routine physical exam
check normally functioning systems
physical assistant (PA)
looks at symptoms to find a way to help
ophthalmoscope
tool used to examine interior of eye
visual acuity
tested by eye chart (20/20); 1st number is distance from chart / 2nd number is what a normal person can read
pupillary response
automatic adjustment of pupil size, tests pupil response to light and tracking object movement
cornea
outermost layer of eye, clear dome; shield eye from germs, dust, etc.; help eyes focus
eye light path
light enters corneas, filtered through pupil to lens
retina
light sensitive tissue in back of eyes that processes and converts images to nerve signals
color change of retina
sign of disease
ears
hearing and balance; external, middle, and inner structures conduct sound waves
otoscope
tool with light and magnifying glass to look in ear or nose / throat
How does sounds travel through the ear?
sound goes through canal to tympanic membrane / eardrum to outermost part of middle ear
small ossicles (bones)
transmit sound vibrations from eardrum to inner ear
inner ear
spiral structure that responds to sound waves called cochlea and 3 curved canals
cochlea
translate sound vibrations from middle ear to auditory signals to brain
tonsils
small masses at back of throat, part of lymphatic system
oral mucosa
interior of mouth, barrier / protective
strep throat
sore throat, painful swallowing, red/inflamed tonsils and uvula, fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes in neck
uvula
soft tissue on posterior edge of soft palate
lymphatic system
organs, tissues, vessels, nodes that filter and circulate lymph through body
lymph
clear fluid with high white blood cell concentration
cyanosis
low blood O2 → bluish skin in fingers and lips
3 layers of the skin
epidermis, dermic, hypodermis
skin
regulates internal temperature, repels water, synthesizes vitamin d, senses, immune
moles
small raised dark spots, sun leads to changes which can signal a problem
melanoma
skin cancer, most serious, from melanocyte DNA damaged by UV
mole evaluation ABCDE
asymmetry, border, color, diameter, evolving
normal heart sound
predictable beat / rhythm (chk-chk, lub dub)
mitral valve regurgitation (MVR)
backflow of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium when MV does not close properly
clear lung sound
clear woosh
cracking / wheezing lung sound
high pitched whistle with narrow airways; asthma, respiratory illness, allergies, emphysema (damage to air sacs)
crackles (rale) lung sound
clicking, narrowed with fluid
stridor lung sound
harsh, shrill sound from partially obstructed windpipe
rhonchi lung sound
snore-like sound heard when airways are partially obstructed
basic function
connected to nervous system (eye movement, reflex, peripheral vision, hearing, facial nerve function, coordination, gait, pupillary response, smell, motor strength, memory sensation)