A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:
- General physical examination–including blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, body weight, body height; further:
- Inspection (viewing).
- Skin, mucous membranes and sclerae (white part of the eye).
- Inspection and palpation of the spine/joints.
- Inspection of the lymph node stations
- Examination of the abdomen (abdomen)
- Percussion (tapping) of the abdomen
- [Attenuation of tapping sound due to enlarged liver or spleen, tumor, urinary retention?
- Hepatomegaly (liver enlargement) and/or splenomegaly (spleen enlargement): estimate liver and spleen size]
- Percussion (tapping) of the abdomen
- Determination of the severity of possible malnutrition or undernutrition.
- Inspection (viewing).
- Cancer screening
- Health check
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.