The four primary techniques used in physical examination are inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.

According to the chapter, a complete physical examination relies on four primary techniques: inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. Inspection is the visual examination of the body using sight, along with smell and hearing cues. Palpation uses the sense of touch, with light palpation preceding deep palpation. Percussion involves striking the body surface to elicit sounds or vibrations that help determine the size, shape, and density of underlying tissues. Auscultation is listening to body sounds, often with a stethoscope.

Key points

The four primary techniques are inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
Inspection is the deliberate, purposeful, and systematic visual examination.
Palpation uses touch to assess texture, temperature, vibration, position, size, and tenderness.
Percussion elicits sounds that indicate whether tissue is fluid filled, air filled, or solid.
Auscultation is listening to sounds produced within the body, directly or with a stethoscope.

What are the four primary techniques used in physical examination?

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