FCM – Immersion
Physical Exam Checklist
Student:_____________________________________
Examiner:____________________________________

Steps Yes/No Notes

General appearance, skin, & vital signs
General appearance Observe general appearance
Skin Perform an integrated skin exam during entire exam
Pulse: measure radial pulse for 15 seconds
Vital Signs Measure systolic and diastolic blood pressure by auscultation
Respiratory rate: count the respirations for 30 seconds
HEENT
Inspect size and shape of the head and the scalp
Inspect for symmetry, masses, and signs of trauma
General Impression
Inspect the skin as you perform the HEENT exam
Note any difficulty with breathing or speech
Measure visual acuity
Inspect the eyelids, lashes, bulbar & palpebral conjunctiva, sclera,
Eyes cornea, anterior chamber, and iris
Assess pupils
Perform ophthalmoscopy*
Inspect auricle and mastoid
Ears Examine auditory canals, TMs, and middle ear structures*
Assess hearing with finger rubbing
Nose Examine the external nose, nares, septum, and nasal cavities*
Inspect the lips, buccal mucosa, tongue, floor of mouth, palate,
palatine tonsils, and posterior pharyngeal wall
Inspect the teeth and gums
Mouth
Palpate parotid glands
Palpate temporomandibular joints (TMJ)
Inspect the neck
Palpate the neck, including lymph nodes (anterior cervical,
Neck
posterior cervical, and supraclavicular)
Palpate thyroid
Chest
Observe respiratory effort and note any signs of respiratory
Inspection distress
Inspect the skin of the posterior chest
Assess symmetry of respiratory excursion
Palpation
Assess tactile fremitus
Percuss the chest posteriorly
Percussion
Percuss the spine and the costovertebral angles
Auscultate the chest using the diaphragm of the stethoscope
Auscultation
posteriorly, laterally, and anteriorly
Cardiovascular
Inspect and measure JVP

Inspection Inspect the precordium

Inspect the skin of the anterior chest and neck as you perform the
CV exam
Palpate the apical impulse
Palpation Palpate LLSB for lifts
Palpate the carotid arteries
Listen at each location with the diaphragm: RUSB, LUSB, LLSB,
Auscultation apex
Listen with the bell at the cardiac apex
 FCM – Immersion
Physical Exam Checklist
Steps Yes/No Notes
Listen for bruits over each carotid artery
Palpate each of the following pulses on each side: radial, femoral,
Peripheral Circulation
DP, PT
Edema Inspect for pedal edema
Abdomen
Observe the patient for discomfort
Inspection Inspect the abdominal contour
Inspect skin as you examine the abdomen
Auscultation Listen in one place with the diaphragm of the stethoscope
Percuss all four quadrants
Palpate all 4 quadrants
Percuss the liver
Percussion & Palpation
Palpate the lower liver edge
Palpate for an enlarged spleen
Palpate for inguinal LAD
Neurologic
Observe the level of consciousness
Observe speech and language
Mental Status
Assess orientation to person, place, and time
Assess short term memory
If not done in the HEENT exam, test visual acuity & visual fields for
each eye (CN II)
If not done in the HEENT exam, test pupillary reaction (CN II and
III)
Test eyelid opening (CN III)
Test extra-ocular movements (CN III, IV, VI), observing for
nystagmus (CN VIII)

Cranial Nerves Test facial sensation & muscles of mastication (CN V)

Test muscles of facial expression (CN VII)
Test hearing (CN VIII)
Test palatal rise to phonation (CN IX and X)
Test sternocleidomastoid & upper trapezius muscle strength (CN
XI)
Test tongue symmetry and protrusion (CN XII)
Assess bulk, tone, and strength:
 Upper extremities: Shoulder abductors, arm flexors &
extensors, wrist flexors & extensors, finger abductors and
Motor flexors
 Lower extremities: Hip flexors, abductors &adductors; knee
flexors & extensors, foot dorsiflexors & plantar flexors
 Pronator drift
Upper extremity: biceps, triceps, & brachioradialis
Reflexes Lower extremity: patellar & Achilles
Plantar reflex
Sensation Romberg test
Finger-to-nose test
Cerebellum Heel-to-shin test
Gait
*This portion of the exam may be deferred until after Immersion. Check with your FCM faculty at your site for details.