A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps: General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; furthermore:
- Inspection (viewing).
- Skin, mucous membranes, abdominal wall, and inguinal region (groin area) [painful lymphangitis (inflammation of regional lymph nodes)]
- Examination of the genital area:
- Male (urological examination)
- Inspection and palpation of the genitals (penis and scrotum; assessment of pubes hair (pubic hair), penis (penis length: between 7-10 cm when flaccid; presence of: Indurations (tissue hardening), anomalies, phimosis/foreskin stenosis?) as well as testicular position and size; if applicable, painfulness compared to the opposite side or where is the punctum maximum of pain) [Leading symptoms: Early symptom is pustules, which then turn into painful ulcers (ulcers) with soft, purulent edges; painful lymphangitis (inflammation of regional lymph nodes)]
- Digital rectal examination (DRU): examination of the rectum (rectum) and adjacent organs with the finger by palpation (assessment of the prostate in size, shape and consistency, possibly detection of indurations (tissue hardening)). [Leading symptoms: Early symptoms are pustules, which then progress to painful ulcers (ulcers) with soft, purulent edges; painful lymphangitis (inflammation of regional lymph nodes)]
- Woman (gynecological examination)
- Inspection
- Vulva (external, primary female sex organs), vagina (vagina) [Leading symptoms: Early symptom is pustules, which then progress to painful ulcers (boils) with soft, purulent margins; painful lymphangitis (inflammation of regional lymph nodes)]
- Cervix uteri (cervix), or portio (cervix; transition from the cervix (cervix uteri) to the vagina (vagina)), taking a Pap smear (for early detection of cervical cancer).
- Palpation (bimanual; palpation with both hands) of the internal genital organs.
- Cervix uteri (cervix).
- Uterus (uterus) [Normal: anteflexed/angled anteriorly, normal size, no tenderness].
- Adnexa (appendages of the uterus, i.e., the ovary (ovary) and uterine tubule (fallopian tube)) [Normal: free]
- Parametria (pelvic connective tissue in front of the cervix to the urinary bladder and on both sides to the lateral pelvic wall) [Normal: free].
- Pelvic walls [Normal: free]
- Douglas space (pocket-like bulge of the peritoneum (abdominal wall) between the rectum (rectum) at the back and the uterus (uterus) at the front) [Normal: clear].
- Inspection
- Male (urological examination)
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.
