A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:
- General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; further:
- Inspection (viewing).
- Skin, mucous membranes and sclerae
- Abdomen (abdomen)
- Shape of the abdomen?
- Skin color? Skin texture?
- Efflorescences (skin changes)?
- Pulsations? Bowel movements?
- Visible vessels?
- Scars? Hernias (fractures)?
- Auscultation (listening) of the carotid artery, heart and peripheral arterial vessels.
- Auscultation of the lungs
- Examination of the abdomen
- Inspection (viewing).
- Neurological examination – including testing of reflexes, sensitivity, motor skills.
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.