File:Attending_surgeon's_office;_examination_room,_Washington,_D.C._World_War_1_(1910s).jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
physical examination
Sign in to saveAlso known as clinical examination, check-up, health check, medical examination, physical, physical exam
process by which a medical professional investigates the body of a patient for signs of disease
Key facts
- Mesh
- D010808
- Medlineplus
- 002274
via Wikipedia infobox
Research
1,572,155 papers- The Hypothesis-Driven Physical Examination.The Medical clinics of North America · 2018
- Time to Add a Fifth Pillar to Bedside Physical Examination: Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, and Insonation.JAMA cardiology · 2018
- The Outpatient Physical Examination.The Medical clinics of North America · 2018
- Physical examination of the shoulder.The Journal of hand surgery · 2014
- Physical Examination of the Head and Neck.The Medical clinics of North America · 2026
via PubMed
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Attending surgeon's office; examination room, Washington, D.C. World War 1 (1910s).jpg
Show 3 more facts
- Commons category
- Physical examinations
- equivalent class
- schema.org/PhysicalExam
- NCI Thesaurus ID
- C20989
Sources (2)
via Wikidata · CC0
~15 min read
Article
In a physical examination, medical examination, clinical examination, or medical checkup, a medical practitioner examines a patient for any possible medical signs or symptoms of a medical condition. It generally consists of a series of questions about the patient's medical history followed by an examination based on the reported symptoms. Together, the medical history and the physical examination help to determine a diagnosis and devise the treatment plan. These data then become part of the medical record.
Types