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 and mucous membranes
- Abdomen (abdomen) [inspection while lying down and standing].
- Shape of the abdomen?
- [Pregnant woman lying down: patient lies on her back and tenses the abdominal wall by lifting her head → gap in the middle of the abdomen; widening of the so-called linea alba/vertical connective tissue suture on the abdomen.
- Pregnant woman standing: Protrusion of the anterior abdominal wall/rectus diastasis as a bulge between the two standing straight abdominal muscles (Mm. recti abdominis).
- After pregnancy standing: unusually soft, bulging abdomen that still looks pregnant]
- Skin color? Skin texture?
- Efflorescences (skin changes)?
- Pulsations? Bowel movements?
- Shape of the abdomen?
- Examination of the abdomen (abdomen)
- Percussion (tapping) of the abdomen.
- Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (abdomen) (pressure pain?, knock pain?, cough pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices?, kidney bearing knock pain?)
- Inspection (viewing).
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.
