Nursing Physical Assessment (Adult)

Front 1

accommodation

Back 1

adjustment, especially that of the lens of the eye for various distances, manifested by the contraction of ciliary muscles and other changes

Front 2

aneurysm

Back 2

a fluid- or blood-filled sac formed by the dilation of the wall of an artery, a vein, or the heart, often forming a pulsating tumor

Front 3

anosmia

Back 3

absence of the sense of smell

Front 4

bronchial breath sounds

Back 4

loud, high-pitched, hollow sounds normally heard over the trachea and the large bronchi. *the expiratory sounds are longer than the inspiratory sounds.

Front 5

bronchovesicular breath sounds

Back 5

medium-pitched and quieter sounds normally heard over the mainstem bronchi. * the inspiratory and expiratory sounds are equal in length.

Front 6

bruit

Back 6

blowing or swishing sounds that reflect turbulent blood flow

Front 7

clubbing

Back 7

enlargement of the fingertips and flattening of the angle between the fingernail and the nailbed, a classic sign of long-term oxygen deprivation

Front 8

conjunctiva

Back 8

the delicate membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the exposed surface of the sclera (plural: conjunctivae); bulbar: the portion of the conjunctiva covering the cornea and front part of the sclera, appearing white because of the sclera behind it; palpebral: the portion of the conjunctiva lining the eyelids, appearing red because of its vascularity

Front 9

crepitus

Back 9

a dry, crackling or grating sound produced by air in subcutaneous tissue, by air moving through fluid in the alveoli of the lungs, or by bone rubbing against bone

Front 10

extraocular muscles

Back 10

a set of six muscles innervated by the cranial nerves that move the eyes in a conjugate (parallel) manner, movement of which is tested by a number of physical-examination techniques including the cover/uncover test and the corneal light reflex test

Front 11

friction rub

Back 11

a scratching or squeaking sound that persists throughout the respiratory cycle and does not clear with coughing

Front 12

gingiva

Back 12

gum; the part of the oral mucosa that overlies the crowns of unerupted teeth and encircles the necks of those that have erupted (plural: gingivae)

Front 13

hernia

Back 13

the protrusion of a loop or portion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening

Front 14

kyphosis

Back 14

excessive convex curvature of the thoracic spine when viewed from the side

Front 15

murmur

Back 15

an auscultatory sound, benign or pathologic, particularly a periodic sound resulting from vascular turbulence

Front 16

nystagmus

Back 16

rapid, repetitive, involuntary, rhythmic movement of the eyeball

Front 17

naris

Back 17

one of the external orifices of the nose (plural: nares)

Front 18

nasolabial fold

Back 18

skin crevice between the nose and the corner of the mouth

Front 19

otoscope

Back 19

instrument used to examine the ears

Front 20

palpebral fissure

Back 20

the longitudinal opening between the eyelids

Front 21

patent

Back 21

open or unobstructed

Front 22

peristalsis

Back 22

the waves of contraction that propel contents through the gastrointestinal tract

Front 23

plantar

Back 23

pertaining to the sole of the foot

Front 24

pneumothorax

Back 24

an accumulation of air or gas in the pleural space

Front 25

precordium

Back 25

the region of the anterior surface of the body covering the heart and the stomach, comprising the epigastric region and the inferior part of the thorax

Front 26

ptosis

Back 26

drooping of the upper eyelid

Front 27

rales

Back 27

discontinuous sounds heard primarily during inhalation and resulting from air bubbling through moisture in the alveoli or from collapsed alveoli popping open; also called crackles

Front 28

rebound tenderness

Back 28

pain that increases when pressure (as from a hand) is removed

Front 29

regurgitation

Back 29

valvular: backward flowing of blood through the orifices of the heart valves due to abnormal closing of the valves

Front 30

rhonchi

Back 30

dry, low-pitched, snore-like noises produced in the throat or bronchial tube due to a partial obstruction such as by secretions

Front 31

sclera

Back 31

the tough, white outer coat of the eyeball

Front 32

scoliosis

Back 32

an appreciable lateral deviation in the normally straight vertical line of the spine

Front 33

septum (nasal)

Back 33

a dividing wall or partition, such as the structure that separates the two nares

Front 34

speculum

Back 34

an instrument that exposes the interior of a passage or cavity of the body by enlarging its opening

Front 35

stenosis

Back 35

an abnormal narrowing of a duct, canal, or blood vessel

Front 36

stridor

Back 36

a harsh, high-pitched breath sound such as that heard on inhalation with an acute laryngeal obstruction

Front 37

tandem walking

Back 37

placing the heel of one foot in front of and touching the toes of the other foot and repeating the process to walk in a straight line; used as a test of gait, sobriety

Front 38

thrill

Back 38

a sensation of vibration felt on palpation, such as over the heart during loud, harsh cardiac murmurs

Front 39

uvula

Back 39

a general term in anatomical terminology for a pendent, fleshy mass; most often used to refer to the one hanging from the soft palate above the root of the tongue

Front 40

vesicular breath sounds

Back 40

soft, fine, breezy, low-pitched sounds heard over peripheral lung tissue. * the inspiratory sounds are longer than the expiratory sounds.

Front 41

wheeze

Back 41

a whistling noise with a high pitch, generated by air flowing through narrowed airways