answersLogoWhite

0

A physical exam is used to evaluate health and to detect illness or disease.

A "physical" is often mandated for employment or for insurance purposes. As well, all persons should have a routine yearly physical.

Doctors typically check the following areas when doing a routine physical exam.

1. Vital Signs

2. Head

3. Ears

4. Eyes

5. Nose

6. Mouth and Pharynx

7. Neck

8. Posterior thorax-lung exam

9. Anterior thorax-lung exam

10. Cranial Nerves

11. Posterior thorax

12. Axillae

13. Cardiovascular

14. Abdomen

15. Upper extremity-MSK and Partial Neurological

16. Lower extremity

17. Neurological

18. Back and spine

If the appointment is to check a previous condition (such as high blood pressure), or to diagnose an acute condition (such as a cough), the list of areas to be checked will be focused to the problem.

All primary care physicians do routine physicals.

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Still curious? Ask our experts.

Chat with our AI personalities

FranFran
I've made my fair share of mistakes, and if I can help you avoid a few, I'd sure like to try.
Chat with Fran
DevinDevin
I've poured enough drinks to know that people don't always want advice—they just want to talk.
Chat with Devin
EzraEzra
Faith is not about having all the answers, but learning to ask the right questions.
Chat with Ezra

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What is a physical exam for?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp