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Physical examination

During a physical examination, a health care provider checks your body to determine if you do or do not have a physical problem.

A physical examination usually includes:

  • Inspection (looking at the body)
  • Palpation (feeling the body with fingers or hands)
  • Auscultation (listening to sounds, usually with a stethoscope)
  • Percussion (producing sounds, usually by tapping on specific areas of the body)

Images

References

Swartz MH, Swartz TH. The physical examination. In: Swartz MH, ed. Textbook of Physical Diagnosis: History and Examination. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 6.

Review Date 1/1/2025

Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.