Physical Exam: Vasculature

I. Blood Pressure

• Reflects relationship between cardiac output, peripheral vascular resistance, blood volume and viscosity and arterial elasticity
• Factors influencing Blood Pressure: age, stress, race, drugs, diurnal (day-night) variations, gender
• Alterations in Blood Pressure: Hypotension, Hypertension
• Range of Normal Blood Pressure:

1. Child under age 2 weighing at least 2700 grams - use flush technique, 30-60 mmHg
2. Child over age two - 85-95/50-65 mmHg
3. School age - 100-110/50-65 mmHg
4. Adolescent - 110-120/65-85 mmHg
5. Adult - <130 mmHg systolic/ <85 mmHg diastolic

Common Mistakes during Upper Extremity Blood Pressure Checks

• Too wide bladder or cuff produces false low reading
• Too narrow bladder or cuff produces false high reading
• Cuff wrapped too loosely produces false high reading
• Deflating cuff too slowly produces false high reading
• Deflating cuff too quickly produces false low systolic and false high diastolic reading
• Inaccurate inflation level produces false low systolic reading
• Taking the blood pressure in lower extremities

Peripheral Blood Pressure Measurement in the Legs

• Use the popliteal artery behind knee as stethoscope ausculatory site
• Position the client prone or sitting with knees slightly flexed
• Use wide, long cuff; wrap it so that the bladder is over the posterior aspect of midthigh
• Systolic blood pressures in legs are 20-40 mmHg higher than in the brachial artery
• Diastolic pressure in the legs is about the same as in the brachial artery

II. Internal Carotid Arteries in the Neck

• Palpate each separately along margin of sternocleidomastoid muscle
• Normal findings: strong thrusting pulse
• Auscultate both sides
• Normal findings: no sound heard
• Constriction cause bruit

III. Jugular Veins

• Client in supine position with head elevated at 45 degrees
• Normal findings: pulsations not evident
• Jugular Venous Pressure (JVP): not to exceed 3 cm above level of sternal angle

IV. Peripheral Arteries and Veins

PULSE

Location of Pulses

Head and Neck

• Temporal: over temporal bone lateral to eye
• Carotid: over the carotid artery in neck

Chest

• Apical: between 4th and 5th intercostal space usually mid-clavicular line

Arm

• Brachial: in anterocubital area of arm
• Radial: on thumb side of wrist
• Ulnar: medial wrist

Leg

• Femoral: below the inguinal ligament
• Popliteal: behind knee
• Posterior Tibial: on inner side of each ankle
• Dorsalis Pedis: along top of foot

Normal Peripheral Pulse Range

• Infants: 120-160 beats per minute
• Toddlers: 90-140 beats per minute
• Preschool/School-age: 74-110 beats per minute
• Adolescent/Adult: 60-100 beaths per minute

Factors Affecting Rate

• Exercise
• Temperature
• Stress
• Drugs
• Hemorrhage
• Postural changes
• Pulmonary conditions causing poor oxygenation

Rhythm - regular (normal) or irregular

Strength

• Reflects volume of blood ejected with each beat
• Grading system

Pulse Grading Scale

• No Pulse = 0
• Weak Pulse = 1+
• Difficult to Palpate = 2+
• Normal = 3+
• Bounding = 4+

Equality

Alterations

Dysrhythmias

Tissue Perfusion

• Temperature
• Color: cyanosis
• Clubbing
• Skin and nail texture
• Hair distribution on lower extremities
• Presence of ulcers
• Edema

Pittine Edema Grading Scale

• 4+ = Indentation of >10 mm; greater than 1 inch (Severe)
• 3+ = Indentation of 5-10 mm; 1/2 to 1 inch pitting (Severe)
• 2+ = Indentation of <5mm; 1/4 to 1/2 inch pitting (Moderate)
• 1+ = Barely detectable; 0 to 1/4 inch pitting (Mild)

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

• Compare blood pressure in arms left versus right
• Compare blood pressure with client lying, sitting and standing

Physical Exam: Heart

I. Assess the heart through the anterior thorax (front chest)
II. Inspection and palpation

• Client in supine position or with head elevated at 45 degrees
• Anatomical landmarks of the heart: 

1. Second Right Intercostal Space - Aortic Area
2. Second Left Intercostal Space - Pulmonic Area 
3. Third Left Intercostal Space - Erb's Point
4. Fourth Left Intercostal Space - Tricuspid Area
5. Fifth Left Intercostal Space - Mitral (Apical) Area
6. Epigastric Area at tip of sternum

• Apical Impulse:

1. 4-5th Left intercostal space, midclavicular line
2. may or may not be seen
3. normally a short, gentle tap

III. Auscultation

• Client takes 3 positions: sitting, supine, left lateral recumbent
• Use stethoscope to auscultate heart sounds
• S1 - closing of the mitral valve; after long diastolic pause; before short systolic pause; heard best at apex
• S2 - closing of aortic valve; after short systolic pause; before long diastolic pause; heard best over aorta (second right intercostal space)
• Pulse deficit
• Murmurs

1. Grading system
2. Asymptomatic or symptomatic
3. Thrill
4. Systolic murmur occurs between S1 and S2
5. Diastolic occurs between S2 and S1

Classifying Heart Murmurs by Intensity

• Grade I: Difficult to hear, even with stethoscope
• Grade II: Quiet, heard with stethoscope
• Grade III: Moderately loud, no thrill
• Grade IV: Loud, may have a thrill
• Grade V: Very loud, heard with a stethoscope partially off chest; has thrill
• Grade VI: Can be heard with a stethoscope off the chest; has thrill 

Physical Exam: Skin

General Appearance - Inspection
I. Color

• Varies with body part, and from person to person
• Color ranges: "white" skin - ivory or light pink to ruddy pink; dark skin - light to dark brown or olive

II. Alterations in Skin Color

• Hyperpigmentation
• Hypopigmentation
• Cyanosis
• Jaundice
• Erythema

III. Moisture

IV. Temperature

V. Texture: Varies from part to part

• Smooth or rough
• Supple or tight
• Indurated

VI. Turgor

• Normally decreases with age
• Decreased in dehydration

VII. Vascularity

• In older people. capillaries are more fragile
• Petechiae

VIII. Edema

IX. Lesions

• Normal Finding: free of lesions
• Age-related changes include keratosis senilis, cherry angiomas, and atrophic warts
• Primary Lesions:

1. Macule - discolored spot or patch on the skin, neither elevated nor depressed, of various colors, sizes, and shapes
2. Papule - small, red, elevated area on the skin, solid and circumscribed; a pimple
3. Patch - small circumscribed area distinct from the surrounding surface in character and appearance
4. Plaque - patch on the skin or on a mucous surface
5. Vesicle - small sac or bladder containing fluid; a blisterlike small elevation on the skin containing serous fluid
6. Bulla - large blister or skin vesicle filled with fluid; a bleb
7. Pustule - small elevation of the skin filled with lymph or pus
8. Nodule - small node

• Secondary Lesions: (arise from primary)

1. scale
2. crust
3. lichenification
4. scar
5. excoriation
6. ulcer
7. fissure
8. keloid
9. erosion

• For every lesions, note eight (8) aspects

1. color
2. location
3. texture
4. size
5. shape
6. type
7. grouping
8. distribution

X. Hair

• Hirsutism
• Alopecia

XI. Nails

XII. Factors Affecting Skin Condition

• Hygiene
• Nutritional status
• Underlying disorders

XIII. Geriatric Changes in Skin (besides wrinkling, and loss/graying of both head and body hair)

• Thinner skin
• More freckles
• Hypopigmented patches
• Skin is drier, especially on lower extremities
• Less perspiration
• All skin becomes less elastic; hanging parts sag
• Toenails may be thick, distorted and yellowish
• Lesions: cherry angiomas, senile keratosis, atrophic warts

Physical Exam: Mouth and Pharynx

I. Inspection: Normal findings

• Temporomandibular joint: smooth jaw excursion; easy mobility
• Lips and buccal mucosa: symmetrical, pink; smooth and moist
• Teeth and gums: 32 adult teeth; pink gums
• Tongue: symmetry, pink, moist; papilla present
• Hard and soft palate: hard palate is pale, immovable with transverse rugae; soft palate is pink and movable
• Oropharynx: symmetrical; midline uvula, tonsils may be present on either side

II. Geriatric Alterations

• Mucosa may be drier
• Sense of taste may be diminished
• Decreased saliva
• Lips thinner, shiny
• Teeth may appear yellowish
• Tongue may appear smoother

Physical Exam: Ears

PhotoCredit: Superstock.co.uk

I. History

• Presenting problem or injury
• Presence of hearing loss
• Use of hearing assist
• Associated findings
• Onset
• Precipitating factors
• Aggravating and alleviating factors
• Lifestyle factors: swimming, musician
• Medical history
• Family history of allergy or hearing disease
• Medications

II. Inspection - External Ear

• Observe size, shape and symmetry of both ears
• Auricles are normally level with each other, and upper point of attachment is in a straight line with the lateral canthus of the eye
• Inspect ear skin for color, lesions, rash and scaling
• Inspect area behind auricle for tophus (a deposit of sodium biurate in tissues near a joint, in the ear, or in bone in gout)

III. Palpation

• Palpate auricle, tragus and mastoid area for tenderness and elevated local temperature
• Normal findings: auricle is normally smooth without lesions
• Estimate size of external auditory meatus

IV. Otoscopic Examination

• Adult: Grasp auricle and pull UP and BACK to straighten external ear canal before inserting otoscope
• Child: Grasp auricle and pull DOWN and BACK
• Inspect ear canal for redness, swelling, discharge, crusting and foreign bodies
• Expect a small amount of moist, usually orange cerumen (ear wax). Cerumen is usually dry in Asians, Native Americans and the elderly
• Tympanic Membrane: 

1. Normal Finding: translucent, shiny, light gray, taut disk; free from tears or breaks
2. Test its mobility: Ask client to say "ah" or swallow. Intact membrane will vibrate slightly

V. Hearing Acuity: Four Tests

1. Gross hearing is tested by client's response to normal conversation
2. Whispered words or ticking watch test
3. Weber Test: Tuning fork of 512 cps is set to vibrate and placed perpendicularly on the midline vertex of the skull. Client asked to report in which ear sound is heard. If heard in one ear, suspect sensorineural loss in the other
4. Rinne Test: Compares sound conduction - air versus bone 

• Set tuning fork to vibrate
• Place on mastoid process
• Ask client whether the sound is heard and when it can no longer be heard. Note how long the sound can be heard
• When client states that sound  is gone, immediately move the tuning fork to about 2 cm from auditory canal
• Ask the client again whether there is sound and when it stops 
• Normal finding: latter sound should be heard twice as long as that of mastoid sound

VI. Geriatric Alterations

• Ear lobes may appear pendulous
• Presbycusis

Physical Exam: Eyes

PhotoCredit: superstock.com

I. History

• Current findings
• Past problems
• Family History - Glaucoma, Cataracts
• Harmful Exposure - Chemical Sunlight

II. Physical Exam

• Vision Test
• Extraocular Muscle Functions (EOMs)
• External Eye Structures
• Internal Eye Structures and Red Reflex
• Optic Disc
• Retinal Vessels

III. Geriatric Alterations of Eye

• Arcus Senilis - Opaque white ring about the periphery of the cornea, seen in aged persons; caused by the deposit of fat granules in the cornea or by hyaline degeneration
• Pupils often miotic (smaller) with slower dilatation
• Iris may appear paler
• Retina may appear paler
• Disc may be slightly smaller and more opaque
• Presbyopia
• Color perception may be dimmed

Top 10 Performing Schools in July 2011 Nursing Licensure Exam

1. CEBU NORMAL UNIVERSITY (CEBU STATE COLLEGE) 181/181 - 100.00%; WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITYLA PAZ 161/161 - 100.00%; UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA 57/57 - 100.00%
2. UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS 468/469 - 99.79%
3. TRINITY UNIVERSITY OF ASIA (TRINITY-QC) 388/389 - 99.74%
4. CHINESE GENERAL HOSPITAL COLLEGE OF NURSING & LIBERAL ARTS 338/339 99.71%
5. SAINT PAUL UNIVERSITY-ILOILO 127/128 - 99.22%
6. SAINT PAUL UNIVERSITY-DUMAGUETE 103/104 - 99.04%
7. SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY 593/602 - 98.50%
8. UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST RAMON MAGSAYSAY MEM MEDICAL CTR 314/320 - 98.13%
9. MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITYILIGAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 94/96 - 97.92%
10. DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-HEALTH SCIENCES INSTITUTE 267/273 - 97.80%