Medical examination

Medical examination (also known as clinical examination or physical examination) is the process by which a medical professional investigates the body of a patient for signs of disease. It generally follows the taking of the medical history—an account of the symptoms as experienced by the patient.

Purpose

Medical examinations serve several purposes. They can be used for diagnostic purposes to identify any potential physical ailments. They can also be used for prognostic purposes, to predict the likely course of a disease. Additionally, they can be used for therapeutic purposes, to monitor the effectiveness of a treatment.

Procedure

The procedure for a medical examination can vary depending on the specific circumstances. However, it generally involves a series of steps, including:

• Inspection: The medical professional visually examines the patient's body.
• Palpation: The medical professional feels the patient's body to detect any abnormalities.
• Percussion: The medical professional taps on the patient's body to produce sounds that can indicate the presence of certain conditions.
• Auscultation: The medical professional listens to the sounds produced by the patient's body, often with the aid of a stethoscope.

Types of Medical Examinations

There are several types of medical examinations, including:

• Routine physical examination: This is a general examination of the body performed by a healthcare professional during a routine check-up.
• Specialized medical examination: This is an examination that focuses on a specific area of the body or a specific medical condition.
• Pre-employment medical examination: This is an examination performed to determine an individual's fitness for a particular job.
• Insurance medical examination: This is an examination performed to determine an individual's eligibility for insurance coverage.

See also

• Medical history
• Clinical diagnosis
• Prognosis
• Therapy
• Stethoscope

Medical examination Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? WikiMD's DocFinder can help find general and specialist physicians.	Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials.