PHYSICAL DIAGNOSIS FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
CHAPTER 2: HEAD and NECK
EYE
SYMPTOMS:
- SUDDEN LOSS of VISION: Potential Causes
- AMAUROSIS FUGAX: Temporary,
monocular, ischemic blindness.
- Painless
- Caused bu
ipsilateral Carotid stenosis or embolization of the retinal artery.
- RETINAL DETACHMENT: Flashing lights,
floating halos, and blurry vision before the blindness is
indicative of retinal detachment.
- UVEITIS: Inflammation of
uveal tract -- iris, ciliary body, and choroid.
- Always painful
- Associated with
multiple diseases: connective tissue diseases, histoplasmosis,
sarcoidosis, tuberculosis.
- GRADUAL LOSS of VISION: Potential Causes
- CATARACTS: Opacities of the
lens, occurring with age.
- GLAUCOMA: Increased
intraocular pressure.
- It is the most
common reason for loss of vision over age 50.
- MACULAR DEGENERATION: Secondary to
Diabetes, and expected to cause visual blindness.
- OPTIC NERVE
COMPRESSION: Caused by an intracranial neoplasm, or pituitary adenoma.
- OPTIC NEUROPATHY
(Optic Neuritis): Multiple Sclerosis, and
drugs such as Ethambutol, Methanol, can all cause optic neuritis and
gradual blindness.
- PRESBYOPIA: Gradual loss of
ability of Accommodation for near-vision, occurring with age.
- CORTICAL BLINDNESS: Infarct of the
Occipital Lobe can lead to cortical blindness. Patient will have
binocular blindness, but will retain the pupillary light reflex
which is unaffected.
- DIPLOPIA: Double vision.
- Monocular Diplopia: Should suggest
corneal or lens problem.
- Binocular Diplopia: Indicative of
cranial nerve palsy or ocular muscle problems, or a brainstem problem.
- Myasthenia Gravis
(MG): Diplopia without pain is often the presenting complaint in MG.
- EYE PAIN:
- The cornea is
innervated by the Ophthalmic Nerve, CN V1.
- Possible causes of
eye pain
- CNS problems affecting
CN V1: Meningitis, cavernous sinus thrombosis, aneurysms,
migraine
- Adjacent structures:
sinus problems
- Eye problems /
inflammations: Conjunctivitis, stye, chalazion
- Photophobia: Eye pain upon
exposure to light, indicative of
- SCOTOMATA: Specific islands or
spots of impaired vision; an impaired visual field.
EYELIDS:
- PTOSIS: Droopy eyelids;
failure of lids to open fully.
- Caused by failure of levator
palpebrae, innervated by CN III, or failure of Tarsal Muscle, innervated
by sympathetics.
- Some causes: Horner's
Syndrome, Myasthenia Gravis, Encephalitis
- LID LAG: Evidence of white
sclera between the iris and upper lid margin. This is normally not found.
- It is a sign of Grave's
Disease
- STYE: Small abscess caused
by infection of sebaceous glands of Zeis.
- CHALAZION: Acute inflammation of
the meibomian gland.
SCLERA:
- SCLERITIS: Inflammation of the
sclera, visible as brown / red infiltrates in sclera on gross
examination. Found in autoimmune and collagen vascular diseases, such as SLE,
RA.
- BLUE SCLERA: Pathognomonic of Osteogenesis
Imperfecta.
- Results from very
thin sclera in which the choroid shows through.
- BROWN SCLERA: Found in disorder Alkaptonuria
(metabolic disorder)
- YELLOW SCLERA: Found in Jaundice.
It should raise the question of liver disease or hemolytic anemia.
EXOPHTHALMOS: Eyes jutting out past eyelids. A sign of Grave's disease, acromegaly,
and cavernous sinus thrombosis.
CORNEA:
- KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS
(KERATITIS) SICCA: Found in Sjögren's Syndrome,
resulting from autoantibodies against salivary glands resulting in no
salivary secretion.
- Classic triad of
symptoms with Sjögren's Syndrome:
- Keratitis Sicca (dry
eyes)
- Xerostomia (dry
mouth)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- INTERSTITIAL
KERATITIS: A sign of congenital syphilis.
- Hutchinson's Triad: Triad of
interstitial keratitis, deafness, and notched teeth is classical
evidence for congenital syphilis.
- ARCUS SENILIS: Gray band of opacity
around the cornea.
- KAYSER-FLEISCHER
RINGS: Copper in Descemet's Membrane.
- Circular bands of
brownish pigment on lateral and medial margins of cornea.
- Found in Wilson's
Disease
- PINGUECULAE: Small, yellowish
elevations of the conjunctivae, which appear brown in Gaucher's disease.
It is caused by hyaline degeneration of conjunctival tissue.
- ANISOCORIA: Unequal
pupils, caused by miosis or mydriasis of one pupil.
PUPILS:
- MARCUS GUNN PUPIL: A pupil that dilates
(rather than constricts) as light swings toward it.
- It indicates either
severe macular disease or optic nerve disease in the affected eye.
- PUPILLARY REFLEXES:
- Absent Direct Reflex: Indicates a problem
with the afferent branch (Trigeminal V1) of the reflex.
- Absent Consensual
Reflex: Indicates a problem with the efferent branch (CN III,
Edinger-Westphal Nucleus) of the affected eye.
- CONVERGENCE: Ability of eyes to
focus inward and accommodate for near vision.
- Impaired convergence is seen with Grave's
Disease.
- ARGYLL ROBERTSON
PUPIL: Indicates a form of CNS Syphilis, Tabes Dorsalis.
- Weak or absent direct
pupillary reflex.
- Normal response to
accommodation.
- Failure of pupillary
dilation with painful stimulation or after atropine administration.
- ADIE'S PUPIL: Similar to Argyll
Robertson Pupil.
- Weak or absent direct
pupillary reflex.
- Impaired or absent
accommodation.
- Eye appears larger
than the other eye on inspection.
- MYDRIASIS: Abnormal dilation of
pupil, can occur in Diabetes.
- MIOSIS: Abnormal constriction
of pupil, seen in Horner's syndrome.
- HORNER'S SYNDROME: Lost sympathetics
from the Superior Cervical Plexus. Ptosis, Miosis, Anhydrosis.
NYSTAGMUS: Nystagmus is normal when looking in the periphery for extended times.
All other nystagmus is abnormal.
- Causes: Labyrinthitis,
MS, Wernicke-Korsakoff, Meniere's Disease
EXTRAOCULAR PALSIES:
- Internal Strabismus: Eye points in, due to
denervation of the Abducens, CN VI.
- External Strabismus: Eye points out and
down, due to denervation of the Oculomotor, CN III.
- Eye points out
because of influence of Abducens (CN VI)
- Eye points down
because of influence of Trochlear (CN IV) ------> Superior Oblique
muscle.
VISUAL FIELD DEFICITS:
- BITEMPORAL HEMIANOPSIA:
Loss
of peripheral vision; tunnel vision, occurs with Pituitary Tumor.
- HOMONYMOUS
HEMIANOPSIA: Loss of same visual field in both eyes. Occurs due to lesion in
Optic Tract.
- QUADRANT HEMIANOPSIA: Lesion in the optic
radiations.
FUNDUSCOPIC INSPECTION:
- RED REFLEX: Its absence indicates
a cataract.
- VESSELS:
- The veins are
normally slightly bigger than the arteries.
- ARTERIO-VENOUS (AV)
NICKING: Hypertension narrows the arteries and creates
indentations in the veins, where arteries cross the veins.
- MACULA: Dimmer, darker area
in fundoscope, containing the fovea.
- OPTIC DISC: Out of which vessels
travel. The brightest area of fundoscope.
- RETINOPATHOLOGIES:
- DIABETIC RETINOPATHY: Shows hard
exudates on the retina, which are lipid laden. They are dense,
well-defined creamy white spots.
- Cotton Wool Exudates
are
poorer defined and can occur with hypertension.
- PAPILLEDEMA: Swelling of retinal
vessels, from impaired venous return in the eye ------> venous
distension.
- Papilledema is
caused by increased intracranial pressure.
- Causes: Brain
tumors, malignant hypertension, hydrocephalus.
- As opposed to Pappilitis,
there is no loss of vision.
- HYPERTENSION: Changes in retina
are graded 1 thru 4. An abnormally high V/A ratio can be found,
indicating venous distension.
- Stage I: Arteriolar
narrowing but no AV-nicking.
- Stage II: Focal spasm, AV-nicking.
- Stage III: Hemorrhages and
exudates
- Stage IV: Papilledema,
Optic disc edema (due to ischemia) and hemorrhage, which can
lead to retinal detachment.
EAR
TINNITUS: Ringing in ear.
VERTIGO:
- Objective Vertigo: The earth is moving
around you.
- Subjective Vertigo: You are moving in
space.
RINNE TEST: Test for conductive hearing loss by comparing air conduction
to bone conduction.
- First hold tuning fork
right near auricle, then place it over the Mastoid Process.
- NORMAL: It should
sound louder near the auricle, because air conduction should be better
than straight bone conduction.
- ABNORMAL: If it sounds
louder over the mastoid process instead, that indicates a conductive
hearing loss in the middle ear.
WEBER TEST: Place tuning fork over head. It should be heard equally in both ears.
- ONE EAR IS LOUDER: If
one ear is louder, than there is either conductive hearing loss in that
ear or sensorineural hearing loss in the other ear.
MENIERE'S DISEASE: Triad of tinnitus, vertigo, and sensorineural
hearing loss. May see nausea, vomiting, nystagmus.
BENIGN POSITIONAL VERTIGO: Transient attacks of vertigo, induced by movements
of the head and trunk. Symptoms can be induced by having the patient merely think
about the movements.
NOSE
AND THROAT
NOSE:
- EPISTAXIS: Bloody nose.
- Transient Epistaxis: May occur with
forceful nose-blowing, sneezing, nose-picking, facial trauma.
- Recurrent Epistaxis: Differential
diagnosis = hypertension, coagulopathies, renal failure, cirrhosis, hereditary
hemorrhagic telangiectasia.
- RHINOPHYMA: Severe acne rosacea
found in association with skin hypertrophy and congestion of subcutaneous
tissue, around the nose.
THROAT:
- SOAR THROAT: Infection
mononucleosis, strep-throat (streptococcal pharyngitis).
- HOARSENESS: Larynigitis,
Laryngeal cancer, hypothyroidism, smoking ------> broncho-genic
carcinoma.
ABNORMAL TASTE:
- Hypoguesia: Impaired ability to
taste. Seen in URI's, glossitis, stomatitis.
- Dysguesia: Unpleasant taste.
Differential diagnosis:
- Medications: metronidazole
- Vitamin and mineral
deficiencies: zinc depletion
- Chyronic
hypercalcemia, hyperparathyroidism.
- Viral hepatitis
TONGUE:
- MACROGLOSSIA: Large tongue can
occur with amyloidosis and acromegaly.
- GLOSSITIS: Inflammation on
sides, base, and underside of tongue.
- Vitamin and mineral
deficincies
- Medications:
metronidazole, phenytoin
- Infections:
candidiasis
- Pernicious Anemia
- Cytotoxic drugs,
radiotherapy.
MOUTH EXAMINATION:
- ORAL ULCERS: Recurrent oral ulcers
differential diagnosis:
- Recurrent aphthous
ulcers (canker soars): Common, frequently associated with Inflammatory
Bowel Disease.
- Infections: HSV-1,
Herpes Zoster, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, syphillis.
- Trauma
- Cytotoxic drugs
- Rare: Erythema
Multiforme, Wegener's Granulomatosis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Reiter's
Syndrome
- SYNDROMES:
- PEUTZ-JEGHER'S
SYNDROME: Melanin spots on lips are found.
- OLIVER-WEBER-RENDU
SYNDROME: Telangiectasia, vascular lesion formed by
dilation of small group of blood vessels.
- KOPLIK'S SPOTS: White spots on the
buccal mucosa, indicative of the measles.
- STRAWBERRY TONGUE: Erythema of tongue,
occurs with scarlet fever.
CHAPTER 3: RESPIRATORY
PULMONARY SYMPTOMS:
- COUGH:
- Possible Causes of
Cough:
- Pulmonary /
Mechanical causes: Asthma, Irritants, aspiration
- Infectious: Tuberculosis,
Histoplasmosis, Pneumonia
- Temperature:
Inhaling cold air
- Pulmonary Embolism,
pulmonary edema.
- Non-Pulmonary:
external ear canal irritation.
- Details:
- Smoker's Cough usually occurs in
morning and is productive.
- Asthmatic Cough usually is
non-productive.
- SPUTUM: It is always
abnormal.
- PRODUCTIVE COUGHS are
seen in:
- Chronic Bronchitis,
Smoker's cough
- Bronchiectasis: chronically
dilated bronchioles.
- Large volume of
sputum, which separates into two or three layers upon standing.
- Tumors:
Bronchoalveolar Carcinoma
- Infections:
Pneumonia, tuberculosis, Lung Abscess
- Will usually see yellow
or green sputum.
- Pulmonary Edema
- HEMOPTYSIS:
- CAUSES:
- Most common: Bronchitis,
Bronchogenic Carcinoma, Pneumococcal Pneumonia
- More rare
infections:
- Tuberculosis: Age over 60,
crackles, few other symptoms
- Coccidiomycosis,
Histoplasmosis
- Other Tumors: Weight
loss, cigarettes, anorexia
- Rare Immune
Disorders: Goodpasture's Syndrome, Wegener's Granulomastosis
- Pulmonary Embolism:
- High V/Q Ratio.
Lots of ventilation, poor perfusion. Excessive dead space.
- Friction rub,
accentuated P2.
- Pleuritic chest
pain.
- MASSIVE HEMOPTYSIS = 600 mL in 24 hrs.
Usually associated with bronchiectasis, and may be
indicative of lung cancer or pulmonary
aspergillosis.
- PLEURITIC CHEST PAIN: Chest pain upon
breathing.
- PULMONARY CAUSES:
Bronchitis, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, tuberculosis, lung carcinoma.
- NON-PULMONARY CAUSES:
- Tietze's Syndrome
(Costochondritis): Superficial chest pain with local
tenderness.
- Tracheitis presents with retrosternal
chest pain, made worse by coughing.
- DYSPNEA: Difficult, labored
breathing.
- Differential
Diagnosis: A laundry list of possible causes
- Pulmonary Disease:
COPD, cancer, asthma, chronic or acute bronchitis, emphysema,
pneumonia, pulmonary emboli, pneumothorax
- Cystic Fibrosis:
Sweat test
- Cardiac causes: CHF,
Pulmonary edema, PND
- Hematologic: Anemia,
CO-Poisoning
- Metabolic:
Ketoacidosis
- Salicylate poisoning
- Symptoms: Dyspnea may
be masked by tachypnea (shallow, rapid breathing).
- Hyperpnea is not tachypnea --
it is hyperventilation (not labored breathing) usually caused by
metabolic acidosis and is unrelated to dyspnea. Distinguish the two
with pulmonary function studies.
- ORTHOPNEA: Dyspnea with onset
occurring while lying down, and which is immediately corrected upon
restoring upright position.
- Differential
Diagnosis: Congestive Heart Failure or COPD
- Also bilateral
paralysis of diaphragms.
- PAROXYSMAL NOCTURNAL
DYSPNEA (PND): Dyspnea at night, created by lying down, but which does not
immediately improve upon standing up. Patient feels acutely
air-hungry and frequently wakes up at night. Night sweats common.
- Differential
Diagnosis: Acute Pulmonary Edema secondary to congestive
heart failure.
- WHEEZING: High-pitched musical
breath sound usually heard on expiration, but can be heard on
inspiration.
- CAUSED by air rushing
past a constricted airway, constricted by secretions, mucous, edema,
neurogenic, a tumor, or an aspirated foreign body.
- Asthma: Wheezing is
characteristic of asthma.
- Silent Asthma is asthma without
wheezing.
- STRIDOR: High-pitched sound
occurring with inspiration.
- Stridor portends total
airway obstruction, a medical emergency.
- Acute Epiglottitis: H. Influenza infection
in kids. Stridor is characteristic. Have a chest-tube nearby
before examining epiglottis to prevent (or treat imminent) aspiration.
- CYANOSIS:
- Central Cyanosis: Face, lips, tongue.
Results from systemic hypoxia due to poor perfusion or ventilation in
the lungs.
- Peripheral Cyanosis: May be found in
extremities, ears, cheeks, etc. Can be caused by cold-induced
vasoconstriction (Raynaud's Phenomenon) or poor circulation (shock,
CHF).
- Differential
Diagnosis: Pulmonary hypoventilation, COPD
- Cardiac causes:
Shunt (Tetralogy of Fallot), pulmonary edema (cor pulmonale)
- RHINORRHEA: Nasal discharge
- CORYZA: Nasal discharge
caused by a viral upper respiratory tract infection.
FAMILY / SOCIAL HISTORY:
- Previous Tuberculosis
infection, PPD test.
- Poor dental hygiene is
a risk for a lung abscess.
- Environmental
exposures revealed in social history
- Travel
- Psittacosis: Exposure
to birds
- Legionellosis:
Exposure to water, air-conditioners
- Tobacco use
EXTRAPULMONARY EXAMINATION:
- HALITOSIS: Some possible causes
- Campylobacter Pylori colonization of
stomach
- Lung abscess or
bronchiectasis (foul-smelling, fecal breath-odor)
- Necrotic lesions of
mouth or throat
- Zenker's Diverticulum
- Clubbing of fingernails:
- Congenital Heart
Disease: Chronic hypoxia of VSD or Tetralogy, in kids.
- Adults: Systemic
hypoxia, lung cancer, bronchiectasis, mesothelioma.
- Chemosis: Conjunctival edema.
Hyperthyroidism or obstruction of SVC.
BREATHING:
- Bradypnea: Slow breathing rate
- Insulin Coma
- Drug-induced
respiratory depression
- Tachypnea: Rapid, shallow
breathing, caused by pleuritic chest pain or diseases that immobilize the
lung.
- Hyperpnea: Rapid, deep
breathing; hyperventilation.
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
compensation (to lower PCO2)
- KUSSMAUL
RESPIRATIONS: Central hyperventilation, deep rapid breaths characteristic of
Diabetic hyperglycemic coma.
- CHEYNE-STOKES
RESPIRATION: Cyclic alternations between apnea and hyperpnea, in which PCO2
fluctuates and is unstable. It occurs when the respiratory centers of the
brain become insensitive to changes in CO2
- ASSOCIATED DISEASES:
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Uremia, Meningitis, Pneumonia.
- BIOT'S BREATHING: Ataxic breathing;
unpredictable and irregular respirations.
- Caused by meningitis
or other cerebral dysfunction.
- SLEEP APNEA: Obesity, leading to
airway obstruction at night and chronic fatigue during the day. Treat
with CPAP.
INSPECTION:
- BACK SIDE:
- Buffalo Hump: Fatty deposit
overlying C7, characteristic of Cushing's Syndrome
- Barrel Chest: Chronically inflated
lungs characteristic of COPD.
- Kyphosis: Excessive anterior
curvature of spine, as in hunchback.
- Cause: normal or
from aging, osteoporosis.
- Scoliosis: Lateral curvature of
spine.
- May be detected by
patient bending forward and noting uneven paravertebral back muscles.
- Lordosis: Excessive posterior
curvature of spine. Bowing of lumbar and cervical spines together.
- Gibbus Deformity: Sharp change of angle
of spine instead of gradual change. Characteristic of Pott's Disease, or
Vertebral Tuberculosis
- FRONT SIDE
- Pectus Carinatum
(Pigeon Chest): Sternum placed forward, increased anteroposterior chest
measurement.
- Found in Marfan's
Syndrome, Rickets
- Pectus Excavatum
(Funnel-Chest): Lower end of sternum is depressed inward. May also be found in
Marfan's Syndrome or Rickets.
- Flail Chest: Caused by multiple
fractures ribs. One side of chest moves paradoxically relative to the
other side of the chest.
PALPATION: Assess chest excursion by placing fingers at costovertebral angle and
having patient inhale.
- Subcutaneous Emphysema: Air in subcutaneous
space. Can occur in tracheostomy patients, or people with ARDS who have
an endotracheal tube.
- Oliver's Sign: Tracheal tug when
patient lifts his chin up.
- Indicative of Aortic
Aneurysm, pulling trachea downward by pressure of left main bronchus.
- Tactile Fremitus: Vibration on lungs
when you have patient say "ninety-nine"
- Increased fremitus is
found with pulmonary consolidation in pneumonia.
- Fremitus cannot be
heard below the level of fluid in emphysema or pleural effusion, because
the fluid stops the sound from being transmitted further.
PNEUMOTHORAX: Trachea will shift toward opposite side as the pneumothorax.
The side of the pneumothorax acquires positive pressure, thus trachea deviates
to the other side.
- Tracheal Deviation: Tracheal deviation
can be caused by other things than pneumothorax.
- Pleural Effusion,
Emphysema may also cause trachea to deviate to the opposite side.
- Atelectasis of lung may cause
trachea to deviate toward same side as diseased lung.
- Tension Pneumothorax: Medical emergency in
which air enters the pleural cavity and is trapped during expiration
- Intrathoracic
pressure builds to values higher than atmospheric pressure, compresses the
lung, and may displace the mediastinum and its structures toward the
opposite side, with consequent disadvantageous effects on blood flow.
PERCUSSION:
- Resonance: Normal breath sound
- Hyperresonance: Increased resonance
over thorax.
- May be found in
Emphysema or Pneumothorax.
- Tympany: Percussion of gastric
air-bubble or air-filled bowel. Increased resonance.
- Dullness: Decreased resonance,
normally found over liver, spleen, and below lung.
- Causes: Emphysema,
Pneumonia with consolidation, pleural effusion.
- Flatness: Extreme dullness with
few or no ringing tones.
- Pleural effusions,
massive pulmonary consolidations with tumor, pneumonia.
AUSCULTATION:
- General Properties:
- Stethoscope Sounds:
Use the bell side to listen to breath sounds.
- Press lightly: hear
low-pitched sounds.
- Press hard: hear
high pitched sounds.
- Tracheal Breath
Sounds: Loud, harsh, high pitched.
- Bronchial Breath
Sounds: Loud, high-pitched with air swishing past.
- Bronchovesicular
Sounds: Heard near branching of main bronchi, combination of bronchial
and vesicular sounds.
- Vesicular Sounds: Soft, low-pitched,
airy, swishing, heard below the level of the bronchi.
- CRACKLES (RALES,
CREPITATIONS): Soft, short, high-pitched fine sounds.
- CAUSES: Congestive
heart failure, bronchitis, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, bronchiectasis.
- RHONCHUS: Snoring sound,
characteristic of Asthma. It indicates fluid or mucus in
airways.
- WHEEZE: On expiration,
squeaking high pitched sound, often audible to unaided ear.
- Caused by air passing
by obstructed airway.
- Characteristic of
Asthma, but also found in Emphysema, bronchitis.
- PLEURAL FRICTION RUB: Grating sound heard
during breathing that stops when the breath is held. Caused by friction
of visceral and parietal pleura.
- PULMONARY
CONSOLIDATION: Occurs with late-stage lobar pneumonia.
- BRONCHOPHONY: Increased
transmission of sound to the lung periphery. Indicative of pulmonary
consolidation.
- WHISPERED
PECTORILOQUY: Words being understood better when whispered. Also indicative
of pulmonary consolidation.
- EGOPHONY: "E" to
"A" sound-changes. Indicative of pulmonary consolidation or
pleural effusion.
- HAMMAN'S SIGN: Crunching, crackling
sound over chest heard synchronous with the heart beat. Occurs with mediastinal
emphysema -- air in the mediastinum.
- CAUSES: Can follow
thoracic surgery, trauma.
- Boerhaave's
Syndrome: Esophageal rupture causing air in mediastinum. Rare.
LUNG DISEASES:
- Asthma
- Atelectasis: Bronchial plug
------> decreased lung volume ------> higher lung density
------> lung mass is pulled toward chest wall by negative pressure
- Tracheal deviation
toward affected side
- crackles, maybe
- no breath sounds
- Bronchiectasis: Chronic bronchial
dilation.
- Caused by frequent
pulmonary infections or pneumonia.
- Large amounts of
sputum will be expectorated when patient lies prone hanging toward
floor.
- Bronchitis: Acute (infectious) or
chronic (smoker's)
- Bronchiolitis: Common in infants and
children.
- Lung Cancer
- Cor Pulmonale
- Croup: Kids under 3 years
old. Rapid, staccato coughs.
- Differential
Diagnosis is between inflammatory Croup or Spasmodic Croup.
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Pleural Effusion: Dullness on
percussion. Decreased fremitus. Reduced breath sounds.
- Emphysema
- Epiglottitis: In kiddies, don't
inspect the pharynx without an endotracheal tube nearby.
- Pneumonia
CHAPTER 4: CARDIAC
CARDIAC SYMPTOMS, HISTORY:
- CHEST PAIN
- ANGINA (ISCHEMIC
CARDIAC PAIN): Squeezing, crushing, strangling, constricting pain in center
of chest. Pain may radiate to left shoulder, left arm, right shoulder,
jaw.
- Stable (Typical)
Angina: Angina upon effort, or angina induced by increased blood
pressure or increased heart-rate. Angina is relieved by nitroglycerin,
although nitroglycerin is not specific to this type of angina.
- Levine's Sign: Patient makes
fist and holds it up to his chest, to describe the pain.
- Second-wind
Phenomenon: If patient repeats same activity after the attack, he may not
feel the attack again the second time.
- Walk-through Angina: The pain subsides
as patient continues the activity.
- Atypical Angina: Atypical
presentation of typical angina.
- Atypical Symptoms: Sharp or stabbing
pain, rather than crushing pain.
- Atypical Causes: Angina with change
in position, for example, rather than angina strictly upon effort.
- Angina Equivalents: Other symptoms
that are caused by myocardial ischemia.
- Exertional
dyspnea.
- Nausea,
indigestion.
- Dizziness,
sweating.
- Unstable Angina: Angina even at
rest, or angina that has recently gotten worse. It is associated with
sharply increased risk for myocardial infarct within 4 months.
- Angina Decubitus is a specific term
for angina occurring at rest.
- Variant Angina
(Prinzmetal Angina): Paradoxic angina occurring during
rest but usually not during exercise. It is caused by coronary
artery spasm. It can be hard to spot because it can coexist
with typical angina.
- Characteristic ECG
findings can help distinguish variant angina from typical angina.
- Nitroglycerin will
probably still relieve pain, as it relaxes coronary arteries.
- Myocardial Infarct: Typical
presentation = Unstable angina lasting longer than 15 minutes, that
is not relieved by nitroglycerin.
- Silent MI's and
MI's with atypical presentation do occur.
- NON-ISCHEMIC CARDIAC
PAIN:
- Mitral Valve
Prolapse: Usually asymptomatic, but may present with an intermittent,
sharp, sticking pain over left precordium.
- Pericarditis: The patient
feels relief by shallow breathing and by sitting up and leaning
forward.
- Dissecting Aneurysm: Sudden, severe
tearing pain, radiating to the abdomen, neck, or back, depending on
where the aneurysm is going.
- PLEURITIC (PULMONARY)
CHEST PAIN: Also see pulmonary study guide.
- Pulmonary Embolism: May be
asymptomatic, or the patient may feel a dull tightness if the embolus
is large enough.
- Paroxysmal Dyspnea is the most common
symptom of pulmonary embolism.
- Pleurisy: Pain upon
breathing. May be caused by pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, bronchitis,
or pleural effusion.
- Pulmonary
Hypertension: Dyspnea is a more common symptoms than pleuritic pain.
- Pneumothorax: Pain may be
confused with pain of an MI.
- Mediastinal
Emphysema: Free air in the mediastinum produces chest tightness and
dyspnea.
- Hamman's Sign: Crunching, rasping
sound heard synchronous with the heartbeat, indicative of mediastinal
emphysema.
- GASTROINTESTINAL
CHEST PAIN:
- Esophageal Spasm: Substernal chest
pain and dysphagia.
- Esophageal Reflux
(GERD): Chest pain relieved by antacids.
- Gallstone Colic: Colicky RUQ pain
radiating to back and to right shoulder. Occasionally it may be
confused with angina.
- CHEST WALL PAIN:
- TIETZE'S SYNDROME
(COSTOCHONDRITIS): Inflammation of Costochondral joints. Pain
is often localized and can be elicited by palpating the sternum over
the involved ribs.
- HERPES ZOSTER: Pain may precede
the appearance of the rash. Both pain and rash follow dermatomal
distribution.
- DACOSTA'S SYNDROME: Psychogenic pain
usually localized to the cardiac apex. May be associated with anxiety.
- May also see
palpitations, hyperventilation, dyspnea, weakness, depression, or
other signs of anxiety.
- Vertebral Column
Disease: It may occasionally lead to anterior chest pain.
- DYSPNEA: Air hunger or
difficulty breathing may be associated with cardiac diseases.
- EXERTIONAL DYSPNEA: Dyspnea on exertion
is a common symptom of mild or severe Congestive Heart Failure.
- DYSPNEA at REST:
- Pulmonary causes of dyspnea
(PE, COPD, pneumothorax) often occur at rest. With cardiac problems,
dyspnea usually does not occur at rest, or it is overshadowed by
angina.
- Anxiety Dyspnea: Difficulty
breathing due to anxiety occurs only at rest.
- ORTHOPNEA: Dyspnea occurring
with patient in the supine position. Orthopnea is a sign of Congestive
Heart Failure that is more severe than that associated
with exertional dyspnea.
- CAUSE: Supine
position increases pulmonary blood flow ------> exacerbate pulmonary
congestion and pulmonary edema. The problem is relieved by resuming a
more upright position.
- Two-Pillow,
Three-Pillow Orthopnea: Terms to describe the severity of the
orthopnea. Three pillow is worse than two-pillow.
- PAROXYSMAL NOCTURNAL
DYSPNEA (PND): Similar to orthopnea, except it has sudden onset and occurs
only after the patient has been lying down at rest for at least an hour.
- Unlike orthopnea, It
is not relieved immediately by sitting up.
- Patient is usually
able to return to sleep, eventually.
- PULMONARY EDEMA: Pulmonary edema is
usually a manifestation of left-ventricular heart failure. Peripheral
edema associated with CHF is a manifestation of right-sided heart
failure (Cor Pulmonale).
- SYMPTOMS: Severe
symptoms. Extreme anxiety, dyspnea, air hunger, cold sweats, fear of
impending death.
- SIGNS: Pink, frothy
sputum, and bubbly breath sounds.
- VALVULAR HEART
DISEASE: Mitral Stenosis is associated with dyspnea.
- CONGENITAL HEART
DISEASES:
- Tetralogy of Fallot: Exertional dyspnea
is common.
- Ventricular Septal
Defect: Tachypnea and sweating. Late cyanosis.
- CARDIAC -vs-
PULMONARY DYSPNEA:
- OTHER CAUSES OF
SHORTNESS OF BREATH:
- Kussmaul
Respiration: Intense hyperventilation (respiratory alkalosis) occurring
with Diabetic Ketoacidosis, as a compensatory
mechanism to relieve the metabolic acidosis.
- PALPITATIONS: An unpleasant
awareness of one's own heart-beat. Often described as fluttering, or
skipping a beat.
- Paroxysmal Atrial
Tachycardia: May cause palpitations with an instantaneous onset.
- Premature Ventricular
Contractions (PVC's): May be experienced as palpitations or a
skipped beat. The premature contraction is followed by a compensatory
pause, to allow for ventricular filling.
- FATIGUE: Non-specific finding
often found with heart disease.
- FATIGUE CAUSED BY
HEART DISEASE: It usually occurs later in the day or in the evening.
Fatigue early in the morning is usually not associated with heart
disease, unless the patient was aroused from REM sleep.
- The heart disease
gets worse, as the patient experiences onset of fatigue earlier in the
day.
- OTHER CAUSES OF
FATIGUE: Lots. Chronic illness of many types, anemia, psychological
causes.
- SYNCOPE: Fainting, transient
loss of consciousness.
- VASOVAGAL EVENTS: Most common cause
of syncope, it is caused by excessive stimulation of the Vagus nerve
------> excessive bradycardia and reduced blood-flow to the brain.
- Anxiety: It is usually
associated with acute anxiety or excessive emotion. The Vagal
hyperactivity is thought to be a hypersensitive response to sympathetic
outflow.
- CARDIOVASCULAR CAUSES:
- Arrhythmias:
- STOKES-ADAMS
SYNDROME: Syncope caused by reduced cardiac output secondary to an
arrhythmia.
- Both severe
tachycardia and bradycardia can reduce cardiac output, leading to
syncope. Severe tachycardia reduces cardiac output by reducing
ventricular filling time.
- Cardiac Outflow
Tract Obstruction:
- Aortic Stenosis may lead to
syncope.
- Myxomas, benign myocardial
tumors, may cause outflow obstruction and lead to syncope.
- Tetralogy of Fallot is associated with
fainting attacks.
- Myocardial Ischemia
- Carotid Sinus
Syncope: Hypersensitivity of the Carotid Sinus in elderly men
is common cause of syncope.
- Impaired Vasomotor
Reflexes: Impairment of Baroreceptors. Syncope is associated with
orthostatic hypotension.
- Decreased Blood
Volume
- FLUID REMOVAL:
- Micturition Syncope: Syncope occurring
with micturition but at no other time. Associated with removal of fluid
from the body.
- POST-TUSSIVE SYNCOPE: Syncope after a
bout of coughing, or after the Valsalva maneuver, may occur in patients
with COPD.
- HEMOPTYSIS: Mitral Valve
Stenosis is a cardiac disease that may cause hemoptysis. Mitral
Stenosis ------> pulmonary venous congestion ------> may lead to
hemoptysis.
- EDEMA:
- Pitting Edema is a common sign of
Congestive Heart Failure.
- Presacral Edema may be found in
bed-ridden patients, and may lead to decubitus ulcers.
- Anasarca: Severe generalized
edema and ascites, as seen in severe CHF, liver cirrhosis, or nephrotic
syndrome.
- Lymphedema may be caused
Filariasis or a tumor obstructing a lymphatic vessel.
- CYANOSIS: Presence of
excessive deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood. It becomes visible when
the concentration of deoxygenated hemoglobin exceeds 5 g / dL -- a higher
rate of desaturation than is found in the venous blood of
normal people.
- Central Cyanosis: Visible in the
lips, face, conjunctivae, tongue. It is caused by primary systemic
hypoxia due to impaired oxygenation of blood. EXAMPLES:
- Tetralogy of Fallot or the late stages
of other congenital heart defects
- Venoarterial shunt
- Peripheral Cyanosis
(Acrocyanosis): Visible in the fingers and toes, earlobes, nose. It is caused
by localized hypoxia due to poor circulation, reduced
blood-flow, CHF, shock.
GENERAL PHYSICAL EXAM: Many congenital disorders are associated with
various heart defects. See Table 4-5, page 150 for complete list. Also see
Table of Physical Findings for a complete list of physical findings.
- THE FACE:
- THE EYES:
- THE MOUTH:
- THE SKIN:
- Rheumatic Fever: Characteristically
you will see Erythema Marginatum and Subcutaneous
Nodules.
- THE THORAX:
- THE ABDOMEN:
- THE EXTREMITIES:
- Clubbing of fingers and toes
is a classic finding of Cyanosis. May also be seen with
infective endocarditis or other conditions.
BLOOD PRESSURE:
- PALPATION:
- AUSCULTATION
(Korotkoff Sounds):
- Phase 1: Clear tapping
sounds representing systolic pressure.
- Phase 2: Softer tones
- Phase 3: Louder once again.
- Phase 4: Muffled Tones.
- Phase 5: Tones cease.
Diastolic Pressure. Diastolic pressure may actually be higher than
estimated by auscultation.
- INTERPRETATION:
- Auscultatory Gap: Period of silence
that may occur between Phase 1 and Phase 2. The beginning and end of the
Auscultatory Gap may be mistaken for Diastolic or Systolic blood
pressure, respectively.
- CAUSES: Venous
distension or severe Aortic Stenosis.
- Orthostatic
Hypotension: Upon standing, normal decrease in systolic blood pressure is
5-15 mm Hg; anything more is Orthostatic Hypotension. Diastolic pressure
normally remains constant or increases slightly.
- Obese Patient: Use a
large cuff.
- Hypertension:
- Coarctation of the
Aorta will result in a systolic pressure that is quite high in the
arm, but much lower in the leg.
JUGULAR VENOUS PULSES:
- Central Venous
Pressure (CVP): Use the right Internal Jugular to estimate CVP because it is
straighter.
- MEASUREMENT:
- With patient sitting
up, clavicles are 10 cm above right atrium, thus CVP = jugular venous
distension above clavicles + 10 cm.
- With patient
elevated 30, sternal Angle of Louis is normally about 5 cm above right
atrium, and Internal Jugular should be visible about 3 cm directly
vertical (use a ruler), above the sternal Angle of Louis.
- RESPIRATION: CVP should
decrease with inspiration and increase with expiration.
- KUSSMAUL'S SIGN: Paradoxical change
in CVP during inspiration (and increase instead of decrease), caused by
a restriction in filling of the right ventricle, such as pericardial
effusion.
- HEPATOJUGULAR
REFLEX: Normally, it should only show a transient increase in CVP. With
Cor Pulmonale, the increased CVP is maintained throughout.
- JUGULAR VENOUS WAVES:
- a-Wave: Right atrial
contraction, corresponding to peak filling of the jugular vein.
- A large a-wave is
characteristic of pulmonary hypertension.
- A giant a-wave is
characteristic of a total heart block.
- No a-wave is
characteristic of atrial fibrillation.
- x-Descent: Follows a-wave, as
atrium relaxes. Decreased jugular vein filling.
- First heart sound is
heard during the
- c-Wave: Occurs with
contraction of the ventricles. Usually not visible at bedside.
- CAROTID PULSE occurs
during this, which is right after the a-wave and also during the
x-descent.
- v-Wave: Passive phase of
atrial filling during ventricular systole.
- y-Descent: Brief decreases in
jugular vein pressure after the Tricuspid valve opens (beginning of
Systole).
ARTERIAL PULSES:
- Normal Pulses: Radial,
Brachial, Carotid, Femoral, Popliteal, Posterior Tibial, Dorsalis Pedis.
- Rhythm Abnormalities:
- Sinus Arrhythmia: The pulse
accelerates with inspiration.
- Premature
Contractions:
- Atrial Premature
Contractions (APC): Normally do not disturb the cycle.
- Ventricular
Premature Contractions (PVC): They are followed by a compensatory
pause, and a new rhythm is established.
- Pulse Deficit: With Atrial
Fibrillation + Tachycardia, the radial pulse
may not be equal to the cardiac apical pulse. Two rapid beats in a row
may not allow sufficient ventricular filling for the systole to be
transmitted to the periphery. The lapse between apical and radial pulse
is the pulse deficit.
- Bigeminal Pulse: Two consecutive
heartbeats closely coupled, with subsequent pause before the next beat.
- Volume Abnormalities:
- Hyperkinetic Pulse: Quick up stroke and
full volume, seen with hypertension, anxiety.
- Corrigan's Pulse: A brisk pulse with
large volume, or "Collapsing" pulse, seen in Aortic
Regurgitation.
- Duroziez Murmur should be heard
across the femoral artery simultaneous with the collapsing pulse.
- Quincke's Pulse: Visible capillary
pulsations in the nail-bed. Another sign of Aortic Insufficiency.
- Pulsus Bisferiens: Bifid pulse. Two
distinct impulses with each heartbeat. Seen in:
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Hypertrophic
Cardiomyopathy.
- Pulsus Alterans: One pulse feels
large, the next one small. Due to decreased cardiac contractility and
carries a poor prognosis.
- Pulsus Paradoxus: Weakening of the
pulse with inspiration more than normal.
- Systolic pressure
normally decreases by less than 10 mm Hg. Paradoxical pulse occurs when
decrease is greater than 10 mm Hg.
- Indicative of
constrictive cardiac disease: Pericardial effusion, constrictive
pericarditis.
- Grading Pulses: Scale
of 0 to 4
- Scale:
- 0 = no pulse
- 3 = normal pulse
- 4 = bounding pulse
- Intermittent
Claudication: Temporary weakening of lower extremities due to arterial
insufficiency.
- Leriche's Syndrome: Atherosclerosis of
abdominal Aorta, reducing flow to lower extremities and leading to
impotence.
- Takayasu's Disease: Pulseless disease --
no pulse in arms, due to progressive obliterative arteritis.
THE PRECORDIUM:
- Aortic Valve: Second right
interspace (upper right -- on the opposite side because the Aorta bends
over toward the right side).
- Pulmonic Valve: Second left
interspace (upper left -- on opposite side because the Pulmonary arteries
bifurcate behind the Aorta.)
- Tricuspid Valve: Lower parasternum
(centrally located)
- Mitral Valve: Apex
- Erb's Point: Place to listen to
right-sided pathologies, at the third left interspace.
PALPATION / PERCUSSION:
- Point of Maximal
Impulse (PMI): Should be at the apex.
- If it is located more
centrally and down, that is indicative of COPD due to
barrel chest and constantly inflated lungs, displacing the heart
centrally (right-sided shift).
- Right Ventricular
Hypertrophy can shift the PMI posteriorly, as the right-ventricular mass
masks the left-ventricular PMI, making it difficult to palpate.
- Shock: An impulse of a heart
sound transmitted to the examining hand.
- Heave / Lift: Forceful, systolic
thrust that moves the palpating hand up a little.
- Thrill: A palpable murmur. A
palpable vibration that by definition is accompanied by an
audible murmur.
STETHOSCOPE: Get a good one. The shorter the tube, the better. Double-barreled
tubes are better than single-barrel.
- DIAPHRAGM: High-pitched
(primarily systolic) sounds, and press firmly.
- BELL: Low-pitched
(primarily diastolic) sounds, and press lightly.
HEART SOUNDS:
- NORMAL HEART SOUNDS: Normal order of
events = M1, T1, A2, P2
- S1: Closing of Mitral
(M1) and Tricuspid (T1) valves.
- S1 is loudest near
the apex.
- LOUD S1: Occurs with
higher cardiac output, such as fever, exercise, thyrotoxicosis.
- SOFT S1: Occurs with
impaired myocardial contraction, CHF, mitral regurgitation.
- S2: Closing of Aortic
(A2) and Pulmonic (P2) valves.
- SPLITTING: Normally,
Aortic closes before Pulmonic, due to higher pressure in
Aorta.
- Wide Splitting: INSPIRATION
normally increases the interval between A2 and P2,
which is attributed to increased pulmonary blood flow, and decreased
pulmonary vascular resistance.
- INTENSITY: A loud S2
usually is attributed to the Aortic valve (A2), and often
occurs with hypertension.
- THIRD HEART SOUND
(S3): Considered normal in infants and children.
- CAUSE: Slowing of
velocity of blood, or vibrations from turbulent blood-flow during
ventricular filling, especially at the beginning.
- POSITION: Patient
should be in left lateral decubitus position for maximal auscultation of
S3.
- Gallop: S3 sound plus
tachycardia, giving the sound of a galloping horse.
- ETIOLOGIES: Cardiac
disease which causes increased ventricular volume, such as:
- Mitral and Tricuspid
Regurgitation
- Congestive Heart
Failure
- Opening Snap (OS): Brief click heard
when mitral valve opens at the beginning of diastole (around S3).
Associated with Mitral Stenosis
- Kentucky: S1, S2, S3 together
have this approximate rhythm.
- FOURTH HEART SOUND
(S4): Always pathological.
- CAUSE: Contraction of
the atria at the end of diastole ------> turbulent blood flow which
is audible as S4.
- Decreased
ventricular compliance is the most common etiology of S4 sound.
- ETIOLOGIES:
- Left-Sided: hypertension,
aortic stenosis, angina pectoris.
- Right-Sided:
pulmonary hypertension, pulmonic stenosis.
- Tennessee: S4, S1, S2 sounds
together have this approximate rhythm.
- SUMMATION GALLOP: S3 + S4 +
Tachycardia, as seen in chronic hypertension leading to CHF.
- SYSTOLIC SOUNDS and
CLICKS:
- Ejection Sounds: Can be innocent, or
caused by abnormal Aortic valves or a dilated Aorta.
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
(MVP): Will result in a mid or late systolic click, as the mitral
leaflet protrudes back into the atrium during ventricular contraction.
- NON-VALVULAR SOUNDS:
- Precordial Knock: Results from constrictive
pericarditis and can be heard over the internal jugular at the
base of the neck.
- CAUSE: thickened
pericardium limits expansion of ventricles during rapid filling phase
of diastole, resulting in backup of blood.
- Pericardial Friction
Rub: Caused by pericardial effusion, and can be
heard over a limited area in left parasternal space.
- More extensive
pericardial effusion may eliminate the rub, as the pericardium gets
completely separated from the epicardium.,
HEART MURMURS: General Properties
- Timing
- Location
- Configuration:
Crescendo / Decrescendo
- Intensity:
- Grade I: Barely audible by an
expert.
- Grade III: Moderately loud with
palpable thrill.
- Grade VI: So loud it can be
heard without the stethoscope making complete contact with the skin.
- Frequency
- Quality
- TRANSMISSION: Where
does the sound transmit to? This is characteristic for certain
pathologies and can be diagnostic.
SYSTOLIC MURMURS: Cardiac disorders and their associated findings.
- AORTIC STENOSIS: Diamond-shaped
systolic ejection murmur.
- Location: Over the
Aortic valve, at the second right intercostal space.
- Transmission: to the
carotids bilaterally.
- PULMONIC STENOSIS: Diamond-shaped
systolic ejection murmur.
- Location: Second or
third left parasternal interspace.
- HYPERTROPHIC
OBSTRUCTIVE CARDIOMYOPATHY: Diamond-shaped midsystolic murmur.
- PATHOLOGY of DISEASE:
- Septal region of
left ventricle is thickened ------> Left Ventricular Hypertrophy.
- During systole,
anterior leaflet of mitral valve is abnormal.
- Impaired relaxation
of the left ventricle during diastole.
- SOUND: Similar to
Aortic Stenosis, but it does not transmit to the Carotids.
- EXAMINATION
TECHNIQUES: The murmur becomes louder as left ventricular volume is
reduced. This is paradoxic behavior as compared to most murmurs
- Handgrip ------> increase
in left ventricular volume ------> decreased murmur. This
occurs because the septal obstruction is relatively less significant.
- Valsalva Maneuver: Murmur becomes louder
in the late-stage of the Valsalva Maneuver, rather than softer as in
most murmurs.
- Murmur becomes
quieter when the patient squats -- also paradoxical behavior.
- MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE: If it occurs with
mitral regurgitation, a late systolic murmur will be heard after the
midsystolic click.
- Examination
Technique: Like cardiomyopathy, reduce left ventricular volume
------> louder murmur (and an earlier click).
- HOLOSYSTOLIC MURMURS: They indicate that
blood is flowing down a pressure gradient when it shouldn't be, as in insufficiencies.
- CAUSES: Mitral
regurgitation, Tricuspid regurgitation, Ventricular septal defect.
- MITRAL REGURGITATION: The most common
cause for Holosystolic Murmur.
- Causes: Anything that
makes the mitral valve incompetent, or mitral leaflets damage:
- Vegetations
- papillary muscle
dysfunction
- shortened chordae
tendineae
- Concurrent features
of Mitral Regurgitation:
- Left Ventricular
Hypertrophy ------> Shifted PMI
- S3 gallop
- VENTRICULAR SEPTAL
DEFECT: Best heard at lower left parasternal border (Erb's point)
- TRICUSPID
REGURGITATION: Holosystolic murmur
- May result from IV
drug use ------> endocarditis, or Rheumatic valvular disease.
- OTHER MURMURS:
- STRAIGHT BACK
SYNDROME: Systolic ejection murmur.
- Innocent Murmurs
- Venous Hum: Heard above the
clavicles in normal individuals.
- Mammary Souffle: High pitched
continuous flow heard over base of heart in pregnancy.
DIASTOLIC MURMURS: Cardiac disorders and associated findings.
- AORTIC INSUFFICIENCY: Blowing or Decrescendo
diastolic murmur.
- Many causes:
infectious, rheumatic, dissecting aortic aneurysm.
- CHF makes the murmur
softer.
- Associated findings:
- Corrigan's Water
Hammer Pulse: Collapsing pulse, with little up stroke or downstroke.
- de Musset's Sign: to
and fro head movement synchronous with the heartbeat.
- Quincke's Pulse: capillary
pulsation of fingertips.
- Duroziez's Sign: Femoral artery
systolic and diastolic bruits.
- Hill's Sign: Blood pressure in
the legs being higher than it is in the arms.
- Normal difference =
20 mm Hg
- Aortic
Insufficiency = 40-60 mm Hg.
- PULMONIC INSUFFICIENCY: Decrescendo
diastolic murmur.
- GRAHAM STEELL'S
MURMUR: Pulmonary Hypertension as the cause of
pulmonic hypertension (due to dilation of pulmonic leaflets).
- Prominent a-wave
is found concurrent with the murmur.
- Paradoxical
Splitting also occurs.
- MITRAL STENOSIS: Middiastolic
murmur
- CAUSE: Chronic Rheumatic
Heart Disease is most common cause.
- TRICUSPID STENOSIS: Middiastolic
murmur
- RHEUMATIC FEVER:
- Carey Coombs Murmur is the
characteristic murmur occurring during the acute stage of
Rheumatic Fever. It is a blubbering middiastolic murmur heard at apex.
The murmur disappears after acute disease has subsided.
- Middiastolic murmur
of mitral stenosis might then remain as a sequel.
- PATENT DUCTUS
ARTERIOSUS:
- Continuous Murmurs: Murmurs occurring
throughout the cardiac cycle, caused by blood continually flowing from
higher pressure to lower pressure. Can be heard with Patent Ductus
Arteriosus.
TECHNIQUES FOR ENHANCING AUSCULTATION:
- INSPIRATION: Normally you should
see splitting of S2 with inspiration. P2 occurs later and
moves further away from A2.
- Paradoxic Splitting: S2 splitting is decreased
instead of increased with inspiration.
- Left Bundle-Branch
Block causes paradoxic splitting. In this condition, under normal
circumstances, A2 already occurs after P2
(instead of before), because of the left-sided heart-block. Thus, with
inspiration, P2 actually moves closer to A2 and
you see paradoxic splitting.
- EXHALATION: Can be used to
evaluate right-sided heart murmurs.
- The intensity of most
right-sided heart murmurs will decrease with exhalation,
while left-sided murmurs remain unchanged.
- MÜLLER'S MANEUVER: Have patient pinch
the nostrils shut with one hand and suck hard on a finger with the other.
- MECHANISM: This
creates prolonged negative intrathoracic pressure. That
shift blood from the systemic to the pulmonary circulation,
which amplifies and prolongs the murmurs found with inspiration. It
makes it easier to hear inspiratory murmurs.
- VALSALVA MANEUVER: Have patient hold
breath and bear down for 20 seconds. Can be used to evaluate left-sided
heart murmurs.
- MECHANISM: This
creates a prolonged positive intrathoracic pressure.
That shifts blood from the pulmonary to the systemic circulation
-- the exact opposite as Müller's Maneuver.
- TIME COURSE: Most
left-side murmurs first grow louder, and then grow softer.
- First 10-15 seconds:
Initially, cardiac output increases, and the intensity of left-sided
murmurs increase accordingly.
- After 10-15 seconds:
Cardiac then begins to decrease, as venous return from the lungs
decreases. Most left-sided murmurs then grow softer again.
- EXCEPTIONS: Two
conditions show different characteristics than above:
- Hypertrophic
Obstructive Cardiomyopathy: Left-ventricular hypertrophy and resultant
cardiomyopathy, due to hypertension. With this condition, the
late-phase of the murmur actually increases or may be heard
for the first time.
- Mitral Valve
Prolapse: Late-phase murmur usually increases rather than decreases,
and may be heard for the first time.
- STANDING to SQUATTING: Have patient squat
down and breathe normally, and then stand. Squatting increases stroke
volume, and standing decreases it again.
- Hypertrophic
Obstructive Cardiomyopathy: As patient squats, this murmur should be decreased.
- Mitral Regurgitation: Occasionally
decreases.
- SQUATTING to STANDING:
- Hypertrophic
Obstructive Cardiomyopathy: As the patient stands back, this murmur
should increase.
- Mitral Regurgitation:
Occasionally
increases.
- PASSIVE LEG ELEVATION:
- Hypertrophic
Obstructive Cardiomyopathy: Murmur should decrease, as left ventricular
volume increases and the left ventricle enlarges.
- ISOMETRIC HANDGRIP: Using a handgrip for
1 minutes increases peripheral vascular resistance.
- DECREASED INTENSITY:
Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy, Aortic Stenosis (about 30% of
cases).
- INCREASED INTENSITY:
Ventricular Septal Defect, Aortic Regurgitation, Mitral Regurgitation.
- CONTRAINDICATIONS: Do
not do this test on people with myocardial ischemia, ventricular
arrhythmias, or unstable angina!
- TRANSIENT ARTERIAL
OCCLUSION: Place blood pressure cuff on both arms and occlude blood-flow
for 20 seconds.
- INCREASED INTENSITY:
Mitral Regurgitation, Ventricular Septal Defect. Most other murmurs are
unaffected.
- AMYL NITRATE: Have patient inhale
amyl nitrate ------> decreased TPR. Auscultate sounds 15-30 seconds
later.
- DECREASED INTENSITY:
Mitral Regurgitation, Ventricular Septal Defect.
- INCREASED INTENSITY:
Right-sided murmurs, aortic stenosis, hypertrophic obstructive
cardiomyopathy.
CHAPTER 5: THE ABDOMEN
HISTORY TAKING:
- ABDOMINAL PAIN
- CHARACTER OF PAIN
- PUD: Burning or gnawing
pain, epigastric, may radiate to the back.
- Precipitated by
long periods of no food or skipping meals.
- Often feel pain
early in morning, which is relieved by intake of food or antacids.
- GERD: Burning, epigastric
or xiphisternal. Radiates to the retrosternum.
- Precipitated by
over-eating, bending over, or being in a reclined position.
- LOCATION OF PAIN:
- RADIATION OF PAIN
- Renal Colic often
radiates to the groin.
- Gallbladder pain
often radiates to back, scapula, or right shoulder.
- Splenic pain often
radiates to back.
- Pancreatic pain
often radiates to back.
- FACTORS PRECIPITATING
AND RELIEVING THE PAIN
- PATIENT ASSESSMENT OF
PAIN SEVERITY: Scale of 0 to 10.
- COMPARISON WITH OTHER
TYPES OF PAIN
- ANOREXIA:
- Differential
diagnosis:
- Neoplasms
- Chronic Renal
Failure
- Psychiatric:
Anorexia nervosa, depression
- Infections:
Hepatitis, many chronic infections.
- Polyphagia: Seen in
hyperthyroidism, malabsorption syndromes, especially pancreatic
insufficiency.
- NAUSEA AND VOMITING:
- Delayed Gastric Emptying: It is a common
cause of nausea. Possible causes of delayed gastric emptying:
- Pyloric Outlet
Obstruction: Ulcers, pyloric stenosis, Crohn's Disease, neoplasms.
- Neuromuscular:
Scleroderma, vagotomy, demyelinating diseases (MS), Polio
- Metabolic: Diabetic
gastroparesis, hypothyroidism.
- Drugs:
Anti-cholinergics, ganglionic blockers, opiates
- Psychiatric:
Anorexia Nervosa
- Projectile Vomiting: Special vomiting
that can signify increased intracranial pressure (ICP).
- Regurgitation: Vomiting without
nasea. Causes:
- Overeating.
- Achalasia.
- Delayed gastric
emptying
- Esophageal rings and
webs.
- DYSPHAGIA:
- Odnyophagia: Painful difficulty
swallowing.
- Common Causes:
- CVA, stroke
- Parkinson's
- Reflux Esophagitis
- Esophageal rings and
webs
- Achalasia
- Esophageal Tumors
- Candidiasis
- DIARRHEA: Excretion of more
than 300 g of stool per day.
- Acute Diarrhea:
- Infectious
Gastroenteritis: Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter,
invasive E. Coli
- Symptom Cluster:
Fever, myalgia, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping abdominal
pain.
- Lactose Intolerance
- Antibiotic-associated
(loss of normal flora)
- Inflammatory bowel
- Stool Incontinence: Recurrent
defecation in pants is not diarrhea and has a very limited differential
diagnosis, all relating to anal sphincter dysfunction:
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Previous rectal or
perirectal surgery.
- Errant episiotomy
from a traumatic childbirth.
- Chronic diarrhea:
- Dietary habits
(coffee)
- Parasitic infection:
giardiasis, amebiasis.
- Inflammatory bowel
disease
- CONSTIPATION: 2 bowel movements
per week is normal in some people.
- Acute Constipation: Recent change
in bowel habits. Causes:
- Drugs:
anticholinergics, psycho-active drugs, many others.
- Hypothyroidism
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Decreased food
intake, decreased fluid intake.
- Chronic debilitating
disease (post-stroke).
- Hirschsprung's
Disease: Aganglionic Megacolon
- Lifelong
constipation
- Ocassional passage
of enormous stools
- Absence or marked
dimunition of ganglion cells in rectal tissue
- Marked colonic
distension.
- Idiopathic Chronic
Constipation may be caused by a defect in the pelvis floor in women, in
which they contract the anal sphincter, rather than relax it, when
defecating.
- HEMATEMESIS
- Possible Causes:
- PUD or erosive
Gastritis
- Mallory-Weiss Tear of esophagus
- Esophageal varices,
portal hypertension
- HEMATOCHEZIA and
MELENA
- HEMATOCHEZIA: Occult blood in
stool.
- Possible Causes
- Colorectal carcinoma
- Infectious enteritis: Shigella,
Salmonella, Campylobacter, invasive E. Coli
may all cause hematochezia.
- Hemorrhoids
- Chronic diverticular
disease
- MELENA: Passage of black or
very dark stool, reflecting heme breakdown products in stool.
- Other causes of
black stool (other than occult blood): Iron-containing drugs,
bismuth-containing drugs, charcoal, lots of black cherries.
- Maroon-Colored Stools are indicative of
massive blood loss (2 to 3 units of blood). Usually will see unstable
vital signs. Look for complications of PUD, such as perforated ulcer.
INSPECTION:
- PROTUBERANT OR
DISTENDED ABDOMEN
- Partial Bowel
Obstruction: Distended abdomen plus peristaltic movements heard over the
distension is practically diagnostic.
- Psuedocyesis,
Psudeopregnancy: Woman who wants to be pregnancy develops a
distended abdomen psychogenically.
- Increased air in
bowel causing abdominal distension:
- Mechanical factors,
carcinoma or adhesions
- Adynamic paralytic
ileus.
- Ascites: Most common cause
is alcoholic cirrhosis leading to portal hypertension.
- Fluid Wave: Press down abdomen
and create a fluid wave. It is indicative of ascites.
- Puddle Sign: Have patient lie
prone and then get on hands and knees, to get all ascites to go to a
dependent position. Then flick and auscultate the abdomen, listening
for changes in intensity of sounds. Positive test indicates ascites.
- Chylous Ascites is milky (lipid)
look to transudate, indicating lymphatic blockage. Occurs with intraabdominal
lymphomas and Hodgkin's disease.
- Ascites can be
assessed by auscultation by assessing shifting dullness when patient
changes position.
- GREY TURNER'S SIGN: Ecchymoses on the
abdomen, an unusual place for ecchymoses. It occurs in fulminant
acute pancreatitis and carries a grave prognosis.
- JAUNDICE: Most common causes
- Viral Hepatitis
- Alcoholic Liver
Disease
- Drug-induced jaundice
- Chronic active liver
disease
- Choledocolithiasis
- Pancreatic carcinoma
- Metastatic liver
disease
- ABDOMINAL HERNIAS
- Anatomical Types of
Hernias:
- Inguinal Hernias: Most common
hernia.
- Direct Inguinal
Hernia: Hernia directly penetrates the inguinal triangle. It creates
a bulge right above (superior and medial to) the inguinal ligament.
- Indirect Inguinal
Hernia: Hernia passes through the inguinal canal, and
creates a bulge in the right over the inguinal ligament, as it passes
through the inguinal ring.
- In men, often
herniates into scrotum.
- Femoral Hernia: Second most
common. High risk of strangulation, 20% of cases.
- Obturator Hernia: Unusual, occuring
in elderly, thin, emaciated women. Protrusion of peritoneal sac through
Obturator Foramen.
- Symptom: Pain,
paresthesia down anterior thigh, due to compression of femoral nerve.
- Umbilical Hernia: May occur in people
with chronic increased intraabdominal pressure: Multiparous women and
COPD.
- Spigelian Hernia: Occurs between
ubilicus and pubic symphysis. Unusual.
- Reducability:
- Reducible: The contents of the
hernia can be easily displaced.
- Irreducible,
Incarcerated: The contents of the hernia cannot be displaced and are stuck
there.
- Strangulated: An incarcerated
hernia that has cut off its blood supply, resulting in tissue necrosis
and gangrene.
PERCUSSION:
- Tympany: Increased tympany is
heard upon percussion of the abdomen in cases of partial bowel
obstruction.
- Normal Liver Span:
10-12 cm in men, 8-11 cm in women.
AUSCULTATION:
- PERISTALTIC SOUNDS:
- Absent Bowel Sounds:
Ileus
- Increased Bowel
Sounds: Gastroenteritis.
- Borborygmi: High-pitched bowel
sounds indicating small bowel obstruction.
- SUCCUSSION SPLASH: Audible presence of
increased amount of fluid in stomach.
- Normal after a large
meal.
- If it occurs after
fasting, then it is indicative of pyloric obstruction.
- ABDOMINAL BRUITS: Caused by
calcification of aorta, celiac compression, and alcoholic hepatitis.
- PERITONEAL FRICTION
RUBS: Hearing a peritoneal friction rub over the liver is indicative
of liver metastasis or primary hepatoma.
PALPATION:
- LIVER:
- Hepatomegaly:
- Primary or
metastatic Hepatoma.
- Alcoholic liver
disease (fatty liver).
- Severe CHF.
- Infiltrative
diseases of liver like amyloidosis.
- Myeloproliferative
Disorders: CML, Myelofibrosis.
- SPLEEN
- Splenomegaly:
- Infections
- Leukemias
- Portal hypertension
- GALLBLADDER
- Courvosier's Law: Gallbladder is
palpable in 25% of cases of pancreatic carcinoma, due
to painless distension.
- Murphey's Sign: RUQ pain aggravated
by inspiration, indicative of acute cholecystitis.
- KIDNEYS:
- Enlarged Kidneys:
Polycystic Kidney Disease, hypernephroma, renal cysts, hydronephrosis.
- Ptotic Kidney: Normal-sized kidney
displaced inferiorly into abnormal position; pelvic kidney.
- AORTA: Pulsatile mass in
midline is suggestive of Aortic Aneurysm.
- MASSES and BOWEL LOOPS
- FEMORAL PULSES and
DISTAL AORTA: Decreased or absence femoral pulses can be found in several
disorders:
- Dissecting Aortic
Aneurysm
- Coarctation of Aorta
- Severe
atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease
- Leriche's Syndrome: Occlusion of the
distal Aorta.
- Symptom Tetrad: Absent
femoral pulses, intermittent claudication, gluteal pain, impotence.
- RECTAL EXAM
ACUTE ABDOMINAL PAIN:
- LOCALIZING PAIN to
INTRAABDOMINAL SITES
- INVOLUNTARY GUARDING
AND MUSCLE RIGIDITY:
- Perforated ulcer
- Perforated bowel
- Peritonitis
- DIRECT AND INDIRECT
TENDERNESS
- Rebound Tenderness: Tenderness on sudden
release of pressure. A reliable sign of peritoneal inflammation.
- Jar Tenderness: Avoidance of sudden
movements due to abdominal pain. Also a sign of peritoneal inflammation.
ABDOMINAL PAIN SYNDROMES:
- ACUTE ABDOMINAL PAIN
- Differential
Diagnosis:
- Infectious:
Appendicitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, Gastroenteritis,
Diverticulitis.
- Crohn's Disease
- Bowel perforation: Peritoneal signs
should be present. Patient doesn't want to move.
- Bowel obstruction: Patient can't stay
still and keeps moving around to get comfortable.
- Colic: Renal or
biliary colic.
- Dissecting Abdominal
Aortic Aneurysm.
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis
and other metabolic disorders can simulate an acute abdomen.
- CHRONIC ABDOMINAL PAIN
- PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE: Gnawing, burning,
aching.
- Pain partially
relieved by eating food.
- Chronicity, Rhythmicity,
Periodicity
- CHOLELITHIASIS and
BILIARY COLIC:
- Paroxysms of sharp
colicky RUQ pain, often radiating to back, right mid-abdomen.
- Intolerance to
greasy foods may be found.
- Ultrasound is
usually diagnostic.
- DELAYED GASTRIC
EMPTYING:
- Often accompanied by
nausea, emesis, and early satiety.
- Pain is worsened by
eating.
- CHRONIC PANCREATITIS:
- Caused by
alcoholism.
- May be exacerbated
by eating
- PANCREATIC CARCINOMA
- Weight loss,
abdominal pain, anorexia, weakness / fatigue, diarrhea common
- Pain is variable in
quality, and often ameliorated by sitting in knee-chest position.
- LACTASE DEFICIENCY
- IRRITABLE BOWEL
SYNDROME: Abdominal discomfort with no demonstrable organic cause.
- Defecation relieves
the pain.
- ANTERIOR ABDOMINAL
WALL PAIN
- Neuromas, Herpes
Zoster, Hernias.
- Tightening of
abdominal wall should aggravate symptoms, indicating
abdominal-wall pain. If tightening of abdominal wall relieved symptoms
or were done as a guarding action, then that would be visceral pain.
CHAPTER 6: MALE GENITALIA
SYMPTOMS:
- DYSURIA: Uncomfortable
or painful urination
- Pain with urination:
Urethritis, urethral obstruction, prostatitis.
- Pain felt after urination:
bladder calculus, prostatitis.
- FREQUENCY of
URINATION:
- URGENCY:
- NOCTURIA:
- POLYURIA:
- URINARY INCONTINENCE:
- HEMATURIA:
- Time of Hematuria:
- Beginning of micturition: urethral
or prostatic source. Blood is originating near the meatus.
- Throughout micturitiuon: renal
source. Blood is diffusely present in urine.
- End of micturition: bladder
source. Blood is originating from bladder.
- Painless Hematuria: Think neoplasms
(renal or bladder), renal tuberculosis, acute glomerulo-nephritis.
- OLIGURIA, ANURIA:
Renal failure.
- Oliguria: 24-hr urine output
less than 400 ml
- Anuria: 24-hr urine output
less than 100 ml
- PNEUMATURIA: Passage
of air or stool through urinary tract. It indicates the presence of
fistula tracts connecting the GI and UG tracts, such as after surgery or
with inflammatory bowel disease.
- PROSTATISM: No direct
relationship exists between voiding habits and feelings of urgency, and
the size of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
- PENILE PAIN, ULCERS,
DISCHARGE:
- Phimosis: Constriction of the
penis, causing pain in uncircumcised penises.
- LOSS of LIBIDO,
IMPOTENCE:
- INFERTILITY:
- SCROTAL SWELLING,
TESTICULAR PAIN: Testicular pain is usually caused by torsion, hydrocele,
varicocele, or spermatocele. Testicular tumors are usually painless
when they present.
PHYSICAL EXAM:
- PENIS
- Balanitis: Inflammation of the
glans penis. Causes:
- Diabetes mellitus
- Infections: Candida,
Trichomonas
- Drug reactions
- Reiter's Syndrome
- Peyronie's Disease: Lateral deviation
of penis, caused by unilateral inflammation of a corpus cavernosum.
- SCROTUM
- Atrophic Testes: Caused by orchitis,
trauma, chronic alcoholism, cirrhosis.
- Hydrocele:
Transillumination of a scrotal mass will illumiunate a
hydrocele. If a painful mass is present, transilluminate it.
- PROSTATE
- INGUINAL CANALS and
GROIN: See abdominal study guide.
- RECTAL EXAM
CHAPTER 7: FEMALE GENITALIA
- PAST HISTORY:
- Gravida: Number of pregnancies
- Para: Number of live
deliveries
- Number of planned and
spontaneous abortions.
- ABNORMALITIES in
MENSTRUATION: Normal menstrual period = about 40 mL of blood.
- Amenorrhea: No menstruation for
3 months or more.
- Primary Amenorrhea: Failure of
menarche
- Kallman's Syndrome: Primary GnRH deficiency
- Turner's Syndrome: XO
- Testicular
Sensitization Syndrome: Androgen insensitivity. Genotypic
male may be diagnosed with testicular feminization when he
presents as a teenager with primary amenorrhea.
- Imperforate hymen
- Congenital
malformations of GU tract: Uterine agenesis, vaginal malformations.
- Secondary Amenorrhea: Amenorrhea
occurring any time after menarche has occurred.
- Environmental
Factors:
- Weight-reduction
amenorrhea: Anorexia and related disorders, malnutrition.
- Psychogenic
amenorrhea
- Exercise-induced
amenorrhea
- Post-pill
amenorrhea
- Pituitary Disease:
- Prolactinoma
- Sheehan Syndrome = post-partum
hemorrhage causing pituitary infarct from lack of blood-flow and
increased pituitary demand.
- Premature ovarian
failure: Menopause occurring before age 35. Can be caused oophoritis
(mumps virus), or may be idiopathic.
- Polycystic Ovary
Syndrome
- Asherman's
Syndrome: Amenorrhea caused by intrauterine adhesions (synechiae) that
obliterate part of the uterine cavity. This can occur subsequent to
vigorous dilatation and curettage (D&C) of the
endometrium.
- Hypomenorrhea: Decrease in volume
of flow or duration of periods.
- Menorrhagia,
Hypermenorrhea: Abnormally heavy volume of flow or abnormally long periods.
- Most common causes:
Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas), PID, Endometriosis, IUD
- Metrorrhagia: Bleeding at
mid-cycle. It is usually precipitated by the drop in estrogen that
occurs after ovulation.
- Dysmenorrhea: Painful
menstruation. Symptoms = lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting,
fatigue, diarrhea.
- Primary Dysmenorrhea: Unexplained,
idiopathic dysmenorrhea. Believed to be caused by high uterine levels
of PGE2.
- Secondary
Dysmenorrhea: Endometriosis, PID, imperforate hymen, uterine polyps,
adhesions.
- Dysfunctional Uterine
Bleeding (DUB): Abnormal uterine bleeding in which no etiologic agent can be
found after history and pelvic exam.
- OTHER THINGS RELATING
TO MENSTRUATION:
- MENOPAUSE:
- PRE-MENSTRUAL
SYNDROME:
- NON-MENSTRUAL VAGINAL
BLEEDING: Bleeding not related to menstruation. When vaginal bleeding
presents, we must determine whether it is menstrual or non-menstrual.
- Post-Menopausal
Bleeding: Consider uterine cancer, cervical cancer.
Atrophic vaginitis if patient is not on ERT.
- Pregnancy, either intrauterine
or ectopic, may cause bleeding for a variety of reasons.
- Birth control
methods: IUD, breakthrough bleeding with pill.
- PELVIC PAIN:
- ACUTE PELVIC PAIN:
- Mittelschmerz: Pelvic pain
occurring at mid-cycle and related to ovulation.
- Torsion of Ovary: Cystic ovary can
get large and twist on itself, cutting off its blood supply ------>
acute-onset pelvic pain.
- Ruptured tubal
pregnancy.
- CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN:
- Endometriosis: Dysmenorrhea,
dyspareunia, infertility. Often have chronic pelvic pain, associated
with the location of the ectopic glandular tissue.
- Pain of
endometriosis tends to be constant, and tends to radiate to coccyx,
lower back.
- Onset of disease is
usually between 25 and 40. Undifferentiated dysmenorrhea often
presents younger than age 25.
- URINARY TRACT
INFECTIONS:
- PREGNANCY and
INFERTILITY:
- Early Pregnancy: Common symptoms
- Secondary
amenorrhea. Patient may also see reduced flow, or slight vaginal
bleeding at time of normal period.
- Morning Sickness: Nausea and
vomiting
- Breast tenderness
- Urinary frequency:
cause may be anatomical or hormonal.
- Constipation
- Weight change: weight
loss is common in early pregnancy, followed by weight gain later.
- Late Pregnancy:
- Chloasma: Characteristic
darkening of skin around eyes, nose, cheeks. Darkening also occurs in
areolae, skin between umbilicus and pubic ridge.
- Striae Gravidarum: Stretch marks of
pregnancy.
- Spider angiomas may
occur in skin, because of high estrogen.
- Pelvic Changes with
Pregnancy:
- Chadwick's Sign: Blue or purple
discoloration of the vagina.
- Leukorrhea: Clear or white
vaginal discharge with faint musty odor. It may occur during pregnancy
or in other circumstances.
- Goodell's Sign: Bluish
discoloration and softening of the cervix.
- Braxton Hicks
Contractions: Painless uterine contractions occurring after the 28th
week.
- Quickening: The first fetal
movement of which the patient is aware. Normally occurs at 18 weeks
during first pregnancy, and at 16 weeks in subsequent pregnancies.
- Hydatidiform Mole: Signs of a molar
pregnancy:
- Uterus increases
rapidly in size shortly after implantation.
- Persistent vaginal
bleeding, no fetal movement, and no fetal heart tones by 12 weeks.
- Nausea and vomiting
more intense than usual.
- Grape like clusters
of tissues may be expelled through the vagina.
- ABNORMALITIES in
SEXUAL FUNCTION:
- Vaginismus: Spasmodic, guarding
contraction of vagina upon attempt of intercourse. Often occurs
subsequent to rape or trauma.
- VAGINAL DISCHARGE and
ITCHING
- Physiologic
Discharge: Clear or white discharge occurring at midcycle.
- Trichomonas
Vaginalis:
- Discharge: Gray,
foamy discharge having bad odor.
- Mucosa: Red, strawberry
cervix.
- Confirm: Confirm
with wet-mount (saline suspension microscopy).
- Gonorrhea:
- Discharge: Profuse
mucoid discharge with foul odor.
- Mucosa: Red, tender
mucosa.
- Confirm: Confirm
with culture.
- Gardnerella
Vaginalis: Also called Non-specific vaginitis.
Co-infection with anaerobes usually also occurs.
- Discharge: Gray or
white, fishy odor
- Mucosa: Normal
- Confirm: Clue
cells = large epithelial cells with many coccobacilli adherent
to them.
- Chlamydia:
- Discharge: Little,
yellow, mucous and pus in cervical canal.
- Mucosa: Cervical
erosion.
- Confirm: FA stain of
smear shows elementary bodies.
- Candida Albicans: Yeast infection.
- Discharge: White,
cottage-cheese like
- Mucosa: White
patches stuck to a red base.
- Confirm: KOH
preparation, look for pseudohypha.
- Atrophic Vaginitis: Estrogen deficiency
- Discharge: Little
discharge, some blood
- Mucosa: Atrophic,
pale or red.
- Confirm: history,
age.
- PELVIC RELAXATION:
Loss of pelvis support due to atrophy of muscular viscera,
- Urethrocele: Urethra herniates
into the vaginal canal.
- Cystocele: Bladder herniates
into the vaginal canal.
- Rectocele: Rectum herniates
into the vaginal canal.
- Uterine Prolapse: Descent of the
uterus into the vaginal canal. Graded from 1 (mild) to 3 (uterus
descends past the vulva).
- HIRSUTISM
CHAPTER 9: MUSCULOSKELETAL
EPIDEMIOLOGY:
- COMMON MUSCULOSKELETAL
DISEASES BY AGE:
- Childhood: Juvenile
RA, Rheumatic Fever
- Young adult: Reiter's
Syndrome, SLE
- Middle Age:
Fibrositis
- Old Age:
Osteoarthritis
- COMMON MUSCULOSKELETAL
DISEASES BY SEX:
- Male: Gout
- Female: SLE, RA
- COMMON MUSCULOSKELETAL
DISEASES BY RACE::
- Black: Sarcoidosis,
SLE
- White: Polymyalgia
Rheumatica
SYMPTOMS:
- REITER'S SYNDROME:
- Symptoms: Conjunctivitis,
Urethritis, Arthritis.
- Signs:
- Keratoderma
Blennorrhagia: Rash on palms and soles.
- Circinate Balanitis: Circular rash on
penis.
- Sausage fingers: Swelling of the
tendon sheath of the hands.
- PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS: Arthritis occurring
with Psoriasis.
- Signs:
- Sausage fingers: Swelling of the
tendon sheath of the hands.
- DIP joints may be
inflamed unilaterally.
- GOUT:
- Symptoms:
- Podagra: Severe gouty pain
at the base of the great toe.
- RHEUMATIC FEVER:
- Symptoms:
- Migratory Pain: Typical finding.
Pain moving from joint to joint.
- Jones Criteria: Diagnostic criteria
for Rheumatic Fever. Two major criteria, or one major and two minor
criteria are required.
- Major Criteria:
- Carditis: Myocarditis,
Pericarditis
- Polyarthritis
- Chorea: Purposeless
movements of various muscle groups
- Erythema Marginatum: Pink, circular
rash on trunk on proximal arms.
- Subcutaneous
Nodules: Granulomatous nodules on extensor surfaces, often associated
with cardiac involvement.
- Minor Criteria:
- History, Symptoms:
- History of
previous rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease.
- Arthralgia
- Fever
- Labs:
- Acute phase
reactants: increased ESR, C-Reactive Protein, leukocytosis.
- ECG abnormalities
- Recent
streptococcal infection.
- GONORRHEA,
DISSEMINATED (Gonococcal Arthritis):
- Symptoms:
- Migratory Pain: Typical finding.
Pain moving from joint to joint.
- RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS:
- Symptoms:
- Morning stiffness: Pain in the morning,
which tends to loosen up as the day progresses.
- Fatigue: During the day,
fatigue sets in. The earlier the fatigue sets in, the worse is the RA.
- Signs: The proximal
(PIP and MCP) joints are characteristically more involved than the DIP
joints.
- Synovial Thickening
-- swelling of joints.
- Entire phalanx may
deviate laterally or medially.
- Boutonniere
Deformity, Swan-Neck Deformity, Ulnar Deviation: Characteristic
deformities of hands and wrists seen in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
- OSTEOARTHRITIS: Degenerative arthritis.
- Symptoms:
- Pain usually gets
worse as the day progresses, leading to fatigue in the afternoon.
- Signs: The distal
(DIP) joints are characteristically more involved than the PIP joints.
- Distal phalanx may
deviate laterally.
- Heberden's Nodes: Bony overgrowths on
the dorsum of the DIP joints, typical of osteoarthritis.
- SYSTEMIC LUPUS
ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE): Diagnostic Criteria. 4 of 11 at any time is
diagnostic.
- Malar Rash
- Discoid rash
- Photosensitivity
- Oral ulcers
- Arthritis
- Serositis (pleuritis,
pericarditis)
- Renal disorder
- Neurologic disorder
(seizures, psychosis)
- Hematologic (anemia,
leukopenia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia).
- Immunologic (elevated
anti-DNA, LE-Prep, or biological false positive for Syphilis (RPR))
- Antinuclear Antibody
(ANA)
TERMS:
- Kyphosis: Anterior curvature
of the spine. Normally found in thoracic area, characterized by extensive
flexion.
- Lordosis: Posterior curvature
of the spine, normally found in cervical and lumbar areas.
- Scoliosis: Lateral curvature of
the spine.
- Varus: Medial deviation.
- Valgus: Lateral deviation.
SYMPTOMS:
- PAIN:
- Generally, the deeper
the musculoskeletal structure, the more diffuse the pain.
- Pain from bone is
deep or boring pain.
- Pain from periosteum
is more localized.
- Referred pain: Don't
forget the Ddx of CAD in shoulder pain.
- Arthralgia: Defined as joint
pains without objective signs of inflammation. It is caused by many
processes, both inflammatory and non-inflammatory.
- Arthritis: Joint inflammation.
- STIFFNESS:
- WEAKNESS:
- Weakness: Loss of strength,
due to mechanical or neurological impairment.
- Fatigue: Poor endurance.
INSPECTION
PALPATION: May find the following abnormalities on palpation:
- Swelling
- Synovial thickening (pannus
formation) is characteristic of RA.
- Swelling of
tendon-sheath (sausage-shaped digit) occurs in Reiter's Syndrome and
Psoriatic Arthritis.
- Effusions: Fluid is most
commonly found in the knee.
- Deformity
- Ganglia: Fluid-filled cysts
found along joint capsules, usually in the wrist.
- Rheumatoid Nodules: Firm nodules found
on extensor surfaces of bony prominences. They contain mononuclear cells
and fibrosis.
- Gouty Tophi: Joint nodules
associated with urate deposits.
- Bursitis: Inflammation of the
bursa in the knee or elbow.
- Erythema and Warmth:
Especially in inflammatory or infectious processes.
- Limitation of Range of
Motion:
- Tenderness: The
subjective sensation of pain upon pressure.
- Grading:
- 0: No tenderness
- 1: Patient says it is
tender
- 2: Patient says it is
tender and winces
- 3: Patient says it is
tender, winces, and pulls back
- 4: Patient will not allow
palpation.
- Joint noises or
locking:
AUSCULTATION:
- Crepitus: Grating or grinding
sensation felt by patient, or heard by examiner. Rubbing of bones due to
degeneration of articular cartilage.
- Cracking, Snapping: Snapping of joints is
usually not pathologic, unless it occurs repeatedly.
- Clicking: May indicate an
abnormality when it occurs in TMJ joint.
MUSCLE STRENGTH: Graded on a scale from 5 to 0.
- 5: Full strength
- 4: Strength against
gravity and added resistance.
- 3: Strength only
against gravity, not added resistance.
- 2: Muscle contraction
occurs, but not sufficient to overcome gravity.
- 1: Muscle contracts
with little or no movement.
- 0: No muscle
contraction.
RANGE OF MOTION
- Active Range of Motion: Voluntary movement
- Passive Range of
Motion: Examiner moves the joint.
- Goniometer: Device used to
measure angles, to assess the range of motion of a joint.
- Unstable Joint: Excessive joint
motion (excessive extension) of the knee may be seen in osteoarthritis.
HEAD EXAM:
- TMJ Abnormalities are
caused by dental malocclusion, trauma to the jaw, RA.
NECK (CERVICAL SPINE):
- Arthritis may limit
rotation or lateral flexion of the neck.
SHOULDER:
- Rotator Cuff Injury: Pain or spasm in
mid-abduction is a sign of rotator cuff injury. This is due to
degeneration in the subacromial bursa, resulting in friction between the
supraspinatus muscle and acromial process at mid-abduction.
- Arm can't rise above
about 90, the extent to which the Deltoid can abduct it.
- Adhesive Capsulitis
(Frozen Shoulder): Unilateral diffuse, dull, aching pain.
- AC Degenerative
Arthritis: Maybe from trauma. It hurts upon movement of scapula.
- Bicipital Tendinitis
(Impingement Syndrome): Inflammation of the tendon of the
supraspinatus muscle.
- Calcific Tendinitis: Prolonged inflammation
of the supraspinatus tendon, with resulting calcification.
ELBOW:
- Tennis Elbow: Tender and inflamed lateral
epicondyle, resulting from repeated extension. Patient will
experience pain when asked to extend the elbow against resistance.
- Golfer's Elbow: Inflammation of the medial
epicondyle. Typically shows pain when asked to lift with the
palms facing upward (volar aspect).
WRIST:
- Diseases:
- DEQUERVAIN'S
TENOSYNOVITIS: Involves the extensor tendon of the thumb. Ask patient to apply
pressure with thumb against the forefinger, and pain will result.
- GANGLION: Cyst caused by
herniated synovium into soft tissues.
- CARPAL TUNNEL
SYNDROME: Compression of median nerve through carpal tunnel.
- Phalen's Test: Ask patient to flex
each wrist at 90 for one minute. Positive test occurs if numbness and
tingling over median distribution results.
- Tinel's Sign: Tingling shots of
pain over median nerve upon percussion of the wrist.
- DUPUYTREN'S
CONTRACTURE: Fibrous contraction of the palmar aponeurosis.
- May be found in RA,
alcoholism, or familial.
- Signs:
- Bouchard's Nodes: Swelling of the PIP
joints, which is less common than swelling of the DIP joints.
- Heberden's Nodes: Bony overgrowths on
the dorsum of the DIP joints, typical of osteoarthritis.
- Boutonniere
Deformity: Flexion contracture of the PIP joint, with hyperextension of
the DIP joint. Caused by injury or RA.
- Swan Neck Deformity: Hyperextended PIP
joints and flexed DIP joints. May accompany RA.
SPINE:
- SCOLIOSIS: Lateral curvature of
spine. When bending over, muscular prominences on one side of the back is
more prominent than the other side.
- Straight Back
Syndrome: Lack of normal thoracic kyphosis.
- Dowager's Hump: Marked kyphosis of
dorsal spine in elderly women.
- Ankylosing
Spondylitis: RA-like disease affecting the lower spine and sacroiliac joints.
- Lumbosacral Strain: Lower back pain from
obesity and or poor posture.
- Herniated Nucleus
Pulposus:
- Sciatica:
HIP:
- If one leg is shorter
than the other as measured from ASIS to ankle, hip disease is likely.
- Trendelenburg Test: Have patient stand on
one foot. The contralateral hip should pull upward. If it doesn't, and
the same hip on which patient is standing instead pulls downward, then
that is a positive test and is indicative of hip disease.
- Antalgic Gait: Walking funny (limping)
in order to avoid pain in the hip.
KNEE:
- Baker's Cyst: Extension of the
synovium into the popliteal space. Felt on posterior knee.
- Osgood-Schlatter
Disease: Partial separation of the quadriceps femoris tendon at the
tibial tuberosity, making the tibial tuberosity swollen and tender. Seen
in adolescents.
- Genu Valgus: Knock kneed. Knees
bend inward.
- Genu Varus: Bowlegged. Knees bend
outward.
- Genu Recurvatum: Excessive extension of
the knee.
ANKLE and FEET:
- Bunion: Swelling of the great
toe. Usually valgus is seen too.
- Flat Foot (pes planus): Relaxation of
longitudinal arches, resulting in flattening of the arch of the foot.
Patients tend to wear down the soles of their shoes on the medial side.
- High Arches (pes cavus): Have excessive wear
on their soles at the base of the heal and under the metatarsal heads.
- Heel Spur: Tenderness may happen
at the insertion of the plantar longitudinal tendon on the calcaneous.
- Morton Neuroma: Pinching of fibrous
neuromas between metatarsal heads, resulting severe burning pain.
CHAPTER 10: NEUROLOGICAL
NEUROLOGIC SYMPTOMS:
- HEADACHE:
- MIGRAINE HEADACHE: Often preceded by
aura, and associated with weakness, numbness, and paresthesias.
- TENSION HEADACHE: Usually is frontal
or occipital. Tends to be recurrent.
- CLUSTER HEADACHE: In males, occurring
at night, 2-3 hours after falling asleep. Symptoms are intense
unilateral orbital pain (over one eye), with lacrimation, rhinorrhea,
flushing. Usually lasts about 1 hour.
- CAUSES of SECONDARY
HEADACHE:
- Meningismus: Stiff neck. If it occurs
with the "worst headache of my life," then you should be
suspicious of subarachnoid hemorrhage.
- Projectile Vomiting: Headache with
projectile vomiting, occurring in morning, usually means increased
intracranial pressure.
- Transient loss of
Consciousness: Headache accompanied by transient loss of consciousness should
raise question of stroke.
- SYNCOPE and LOSS of
CONSCIOUSNESS:
- SEIZURES:
- Types of Seizures:
- Complex Partial
Seizures: Patients commonly have feelings of fear or deja vu associated
with complex partial seizures.
- Grand Mal Seizures: Tonic-clonic, often
with loss of autonomic control.
- Petit Mal Seizures: Lasting for a
short period of time -- only a few seconds.
- CAUSES of SEIZURE:
- Adolescents (12-20):
Idiopathic (Epilepsy), Trauma, Drug and alcohol
withdrawal
- Young Adults
(20-35): Trauma, alcoholism, brain tumor
- Older adults (35+): brain
tumor, CVA, metabolic disorders, electrolyte imbalances (hyponatremia,
hypoglycemia, uremia).
- CHANGES in VISION:
- Amaurosis Fugax: Transient, painless
loss of vision in one eye, due to ischemic changes in retina. Usually
due to carotid artery stenosis or some form of retinal
artery occlusion.
- Other symptoms, such
as weakness, paresthesias, often accompany the Amaurosis Fugax.
- Retrobulbar Neuritis: Occurs in Multiple
Sclerosis and may cause transient loss of vision in one eye.
- CHANGES in HEARING:
- CHANGES in SPEECH:
- Dysarthria: Difficulty in
articulating words.
- Dysphonia: Difficulty speaking
due to impaired phonation ability.
- Aphasia: Inability to
produce (motor aphasia) or understand (receptive
aphasia) meaningful speech.
- PARALYSIS or WEAKNESS:
Paresis is intermittent weakness.
- CAUSES of Paresis:
- Myasthenia Gravis
(fatigable weakness)
- Hypokalemia can result in
periodic paralysis.
- Transient ischemic
attacks (TIA's): Recurrent Transient weaknesses in an upper
extremity, accompanied by numbness and paresthesia.
- Peripheral
neuropathies
- Polymyositis or
dermatomyositis.
- NUMBNESS and
PARESTHESIA:
- Hypocalcemia,
hypomagnesemia
- Hyperventilation
syndrome
- Paraneoplastic
syndrome.
- Medications:
isoniazid, metronidazole.
- CHANGES in MOOD and
SLEEP PATTERN:
- ALCOHOL and DRUG USE,
SEXUAL HISTORY:
- Sexual history: In the neuro exam,
may inquire about it to evaluate risk of HIV encephalopathy.
- Alcoholism manifests
a lot of neurological symptoms (Wernicke, beriberi, peripheral
neuropathies).
NEUROLOGIC EXAM:
- ASSESSMENT of MOTOR
FUNCTION: Sometimes pluses and minuses can be used for even finer
grading.
- 0: No contraction;
paralysis
- 1: Trace of
contraction.
- 2: Moves if gravity is
eliminated.
- 3: Moves against
gravity.
- 4: Moves against
gravity and against some resistance.
- 5: Normal strength.
- Motor Abnormalities:
- Hysteria: To test whether
weakness in the leg is from hysteria or is organic, put a hand on both
limbs and have the patient lift one limb against the hand's resistance.
- If the cause of
motor weakness is organic, then examiner should feel the other leg move
the opposite direction in compensation.
- If it is hysteria,
then the other leg remains still.
- Fasciculations: Twitchings in
resting muscles. May be normal if they are occasional or precipitated by
cold. They may be a sign of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
if they are accompanied by weakness.
- Tics: Normal movements of
muscle groups (such as winking or grinning) occurring involuntarily, as in
Tourette's Syndrome.
- Tetany: Involuntary muscle
spasms.
- Causes: Tetanus,
hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, hyperventilation syndrome.
- Chvostek's Sign: Tap over facial
nerve anterior to ear, and look for contraction of the facial muscles,
especially shutting of eyes.
- Trousseau's
Phenomenon: Inflate a blood-pressure cuff to systolic pressure and
maintain for 1-2 minutes. Induction of carpal-pedal spasm indicates
latent tetany.
- Tremors: Oscillating
movements caused by involuntary contractions of muscle groups.
- SENSORY EVALUATION
- Peripheral
Neuropathies tend to occur in hand-and-glove distribution -- at the
distal ends of the extremities.
- PAIN: Upon pinprick,
patient may experience hypalgesia (reduced pain),
hyperalgesia, or analgesia (no pain).
- LIGHT TOUCH:
- Hypesthesia = Impaired light touch
sensation. Also related to light-touch are hyperesthesia, paresthesia,
and anesthesia (no light touch).
- Sensory Extinction: In parietal
lobe lesions, if you put a pinprick on both sides of the body
of a patient simultaneously, the patient will not perceive the prick on
the affected side of the lesion. If the pins are placed sequentially,
then the patient still retains normal sensation on both sides.
- STEREOGNOSIS: Being
able to identify objects with your eyes closed.
- CEREBELLAR FUNCTION:
- Dysergia: Improper coordinated
function of a muscle group.
- Dysmetria: Inability to
properly guage the distance between two points. Tested with
finger-to-nose movements.
- Dysdiadochokinesia: Inability to do
rapid alternating movements.
- Scanning Speech: Prolonged separation
of syllables, often seen with cerebellar dysfunction.
- GAIT Disturbances:
- Cerebellar Lesions:
Central cerebellar lesion shows unsteady gait, but conventional
cerebellar signs may be normal.
- Posterior Columns
Lesions: Loss of proprioception results in unsteady gait when eyes
are closed, but relatively normal gait when eyes are open.
- Festinating Gait: Parkinsonian gait,
shuffling walk.
- Romberg Test: Patient can't
maintain balance with legs tight together, with eyes closed.
- Titubation: Body tremor when
standing or walking, sign of cerebellar disease.
REFLEXES:
- Deep Tendon Reflexes:
- Upper Extremity:
- Biceps Reflex: Elbow flexion.
- Triceps Reflex: Forearm extension.
- Brachioradialis
Reflex: Tap distal radius ------> flexion and partial supination
of the forearm.
- Lower Extremity:
- Patellar Reflex: Contraction of
Quadriceps (strongest muscles in body) and extension of leg.
- Suprapatellar Reflex: Above the knee;
same response.
- Achilles Reflex: Causes
plantarflexion of foot.
- Reflex grading:
- 0: Complete absence
- 1: Diminished
- 2: Normal Reflex
- 3: Hyperactive reflex
- 4: Clonus
- Superficial Reflexes:
- Upper Abdominal:
Ipsilateral contraction of abdominal muscles on the stroked side.
- Lower Abdominal:
Ipsilateral contraction of abdominal muscles on the stroked side.
- Cremasteric: Stroke
inner thigh ------> elevation of testes.
- Brainstem Reflexes:
- Corneal Reflex
- Pupillary Light
Reflex
- Gag Reflex
- Abnormal Reflexes:
- Babinski Sign: Stroke bottom of the
foot ------> fanning (eversion) of big toe.
- Chaddock's Reflex: When the external
malleolar skin area is irritated, extension of the great toe occurs in
cases of organic disease of the corticospinal reflex paths.
- Oppenheim's Sign: Scratch inner side
of leg ------> extension of toes. Sign of cerebral irritation.
- Gordon's Sign: Squeeze the calf
muscles and note the response of the great toe. Fanning or extension is
considered abnormal.
- Hoffman's Sign: Flexion of the
terminal phalanx of the thumb and of the second and third phalanges of
one or more of the fingers when the volar surface of the terminal
phalanx of the fingers is flicked.
- It is significant
for pyramidal tract disease when it is unilateral. If it is bilateral
than the meaning is uncertain.
- Absence of Superficial
Reflexes: Unilateral suppression of superficial reflexes often results
from upper motor lesions subsequent to a CVA.
- Primitive Reflexes: Presence of primitive
reflexes is often a sign of frontal lobe lesions.
- Suck Reflex: Gently tap or rub
the upper lift ------> elicit a reflexive sucking or puckering
response.
- Grasp Reflex: Stroke the patient's
palm, causing him to grasp your fingers. A positive test occurs when the
patient does not let go of your fingers.
- Palmomental Sign: Rub the thenar
eminence ------> elicit reflexive contraction of the muscles of the
chin.
CRANIAL NERVE EVALUATION:
- CN I: OLFACTORY
- TEST: Have patient
identify objects by smell.
- ABNORMAL:
- Head trauma with
fracture of cribriform plate
- Neoplasm in anterior
fossa: meningioma
- CN II: OPTIC
- TEST: Visual acuity,
funduscopic exam
- ABNORMAL: Lots of
causes of blindness
- CN III: OCULOMOTOR
- TEST:
- Have patient move
eyes through all fields of vision. Intact 3rd nerve means
that eyes can move medially, superiorly, and inferiorly.
- Pupillary Reflex: Check for pupillary
response to light in same eye and contralateral eye.
- Ptosis: Ptosis may occur
due to 3rd nerve palsy.
- ABNORMAL:
- Unilateral CN-III
Palsy: Subarachnoid hemorrhage resulting from aneurysm, diabetes,
atherosclerosis.
- Horner's Syndrome:
Usually occurs from bronchogenic carcinoma (Pancoast
Tumor) impinging on the Superior Cervical Ganglion.
- CN IV: TROCHLEAR
- CN V: TRIGEMINAL
- TEST:
- Sensory: Check
corneal reflex. Test facial sensation with eyes closed.
- Motor: Have patient
clench teeth and palpate masseter muscle.
- ABNORMAL:
- Lost Corneal Reflex:
Tumor of the cerebellopontine angle.
- Tic Douloureux: Irritative lesions
of the CN V sensory roots.
- Spasm of muscles of
mastication: tetanus, adverse reaction to Phenothiazines.
- CN VI: ABDUCENS
- TEST: Look laterally.
- ABNORMAL:
- Diabetes, atherosclerosis,
increased ICP, neoplasm.
- CN VII: FACIAL
- TEST: Have patient
smile, blink, frown, wrinkle forehead.
- ABNORMAL: Bell's
Palsy
- Central Lesion of
VII: The supratrochlear muscles are spared, as they receive
bilateral innervation from both facial nerves. Below the eyes, the
contralateral side will be paralyzed.
- Peripheral Lesion of
VII: There is an entire facial hemiplegia, with the paralysis
occurring on the contralateral side.
- CN VIII:
VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR
- TEST: Standard
hearing and vestibular tests.
- ABNORMAL: A variety
of disorders
- CN IX:
GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL
- TEST: Have patient
open mouth and say "Aaahhh."
- ABNORMAL: See Vagus
N. below.
- CN X: VAGUS
- TEST: Have patient
open mouth and say "Aaahhh."
- ABNORMAL:
- Aortic Aneurysm,
Bronchogenic Carcinoma may damage the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
- Uvula will deviate
toward the damaged side.
- CN XI: SPINAL
ACCESSORY
- TEST: Have patient
shrug shoulders.
- ABNORMAL:
Polymyositis
- CN XII: HYPOGLOSSAL
- TEST: Have patient
stick out tongue.
- ABNORMAL:
MENTAL STATUS EXAM:
- STATE of CONSCIOUSNESS:
The Glasgow Coma Scale
- ORIENTATION
- ABILITY to COOPERATE
- MOOD
- THOUGHT PROCESS
- MEMORY for RECENT and
REMOTE EVENTS
- ABILITY to HANDLE
CONCEPTS and PROVERBS
- PRACTICAL SKILLS
- SPEECH PROBLEMS and
RECOGNITION of APHASIA
PATIENTS with ABNORMAL NEUROLOGICAL STATUS:
- APPROACH to the
COMATOSE PATIENT:
- APPROACH to the
DELIRIOUS PATIENT:
- APPROACH to the
PATIENT with PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY:
- APPROACH to the
PATIENT with SIGNS of MENINGEAL IRRITATION: