Physical Exam Signs

Front 1

Allen test

Back 1

(to check if ulnar artery is patent) have patient make a fist and occlude both radial and ulnar arteries; then have patient open hand while maintaining pressure on radial artery

Front 2

Apley test; Apley grind test

Back 2

Determination of meniscal tear in the knee by grinding the joint manually

Front 3

Argyll robertson pupil

Back 3

Bilaterally small irregular unequal pupils that react to accommodation but not to light (Tertiary syphilis)

Front 4

Auzpitz sign

Back 4

Pinpoint bleeding after removal of a psoriasis scale

Front 5

Austin flint murmur

Back 5

Late diastolic mitral murmur; associated with aortic insufficiency with a normal mitral valve

Front 6

Babinski sign

Back 6

extension of the large tow with stimulation of the palmar surface of the foot instead of the normal flexion; indicative of UMN disease (normal in neonates)

Front 7

Bambridge reflex

Back 7

increased heart rate due to increased right atrial pressure

Front 8

Battle sign

Back 8

Ecchymosis behind the ear associated with basilar skull fracture

Front 9

Beau lines

Back 9

Transverse depressions in nails due to previous systemic disease

Front 10

Becks triad

Back 10

JVD, diminished or muffled heart sounds, and decreased BP associated with cardiac tamponade

Front 11

Bell palsy

Back 11

LMN lesion of the facial nerve affecting the muscles of upper and lower face. <UMN lesions primarily affect muscles of the lower face>

Front 12

Bergman triad

Back 12

Altered mental status, petechiae, and dyspnea associated with fat embolus syndrome

Front 13

Biot breathing

Back 13

abruptly alternating apnea and equally deep breaths (seen with brain injury)

Front 14

Bisferous pulse

Back 14

Double peaked pulse seen in severe chronic aortic insufficiency

Front 15

Bitot spots

Back 15

Small scleral white patches suggesting Vitamin A deficiency

Front 16

Blumberg sign

Back 16

Pain felt in abdomen when steady constant pressure is quickly released (seen with peritonitis)

Front 17

Blumer shelf

Back 17

Palpable harness on rectal examination, due to metastatic cancer of the rectouterine pouch (pouch of Douglas) or rectovesicle pouch

Front 18

Bouchard nodes

Back 18

Hard nontender painless nodules in the dorsolateral aspect of the proximal interphalangeal joints associated with osteoarthritis caused by hypertrophy of the bone

Front 19

Branham sign

Back 19

Abrupt slowing of the heart rate with compression of the feeding artery (seen with large A-V fistula)

Front 20

Brudzinski sign

Back 20

Flexion of the neck causing flexion of the hips (seen in meningitis)

Front 21

Chadwick sign

Back 21

Bluish color of the cervix and vagina, seen with pregnancy (Estrogen causes venous congestion)

Front 22

Chandelier sign

Back 22

Extreme pain elicited with movement of the cervix during bimanual pelvic examination (indicates PID)

Front 23

Charcot triad

Back 23

RUQ pain, fever, and chills, and jaundice associated with cholangitis

Front 24

Cheyne-Stokes respiration

Back 24

Repeating cycle of a gradual increase in depth of breathing followed by a gradual decrease to apnea (Seen with CNS disorders, uremia, some normal sleep patterns)

Front 25

Chvostek sign

Back 25

Facial spasm elicited by tapping over the facial nerve, indicating HYPOcalcemia (tetany); may be a normal finding in some patients

Front 26

Corrigan pulse

Back 26

Palpable hard pulse immediately followed by sudden collapse (seen in aortic regurg)

Front 27

Cullen sign

Back 27

Ecchymosis around the umbilicus associated with severe intraperitoneal bleeding (seen with ruptured ectopic pregnancy and hemorrhagic pancreatitis)

Front 28

Cushing triad

Back 28

HTN, bradycardia, and irregular respiration associated with increased intracranial pressure

Front 29

Darier sign

Back 29

Erythema and edema elicited by stroking of the skin, indicating mastocytosis

Front 30

Doll eyes

Back 30

Conjugated movement of eyes of comatose patients in one direction as head is briskly turned in opposite direction. Tests oculocephalic reflex indicating intact brain stem

Front 31

Drawer sign

Back 31

Forward or backward movement of the tibia with pressure, indicating laxity or a tear in the anterior (or posterior) cruciate ligament

Front 32

Dupuytren contracture

Back 32

Proliferation of fibrosis tissue of the palmar fascia resulting in contracture of the fourth and/or fifth digits; often bilateral. May be hereditary or seen in patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease or seizures

Front 33

Duroziez sign

Back 33

To and fro murmur when stethoscope is pressed over the femoral artery; indicating aortic regurgitation

Front 34

Electrical alternans

Back 34

Beat to beat variation in the electrical axis (seen in large pericardial effusions) suggesting impending hemodynamic compromise

Front 35

Ewart sign

Back 35

Dullness to percussion, increased fremitus and bronchial breathing beneath the angle of the left scapula, indicating pericardial effusion

Front 36

Fong lesion/syndrome

Back 36

Autosomal dominant anomalies of the nails and patella associated with renal abnormalities

Front 37

Frank sign

Back 37

Fissure of the ear lobe; may be assocaited with CAD, DM, and HTN

Front 38

Gibbus

Back 38

Angular convexity of the spine due to vertebral collapse (associated with osteoporosis or metastasis)

Front 39

Gregg triad

Back 39

Cataracts, heart defects, and deafness with congenital rubella

Front 40

Grey turner sign

Back 40

Ecchymosis in the flank associated with retroperitoneal hemorrhage

Front 41

Grocco sign

Back 41

Triangular area of paravertebral dullness, opposite side of a pleural effusion

Front 42

Heberden nodes

Back 42

Hard, nontender, painless nodules on the dorsolateral aspects of the distal interphalangeal joints associated with osteoarthritis, results from hypertrophy of the bone

Front 43

Hegar sign

Back 43

softening of the distal uterus, reliable early sign of pregnancy

Front 44

Hollenhorst plaque

Back 44

cholesterol plaque on retina seen on fundoscopic examination <associated with amaurosis fugal- transient monocular vision loss>

Front 45

Hill sign

Back 45

Femoral artery pressure 20mmHg greater than brachial pressure (seen in severe aortic regurgitation)

Front 46

Hoffman sign/reflex

Back 46

Flicking of the volar surface of the distal phalanx causing fingers to flex (associated with pyramidal tract disease)

Front 47

Homan sign

Back 47

Calf pain with forcible dorsiflexion of the foot (associated with DVT)

Front 48

Horner syndrome

Back 48

unilateral miosis, ptosis, and anhydrosis (absence of sweating) from destruction of ipsilateral superior cervical ganglia often from lung carcinoma, especially squamous cell carcinoma

Front 49

Janeway lesion

Back 49

Erythematous or hemorrhagic lesions seen on the palm or sole with subacute bacterial endocarditis

Front 50

Joffrey reflex

Back 50

inability to wrinkle the forehead when bending head and looking up (seen in hyperthyroidism)

Front 51

Kayser fleischer rings

Back 51

Brown pigment lesions due to copper deposition (seen in wilson disease)

Front 52

Kehr sign

Back 52

Left shoulder and LUQ pain associated with splenic rupture

Front 53

Kernig sign

Back 53

inability to completely extend the leg when the thigh is flexed at a right angle, caused by inflammation of the meninges (seen w/ meningitis)

Front 54

Koplik spots

Back 54

White papules on buccal mucosa opposite molars (seen in measles)

Front 55

Korotkoff sounds

Back 55

Low pitched sounds resulting from vibration of the artery detected when measuring BP with the bell of a stethoscope. The last korotkoff sound is a more accurate estimate of the true diastolic BP than is diastolic BP measured with the diaphragm

Front 56

Kussmaul respiration

Back 56

Deep, rapid respiratory pattern (seen in coma or DKA)

Front 57

Kussmaul sign

Back 57

Paradoxical increase in jugular venous pressure on inspiration (seen in constrictive pericarditis, mediastinal tumor, right ventricular infarction, acute cor pulmonale, and CHF)

Front 58

Kyphosis

Back 58

Excessive rounding of the thoracic spinal convexity, associated with aging, especially in women

Front 59

Lasegue sign/straight leg raising sign

Back 59

Pain in the distribution of nerve root when a patient extended in the supine position raises the leg gently; suggests lumbar disk disease

Front 60

Levine sign

Back 60

Clenched fist over the chest while describing chest pain (associated with angina and AMI)

Front 61

Lhermitte sign

Back 61

Neck flexion results in a "shock sensation" (seen in multiple sclerosis and cervical spine problems)

Front 62

List

Back 62

Lateral tilt of the spine; usually associated with herniated disk and muscle spasm

Front 63

Lordosis

Back 63

Accentuated normal concavity of the lumbar spine, normal in pregnancy

Front 64

Louvel sign

Back 64

coughing or sneezing causes pain in the leg with DVT

Front 65

Marcus gunn pupil

Back 65

Dilation of pupils with swinging flashlight test. Results from unilateral optic nerve disease. when light is flashed into affected eye there is no consensual pupillary dilation

Front 66

McBurney point/sign

Back 66

Point located one third of the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to the umbilicus on the right (tenderness at the site is associated with acute appendicitis)

Front 67

McMurray test

Back 67

Palpable or audible click on the joint line produced by external rotation of the foot, suggesting medial meniscal injury

Front 68

Mobius sign

Back 68

Inability to maintain convergence; seen in thyrotoxicosis

Front 69

Moro reflex (Startle reflex)

Back 69

Abduction of hips and arms with extension of arms when infant's head and upper body are suddenly dropped several inches while being held. Normal reflex in infancy

Front 70

Murphy sign

Back 70

Severe pain and inspiratory arrest with palpation of the RUQ during deep inspiration (associated with cholecystitis)

Front 71

Musset or de Musset sign

Back 71

Rhythmic nodding or movement of the head with each heart beat, caused by blood flow back in the heart; secondary to aortic insufficiency

Front 72

Obturator sign

Back 72

Hypogastric pain elicited by flexion and internal rotation of the thigh in cases of inflammation of the obturator internus (present with pelvic abscess and appendicitis)

Front 73

Ortolani test/sign

Back 73

Hip click that suggests congenital hip dislocation;
test: with the infant supine, point the legs toward you and flex the legs to 90 degrees at the hips and knees

Front 74

Osler node

Back 74

Tender, red raised lesions on the hands or feet (seen with subacute bacterial endocarditis)

Front 75

Pancoast tumor

Back 75

Carcinoma involving apex of lung, resulting in arm and or shoulder pain from involvement of brachial plexus and horner syndrome from involvement of the superior cervical ganglion

Front 76

Pastia lines

Back 76

Linear striations of confluent petechiae in axillary folds and antecubital fossa, seen in scarlet fever

Front 77

Phalen test

Back 77

Prolonged maximum flexion of wrists while opposing dorsum of each hand against each other. A positive result is pain and tingling in the distribution of the median nerve (seen in carpal tunnel syndrome)

Front 78

Psoas sign (Ilopsoas sign)

Back 78

Flexion against resistance or extension of the right hip producing pain; seen with inflammation of the psoas muscle (present with appendicitis)

Front 79

Pulsus alternans

Back 79

Fluctuation of pulse pressure with every other beat (seen in aortic stenosis and CHF)

Front 80

Quekenstedt test

Back 80

Compression of the jugular vein during lumbar puncture to determine potency of the subarachnoid space; normal result is immediate increase in CSF pressure

Front 81

Quincke sign

Back 81

Alternating blushing and blanching of the fingernail bed after light compression (Seen in chronic aortic regurgitation)

Front 82

Radovici sign

Back 82

Chin contractions caused by scratching of the palm; a frontal release sign (frontal lobe affected... normal in infancy)

Front 83

Raynaud phenomenon/disease

Back 83

Pain and tingling in fingers after exposure to cold with characteristic color changes of white to blue and then often red. May be seen with scleroderma and SLE or be idiopathic (Raynaud disease)

Front 84

Romberg test

Back 84

Patient stands with heels and toes together with arms outstretched palms facing up or down or arms at sides. The examiner lightly taps the patient, first with the eyes open and then closed. A + result is the patients loss of balance. Indicates cerebellar dysfunction (w/ eyes open); with eyes closed indicates loss of position sense

Front 85

Roths spots

Back 85

Oval retinal hemorrhages with a pale central area occurring in patients with bacterial endocarditis

Front 86

Rovsing sign

Back 86

Pain in the RLQ with deep palpation of the LLQ (seen in acute appendicitis)

Front 87

Schmorl node

Back 87

Degeneration of the intervertebral disk resulting in herniation into the adjacent vertebral body

Front 88

Scoliosis

Back 88

Lateral curvature of the spine

Front 89

Sentinel loop

Back 89

A single dilated loop of small or large bowel, usually secondary to localized inflammation such as pancreatitis

Front 90

Sister Mary joseph sign/node

Back 90

Metastatic cancer to umbilical lymph node

Front 91

Stellwag sign

Back 91

Infrequent ocular blinking (associated with exophthalmos- graves dz)

Front 92

Tinel sign

Back 92

Radiation of an electric shock sensation in the distal distribution of the median nerve elicited by percussion of the flexor surface of the wrist when fully extended (seen in carpal tunnel syndrome)

Front 93

Traube sign

Back 93

Booming or pistol shot sounds heard over the femoral arteries in chronic aortic insufficiency

Front 94

Trendelenburg test

Back 94

Patient shifts weight from one leg to the other while being observed from behind; a pelvic tilt to opposite side suggests hip disease and weakness of the gluteus medius muscle- a normal pelvis does not tilt

Front 95

Trousseau sign

Back 95

Carpal spasm produced by inflation of a BP cuff above the systolic pressure for 2-3 min; indicates HYPOcalcemia of migratory thrombophlebitis associated with cancer

Front 96

Turner sign

Back 96

"grey turner sign"

Front 97

Virchow node (signal or sentinel node)

Back 97

A palpable left supraclavicular lymph node; often first sign of a GI neoplasm, such as pancreatic or gastric carcinoma

Front 98

Von Graefe sign

Back 98

Lid lag associated with thyrotoxicosis

Front 99

Weber Rinne test

Back 99

Weber= place a 512 or 1024 Hz tuning fork on the middle of the patients skull to determine if sound lateralizes.
Rinne= place tuning fork on mastoid process (BC) with the opposite ear covered; when sound is gone hold tuning fork next to ear and patient indicates with sound disappears (AC); AC is better than BC
*Sensorinerual loss= weber test lateralizes to less affected ear (AC>BC)
*Conduction hearing loss= weber test lateralizes to more affected ear (BC>AC)

Front 100

Whipple triad

Back 100

Hypoglycemia, CNS, and vasomotor symptoms (Diaphoresis, syncope) relief of symptoms w. glucose (assoc with insulinoma)