A

• Auscultation – Listening to internal body sounds, typically using a stethoscope (e.g., heart, lungs, abdomen).

• Ascites – Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, often assessed via shifting dullness or fluid wave tests.

• Axillary Temperature – Temperature measured in the armpit; typically lower than oral or rectal temperatures.

B

• Brudzinski’s Sign – Involuntary flexion of the hips when the neck is passively flexed; suggests meningeal irritation.

• Babinski Reflex – Dorsiflexion of the big toe with fanning of other toes upon plantar stimulation; abnormal in adults, indicating upper motor neuron lesion.

• Barrel Chest – Increased anterior-posterior diameter of the chest, often seen in COPD.

C

• Clubbing – Bulbous enlargement of the distal phalanges; associated with chronic hypoxia (e.g., lung disease, congenital heart disease).

• Capillary Refill Time – Time taken for color to return to the nail bed after blanching; >2 seconds suggests poor perfusion.

• Crepitus – A crackling sound or sensation, often felt in subcutaneous emphysema or joint abnormalities.

D

• Dullness to Percussion – Suggests fluid or solid tissue beneath (e.g., pleural effusion, hepatomegaly).

• Diastolic Murmur – Heart murmur occurring during diastole; may indicate valvular heart disease (e.g., aortic regurgitation).

E

• Egophony – “E to A” change heard on auscultation; suggests lung consolidation.

• Erythema – Redness of the skin caused by capillary dilation.

F

• Fremitus – Palpable vibration on the chest wall when the patient speaks; increased in consolidation, decreased in effusion.

• Flapping Tremor (Asterixis) – A tremor of the hands when extended, often seen in hepatic encephalopathy or uremia.

G

• Gait Assessment – Evaluation of the way a person walks; abnormalities may suggest neurological or musculoskeletal issues.

• Guarding – Involuntary contraction of abdominal muscles in response to palpation, indicating peritonitis.

H

• Homan’s Sign – Pain in the calf on dorsiflexion of the foot; may suggest deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

• Hyperresonance – Excessive resonance on percussion; may indicate pneumothorax or emphysema.

• Hepatojugular Reflux (Abdominojugular Test) – Sustained rise in JVP with abdominal pressure; suggests right heart failure.

I

• Inspection – The first step of physical examination involving visual observation for abnormalities.

J

• Jaundice – Yellowing of skin and sclera due to elevated bilirubin.

• Jugular Venous Pressure (JVP) – An indirect measure of central venous pressure; elevated in right heart failure.

K

• Kussmaul’s Sign – Paradoxical rise in JVP during inspiration; seen in constrictive pericarditis.

L

• Lymphadenopathy – Enlargement of lymph nodes; may be localized or generalized.

• Lhermitte’s Sign – Electric shock sensation down the spine with neck flexion; may indicate cervical spinal cord pathology.

M

• Murphy’s Sign – Inspiratory arrest during palpation of the right upper quadrant; suggests acute cholecystitis.

• Murmur – Abnormal heart sound due to turbulent blood flow; classified by timing, location, pitch, and radiation.

N

• Nystagmus – Involuntary rhythmic eye movements; may indicate vestibular or neurological disease.

O

• Orthopnea – Difficulty breathing when lying flat; commonly associated with heart failure.

• Ophthalmoscopy – Examination of the interior eye using an ophthalmoscope to assess retinal vessels and optic disc.

P

• Palpation – Using hands to examine the body, especially to assess organs, masses, or tenderness.

• Percussion – Tapping on a surface to determine the underlying structure’s density.

• Pitting Edema – Indentation remains after pressure is applied to a swollen area, indicating fluid overload.

Q

• Quadrant Assessment (Abdomen) – Dividing the abdomen into four quadrants to localize pain or pathology.

R

• Rhonchi – Low-pitched wheezing or snoring sounds; often caused by airway obstruction.

• Rigidity – Stiffness of muscles; may suggest peritoneal irritation.

S

• Stridor – High-pitched sound during inspiration due to upper airway obstruction.

• S3/S4 Heart Sounds – Extra heart sounds; S3 may indicate heart failure, S4 suggests stiff ventricles.

• Shifting Dullness – A test for ascites where dullness to percussion shifts when the patient changes position.

T

• Tactile Fremitus – Vibrations felt on the chest wall; changes help assess lung pathology.

• Tracheal Deviation – Shift in tracheal position; may indicate tension pneumothorax or mass effect.

U

• Urticaria – Raised, itchy wheals on the skin, commonly seen in allergic reactions.

V

• Venous Hum – A continuous murmur heard over the jugular vein, often benign in children.

• Vital Signs – Basic measurements (temperature, pulse, respiration rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation).

W

• Whispered Pectoriloquy – Whispered words heard clearly on auscultation over consolidated lung tissue.

• Wheeze – High-pitched sound heard during expiration; indicates airway narrowing.

Z

• Zieman’s Test – An obsolete term; no longer used in modern internal medicine.