ ⑤ ⑥

⑦ ⑧ ⑨

9 EACH SIDE

Anterior

🫁

① ②

③ ④

⑤

5 EACH SIDE

⭐ PRACTICAL SCRIPT

If professor says

"Perform respiratory assessment."

Do this.

✅ Inspect

↓

✅ Palpate

↓

✅ Chest expansion

↓

✅ Fremitus

↓

✅ Percuss

↓

✅ Auscultate

↓

✅ Bronchophony

Done.

🚨 COMMON MISTAKES

❌ Listening through clothing.

❌ Forgetting posterior lungs.

❌ Forgetting to compare side to side.

❌ Patient breathing through nose.

❌ Forgetting to say

"Take slow deep breaths through your mouth."

❌ Confusing fremitus with bronchophony.

Remember:

• ✋ Fremitus = FEEL "99"
• 🎧 Bronchophony = LISTEN to "99"

🧠 30-SECOND REVIEW

🎯 MEMORY HACKS

👀 Look → Feel → Tap → Listen

✋ Fremitus = FEEL "99"

🎧 Bronchophony = LISTEN "99"

🫁 9 Back, 5 Front

🥣 Resonance = Normal lungs

ABDOMINAL ASSESSMENT -

⭐ MOST IMPORTANT RULE

👀 LOOK

↓

🎧 LISTEN

↓

👊 TAP

↓

✋ TOUCH

NEVER PALPATE BEFORE AUSCULTATION!

👉 Touching the abdomen can change bowel sounds.

🧠 Memory: I APP = Inspect → Auscultate → Percuss → Palpate

⭐ QUICK CHEAT SHEET

👀 INSPECTION

🍔

RUQ LUQ

RLQ LLQ

Purpose

LOOK at the abdomen.

Look For

✅ Color

✅ Scars

✅ Lesions

✅ Striae (stretch marks)

✅ Umbilicus

✅ Symmetry

✅ Contour

✅ Pulsations

Say

🗣

"I'm inspecting the abdomen for color, contour, symmetry, scars, lesions, striae, the umbilicus, and visible pulsations."

Normal

✔ Flat or rounded

✔ Symmetrical

✔ Umbilicus midline

✔ No pulsations

Remember

👀

LOOK ONLY

⭐ ABDOMINAL CONTOUR

Flat

🙂

────

Rounded

🙂

(____)

Normal

Flat

OR

Rounded

Remember

Flat = Normal

Rounded = Normal

Distended = Not normal

🍔 FOUR QUADRANTS

🍔

RUQ | LUQ

------------

RLQ | LLQ

RUQ

Liver

Gallbladder

LUQ

Stomach

Spleen

RLQ

Appendix

LLQ

Descending colon

Memory

❤️ Appendix = RLQ

🎧 BOWEL SOUNDS

ALWAYS USE

🎧 Diaphragm

Order

Start

⭐ RLQ

↓

RUQ

↓

LUQ

↓

LLQ

Say

🗣

"I'm auscultating bowel sounds in all four quadrants."

Normal

Bowel sounds heard in every quadrant.

Remember

Right Lower First.

⭐ BRUITS

🔔

🍔

Purpose

Listen to arteries.

Equipment

⭐ Bell

Listen Over

✔ Renal arteries

✔ Iliac arteries

(Both sides)

Say

🗣

"I'm auscultating for vascular sounds over the renal and iliac arteries."

Normal

No bruit.

Remember

🔔

Bell = Bruit

👊 PERCUSSION

👆

Tap

Tap

Purpose

Checks underlying tissue.

How

Tap across abdomen.

Normal

⭐ Tympany

(because stomach and intestines contain air)

Say

🗣

"I'm percussing the abdomen."

Remember

Abdomen = Tympany

⭐ TYMPANY

🥁

BOOM

Meaning

Air.

Normal

YES.

Remember

Air = Tympany.

⭐ CVA TENDERNESS

(Costovertebral Angle)

🧍

👊

Back

Purpose

Checks kidneys.

How

Place one hand over kidney.

Tap gently.

Ask

🗣

"Do you have any pain or tenderness?"

Normal

No pain.

Positive

Pain.

Remember

Kidney punch.

✋ LIGHT PALPATION

✋

🍔

Purpose

Feel surface.

Press

About 1 cm.

Look For

Tenderness.

Masses.

Guarding.

Say

🗣

"Please let me know if you have any pain."

Normal

Soft.

No tenderness.

✋ DEEP PALPATION

🤲

🍔

Purpose

Feel deeper organs.

Press

About 5–8 cm.

Normal

No masses.

No pain.

⭐ McBurney's Point

🍔

RUQ | LUQ

------------

RLQ ⭐

Purpose

Checks

Appendicitis.

Location

⭐ RLQ

How

Press.

Release.

Positive

Pain.

Normal

No pain.

Say

🗣

"I'm assessing for rebound tenderness at McBurney's point."

Remember

Appendix lives here.

⭐ REBOUND TENDERNESS

Purpose

Checks irritation of the peritoneum.

How

Press slowly.

Release quickly.

Positive

More pain when releasing than pressing.

Normal

No pain.

Remember

Release hurts more.

⭐ Rovsing's Sign

Press HERE

⬅ LLQ

Pain HERE

➡ RLQ

Purpose

Checks

Appendicitis.

How

Press

⭐ LLQ

Positive

Pain felt in

⭐ RLQ

Normal

No pain.

Say

🗣

"I'm assessing for Rovsing's sign."

Remember

LEFT hurts RIGHT.

⭐ PRACTICAL SCRIPT

Professor says

"Perform abdominal assessment."

You do...

👀 Inspect

↓

🎧 Bowel Sounds

↓

🔔 Bruits

↓

👊 Percuss

↓

👊 CVA

↓

✋ Light Palpation

↓

🤲 Deep Palpation

↓

⭐ McBurney

↓

⭐ Rovsing

Done ✔

🚨 COMMON MISTAKES

❌ Palpating before auscultating.

❌ Using diaphragm instead of bell for bruits.

❌ Forgetting RLQ first for bowel sounds.

❌ Pressing too hard during light palpation.

❌ Forgetting to ask:

"Please let me know if you have any pain."

❌ Mixing up McBurney's and Rovsing's.

🧠 30-SECOND REVIEW

🎯 MEMORY HACKS

🍔 I APP = Inspect → Auscultate → Percuss → Palpate

🔔 Bell = Bruits

🥁 Tympany = Air

❤️ McBurney = RLQ = Appendix

⬅➡ Rovsing = LEFT hurts RIGHT

👊 CVA = Kidney punch

⭐ PRACTICUM GOLD ⭐

These are the 5 things students most often forget:

1. Order: Inspect → Auscultate → Percuss → Palpate
2. Start bowel sounds in the RLQ
3. Use the BELL for renal & iliac bruits
4. Ask about pain before palpation
5. Know the difference:
   • McBurney's = Press RLQ
   • Rovsing's = Press LLQ, pain in RLQ

HEAD, EYES & NECK -

⭐ QUICK CHEAT SHEET

😀 HEAD

🙂

Purpose

Inspect head & face.

Look For

✅ Size

✅ Shape

✅ Symmetry

✅ Facial expression

Say

🗣

"I'm inspecting the head and face for size, shape, symmetry, and facial expression."

Normal

✔ Symmetrical

✔ No swelling

Remember

LOOK first.

✋ SCALP & HAIR

💆

Purpose

Feel scalp.

Inspect hair.

Look For

✅ Lesions

✅ Lumps

✅ Hair distribution

Say

🗣

"I'm palpating the scalp and inspecting the hair."

Normal

✔ No tenderness

✔ Hair evenly distributed

🦷 TMJ

🙂

🦷

Purpose

Jaw movement.

Ask

🗣

"Please open and close your mouth."

Look For

✔ Smooth movement

✔ No clicking

✔ No pain

Remember

TMJ = Jaw.

😀 SINUSES

🙂

⬤ ⬤

⬤ ⬤

Top = Frontal

Bottom = Maxillary

Purpose

Check sinus tenderness.

How

Palpate.

Percuss.

Ask

🗣

"Do you have any tenderness?"

Normal

No pain.

Remember

Tap.

Ask.

👀 EYES

Inspect

Look at

✅ Position

✅ Alignment

✅ Ability to open & close

Say

🗣

"I'm inspecting the eyes for position, alignment, and symmetry."

Normal

Eyes aligned.

Open equally.

👁 EYEBROWS

Look for

✔ Symmetry

✔ Hair distribution

👁 EYELIDS

Look for

✔ Ptosis

✔ Swelling

👁 EYELASHES

Look for

✔ Even distribution

👁 CONJUNCTIVA

👁

Inside eyelid

Normal

Pink.

Moist.

👁 SCLERA

⚪

Normal

WHITE.

Remember

Sclera = White.

⭐ PERRLA

Already learned!

Say

🗣

"Pupils are equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation."

⭐ CORNEAL LIGHT REFLEX

🔦

👁 👁

Purpose

Eye alignment.

How

Shine light

12 inches away.

Toward bridge of nose.

Normal

Reflection appears in SAME spot on both eyes.

Say

🗣

"I'm assessing the corneal light reflex."

Remember

Same spot.

Both eyes.

⭐ NECK

🙂

│

Purpose

Inspect neck.

Look For

✔ Symmetry

✔ Trachea

Say

🗣

"I'm inspecting the neck for symmetry and tracheal position."

Normal

Trachea MIDLINE.

Remember

Trachea = Middle.

⭐ TRACHEA

🙂

│

Normal

Midline.

Abnormal

Shifted.

⭐ LYMPH NODES

Know these!!

PREAURICULAR

👂⬅

Front of ear.

POSTAURICULAR

➡👂

Behind ear.

SUBMENTAL

🙂

👇 Chin

SUBMANDIBULAR

Jaw

TONSILLAR

Angle of jaw.

SUPRACLAVICULAR

Above clavicle.

How

Use finger pads.

Move in circles.

Compare both sides.

Say

🗣

"I'm palpating the cervical lymph nodes."

Normal

✔ Non-tender

✔ Not enlarged

⭐ PRACTICAL SCRIPT

Professor says

"Head Eyes Neck"

Do this.

Inspect head

↓

Palpate scalp

↓

TMJ

↓

Sinuses

↓

Inspect eyes

↓

PERRLA

↓

Corneal Light Reflex

↓

Inspect neck

↓

Trachea

↓

Lymph Nodes

Done ✔

🚨 COMMON MISTAKES

❌ Forgetting corneal light reflex.

❌ Forgetting trachea.

❌ Forgetting supraclavicular node.

❌ Palpating with fingertips instead of finger pads.

❌ Forgetting to compare both sides.

🧠 30 SECOND REVIEW

🎯 MEMORY HACKS

👀 Sclera = White

💗 Conjunctiva = Pink

📍 Trachea = Middle

🦷 TMJ = Jaw

💡 Corneal light = Same spot in both eyes

⭐ EXAM TIP (based on your checklist)

For lymph nodes, you do not need to memorize every node in the body. Your practicum only lists:

• Preauricular
• Postauricular
• Submental
• Submandibular
• Tonsillar
• Supraclavicular

EARS, NOSE, MOUTH & THROAT (ENT) -

⭐ QUICK CHEAT SHEET

⭐ Memorize this table first!

👂 EAR INSPECTION

👂

Purpose

Look at the ear.

Look For

✅ Size

✅ Shape

✅ Symmetry

✅ Angle of attachment

Say

🗣

"I'm inspecting the external ear for size, shape, symmetry, and angle of attachment."

Normal

✔ Symmetrical

✔ No redness

✔ No swelling

Remember

LOOK FIRST.

✋ EAR PALPATION

👂👇

Palpate

✔ Auricle

✔ Tragus

✔ Earlobe

✔ Mastoid Process

Ask

🗣

"Do you have any pain or tenderness?"

Normal

No pain.

Remember

Touch ALL parts.

👂 WHISPER TEST

🤫

ABC

Purpose

Checks hearing.

How

Stand behind patient.

Cover one ear.

Whisper

Example:

"Baseball"

or

"4-K-2"

Patient repeats.

Repeat other ear.

Say

🗣

"Please repeat the word I whisper."

Normal

Correctly repeats words.

Remember

Whisper = Hearing.

🔔 WEBER TEST

🔔

🙂

Equipment

Tuning fork.

How

Place tuning fork on

⭐ Top of head.

Ask

🗣

"Where do you hear the sound?"

Normal

⭐ Heard equally in BOTH ears.

Remember

WEBER = Middle of head.

🔔 RINNE TEST

🔔

👂

Equipment

Tuning fork.

How

1️⃣ Place on mastoid bone.

↓

Patient says

"I can't hear it."

↓

Move next to ear.

Normal

⭐ Air conduction > Bone conduction

(AC > BC)

Memory

Rinne = Ring beside the ear.

👄 MOUTH

😮

Inspect

✔ Lips

✔ Teeth

✔ Gums

✔ Buccal mucosa

✔ Floor of mouth

✔ Hard palate

✔ Soft palate

✔ Tongue

✔ Uvula

✔ Tonsils

✔ Pharynx

Say

🗣

"Open your mouth please."

Look For

Pink.

Moist.

No lesions.

Normal

Everything pink.

Moist.

👄 LIPS

👄

Palpate

Lips.

Normal

Smooth.

Moist.

👅 TONGUE

👅

Ask

🗣

"Stick your tongue out."

Normal

Midline.

Remember

Tongue stays CENTER.

😛 UVULA

😮

↓

Uvula

Ask

🗣

"Say Ahhhh."

Normal

⭐ Uvula rises MIDLINE.

Remember

Ahhhh = Uvula.

🦷 TONSILS

Look For

✔ Color

✔ Size

✔ Swelling

Normal

Pink.

No swelling.

👃 NOSE

👃

Inspect

Look For

✔ Position

✔ Septum

✔ Discharge

✔ Edema

Say

🗣

"I'm inspecting the nose."

Normal

Midline.

No drainage.

✋ PALPATE NOSE

👃👇

Purpose

Check tenderness.

Ask

🗣

"Do you have any tenderness?"

Normal

No pain.

🌬 PATENCY

👃

⬅➡

Purpose

Checks airflow.

How

Occlude one nostril.

Ask

🗣

"Breathe in."

Repeat other side.

Normal

Air passes equally.

Remember

One nostril at a time.

⭐ PRACTICAL SCRIPT

Professor says

"Perform ENT assessment."

Do this.

👂 Inspect ear

↓

👂 Palpate ear

↓

🤫 Whisper

↓

🔔 Weber

↓

🔔 Rinne

↓

😮 Inspect mouth

↓

👄 Palpate lips

↓

👅 Tongue

↓

😛 Uvula

↓

👃 Inspect nose

↓

✋ Palpate nose

↓

🌬 Check patency

Done ✔

🚨 COMMON MISTAKES

❌ Forgetting the mastoid process.

❌ Forgetting AC > BC on Rinne.

❌ Forgetting Weber is on the top of the head.

❌ Forgetting to inspect the hard and soft palate.

❌ Forgetting to assess nasal patency.

❌ Forgetting to ask the patient to say "Ah."

🧠 30-SECOND REVIEW

🎯 MEMORY HACKS

👂 Whisper = Hearing

🔔 Weber = Middle of Head

🔔 Rinne = Mastoid → Ear (AC > BC)

👅 Tongue = Midline

😛 "Ah" = Uvula

👃 Patency = One nostril at a time

⭐ PRACTICUM ORDER (MEMORIZE THIS!)

Stage 1 (2–3 minutes)

1. Hand hygiene
2. Introduce yourself
3. Verify patient (2 identifiers)
4. Explain procedure (+ verbalize you'd assess vital signs)
5. General appearance
6. Orientation
7. Skin
8. Heart (apical + point to pulses)
9. Lungs (landmarks)
10. Abdomen (bowel sounds)
11. Extremities (temperature & pulses)

⭐ PRACTICUM ORDER (MEMORIZE THIS!)

Stage 1 (2–3 minutes)

1. Hand hygiene
2. Introduce yourself
3. Verify patient (2 identifiers)
4. Explain procedure (+ verbalize you'd assess vital signs)
5. General appearance
6. Orientation
7. Skin
8. Heart (apical + point to pulses)
9. Lungs (landmarks)
10. Abdomen (bowel sounds)
11. Extremities (temperature & pulses)