This is a collection of instructions or marking sheets for medical examinations in medical school. The document contains one-page overviews of 13 examinations: Abdomen, cardiovascular, respiratory, peripheral neural, periperal vascular, gait-arms-legs-spine (GALS), groin, thyroid/neck, breast.

7. Peripheral Vascular Examination (arterial) – 5 min station
Communication with patient
- Introduction and orientation (name, role and confirms patient's agreement)
- Rapport (shows interest, respect and concern, appropriate body language)
- Communicates with patient appropriately during examination (explains what
he/she is doing, gains co-operation)
- Examines the patients in a professional manner (gentle, watches for pain,
maintains dignity and privacy)
Examination process
- Appropriately exposes the patient and positions the patient for different parts
of the examination. Starts with patient at 45 degrees
- Inspects hands, arms, neck, chest, abdomen and limbs for stigmata of arterial
disease (pallor, rubor, ischemic ulcers, gangrene, visible pulsations, nicotine
staining, etc.)
- Checks the radial pulses commenting on rate and rhythm
- Checks the brachial pulses
- Asks for patient’s brachial blood pressure
- Palpates for parotid pulses and listens for bruits
- Examines the heart - apex beat, right ventricular heave, auscultation
- Lays patient flat and palpates abdomen for aortic aneurysm. If enlarged
measures this and comments on size
- Uses stethoscope to auscultate for aortic and iliac bruits
- Palpates femoral pulses and listens for bruits
- Palpates popliteal pulses - knees flexed to 135 degrees
- Palpates the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses
- Performs Buerger’s test
- Asks for patient’s Doppler ankle pressures
Presentation
- Closure (thanks patient, eaves patient comfortable)
- Candidate presents summary in a fluent, logical manner
- Candidate makes a reasonable attempt at a diagnosis
- Examiner asks for clinical reasoning, which led to diagnosis
- Logical deduction from symptoms and signs
- Candidate presents further investigations

8. Peripheral Vascular Examination (venous; lower limb)
Communication with patient
- Introduction and orientation (name, role and confirms patient's agreement)
- Rapport (shows interest, respect and concern, appropriate body language)
- Communicates with patient appropriately during examination (explains what
he/she is doing, gains co-operation)
- Examines the patients in a professional manner (gentle, watches for pain,
maintains dignity and privacy)
Examination process
- Appropriately exposes the patient and positions the patient for different parts
of the examination. Starts with patient at 45 degrees
- Inspects the legs for stigmata of venous disease - varicose veins, leg oedema,
skin staining in the gaiter area, lipodermatosclerosis, venous ulceration,
cellulites, etc.
- Palpates the leg for tenderness and pitting oedema
- Inspects the patient standing up
- Checks for presence of varicose veins in LSV territory, SSV territory and
abnormal distributions e.g. lateral side of leg
- Comments on presence of varicose veins, size and distribution
- Performs tap test - percussion of veins
- Locates saphenofemoral junction and ask patient to cough - comments on
palpable thrill
- Asks the patient to lie flat
- Performs Trendelenburg and tourniquet test for varicose veins
- If necessary repeats test placing the tourniquet in the above knee and below
knee positions
Presentation
- Closure (thanks patient, eaves patient comfortable)
- Candidate presents key findings
- Candidate presents summary in a fluent, logical manner
- Candidate makes a reasonable attempt at a diagnosis
- Examiner asks for clinical reasoning, which led to diagnosis
- Logical deduction from symptoms and signs
- Candidate presents further investigations

9. Varicose Veins Examination
Quick reminder of anatomy:
- major superficial veins: long and short saphenous
- The superficial system connects to deep system for drainage via perforator veins.
- If valves are broken/incompetent, then you get backflow.
Communication with patient
- Introduces self, name, role and purpose of examination (+ hand hygiene)
- Ensures patient comfortable, prepared and happy to proceed
- Explains process and examination to the patient as they proceed in a professional and considerate
manner
- Thanks patient and explains that examination is complete when finished (+ hand hygiene)
Examination
- Ask if patient is in pain before starting
- Inspect legs while patient is standing for:
distribution of veins, ulcers, eczema, venous stars, lipodermatosclerosis, atrophy blanches, pitting
oedema, scars (if you find oedema, check JVP)
- Palpate for temperature, tenderness and hardness with back of hand. Do not forget gaiter area
= lower third of the medial aspect of the leg, immediately above the medial malleolus
- Can do direction test where one empties a short section of a vein, by sliding a finger across, then
compress vein at two sites and let go of the higher site, watch if it refills. If yes => incompetence.
- Feel for leg pulses: Femoral. Popliteal, dorsalis pedis, tibialis posterior, delays?
- Test cough impulse: find saphenofemoral junction (2-4cm inferolateral to pubic tubercle, or
medial of 1/2way point between ASIS and pubic tubercle) and ask patient to cough. If impulse felt
(text + presence of saphena varix).
- The 'tap test': put finger lightly onto saphenofemoral junction, then tap on varicose vein lower
down the leg. If they are in continuity (i.e.: the valves are incompetent) then you will feel thrilling
from the vein to the junction (thrills are normally interrupted by competent valves, if not then
tapping sends a shock wave up the vein that is palpable).
- Trendelenburg test (used to assess the competence of SFJ):
o lie the patient down, elevate the leg and drain venous blood from the varicose vein
o place two fingers on the SFJ
o ask patient to stand, keeping fingers in place, then release fingers
o If the veins do not refill until the pressure is removed = “can control refill” ! SFJ is
incompetent
o If the veins do refill ! SFJ may or may not be incompetent, presence of distal
incompetent perforators
- Tourniquet test:
- ask patient to lie down and lift up leg, draining venous blood from the varicose vein
- apply a tourniquet mid-thigh, and later below the knee
- ask patient to stand up
- look for refill of the varicose vein – normal is a few seconds
- Auscultate over a large group of veins (if present may indicate an underlying arteriovenous
malformation)
Presentation
- Follows a fluent process which appears professional (allowing for variation in methods taught or
learnt)
- To finish examination:
Doppler ultrasound, examine the abdomen for masses to ascertain whether the varicose veins are
primary or secondary, complete a peripheral vascular exam for arterial supply of the lower limb,
including ABPI, perform Perthes Test:
o Empty the vein as above, place a tourniquet around the thigh, stand the patient up.
o Ask them to rapidly stand up and down on their toes – filling of the veins indicated deep
venous incompetence. This is a painful and rarely used test.
- Presents findings in a clear and logical manner. Makes a reasonable attempt at diagnosis when
questioned
- if varicose vein present, which vein does it come from?

10. GALS = Gait, Arms, Legs, Spine
Examined in the order:
1. gait
2. spine
3. arms
4. legs
- patient only wears underwear
- start with questions:
o any pain or stiffness?
o Where?
o Ever had gout?
o Difficulty dressing him/herself?
o Difficulty with stairs?
1. Gait - inspect
- symmetry
- coordination
- smoothness of movement
- use of aids
- turning ! balance
- also inspect popliteal fossa for swelling
2. Spine
- inspect spine for
o from front: symmetry
o from back: scoliosis (muscle bulk, iliac crests)
o from side: curvature – lordosis, kyphosis
- flexion: place finger on two lumbar vertebrae and ask patient to touch toes
- lat flexion: run arms down side of leg
- cervical spine:
o lat cervical flexion, ask patient to touch shoulder with ear
o turn head
o look up and down
3. Arms
- inspect hands for swelling or deformity from both sides
- squeeze on metacarpals
- movement: grip strength (fist), precision / coordination (pincer)
- prayer and inverse prayer
- extend elbows
- put hands behind head, touch small of the back (above T10)
- even extend above head (ask for pain)
4. Legs
- Get patient to lie on bench
- Inspect knee for
o Swelling, deformity (varus/valgus)
o Quadriceps muscle bulk
o Effusion
- Movement: extension / flexion (also flexes hip)
- In flexed position test hip int and ext rotation
- Inspect feet, check for callouses
- Movement of feet: plantar and dorsiflexion, inversion, eversion
- Squeeze metatarsal joints

11. Groin Examination
LANDMARKS REMINDER
• Mid-inguinal point: ! between ASIS and pubic symphysis
o Location of FEMORAL ATERY
• Midpoint of inguinal ligament: 1/3 between ASIS and pubic tubercle
o Location of DEEP INGUINAL ring and indirect inguinal hernia
o Direct hernia will be medial to this!
• Femoral hernia emerges from femoral canal below and lateral to pubic tubercle
Communication with patient
- Introduces self, name, role and purpose of examination
- Ensures patient comfortable, prepared and happy to proceed
- Explains process and examination to the patient as they proceed in a professional and
considerate manner
- Thanks patient and explains that examination is complete when finished
Examination process
- Follows a fluent process which appears professional (allowing for variation in methods
taught or learnt)
- Ask if any pain, then inspect for:
- swellings on either side of the groin
- asymmetries/swellings within the scrotum
- groin creases for sinuses/fistulae/erythema/obvious swellings
- scars
• Ask patient to cough, and watch for hernia protrusion
• Palpate:
- Midpoint of the inguinal ligament, 1 finger on deep ring, 1 on inguinal ligament
(superficial ring) – and ask patient to cough
- same position but with pressure on deep ring – ask patient to cough again
- for inguinal herniae: press firmly over the internal inguinal ring, holding the
hernia reduced, then ask the patient to cough:
o Is it controlled?
! Yes = INDIRECT Inguinal.
! No = DIRECT Inguinal.
- release the pressure and let the patient cough again. Hernia will re-appear.
- If mass ascertain the following: position, size, shape, temperature and tenderness
• Ask the patient to reduce the hernia him/herself. If unable to, try to reduce it yourself,
and ask to put pressure on side of hernia to hold it in. Stand the patient up and ask them
to cough in order to check for presence of another hernia on the other side.
• Feel for superficial inguinal lymph nodes. The groin lymph nodes lie below the inguinal
ligament.
• Feel for the femoral pulse. Femoral artery aneurysm: main feature is expansile swelling
not just pulsatility.
• Feel for the femoral canal by asking the patient to cough again. Femoral hernia
detectable? If so, reduce and ask to cough again.
• Listen to the femoral artery (in case of aneurysm)
Presentation
- Presents findings in a clear and logical manner. Makes a reasonable attempt at diagnosis
when questioned
To finish examination: perform abdominal examination, examine external genitalia and scrotum

12. Thyroid Examination
Communication with patient
- Introduction and orientation (name, role and confirms patient's agreement)
- Rapport (shows interest, respect and concern, appropriate body language)
- Communicates with patient appropriately during examination (explains what
he/she is doing, gains co-operation)
- Examines the patients in a professional manner (gentle, watches for pain,
maintains dignity and privacy)
Examination process
- Ensures patient seated in good light, with access to examine from behind and
appropriate exposure of the neck
- Observes patient from front commenting on any scars, obvious lumps/swellings
- Asks patient to swallow (with drink if necessary) to check upward movement of
thyroid gland and to ascertain whether any visible lumps/swelling ascend with the
thyroid
- Examines thyroid gland from behind, commenting on size, symmetry and
consistency, checks for movement with swallowing
- Examines neck for lymphadenopathy
- Auscultates gland to listen for bruit
- Checks for retrosternal extension by percussing over upper sternum
- Checks for evidence of lid retraction/lid lag (present in thyrotoxicosis of any
cause) and one or more of exophthalmos / ophthalmoplegia / periorbital oedema /
chemosis (which are specific to Graves’ disease)
- Examines hand to look for tremor and sweating
- Checks radial pulse and comments on rate and rhythm
- Checks for pretibial myxoedema
- Checks for slow relaxation of reflexes
Presentation
- Closure (thanks patient, leaves patient comfortable)
- Candidate presents key findings
- Candidate presents summary in a fluent, logical manner
- Candidate makes a reasonable attempt at a diagnosis
- Examiner asks for clinical reasoning, which led to diagnosis
- Logical deduction from symptoms and signs
- Candidate presents further investigations

13. Breast Examination
Communication with patient
- Introduces self, name, role and purpose of examination
- Ensures patient comfortable, prepared and happy to proceed
- Explains process and examination to the patient as they proceed in a professional
and considerate manner
- Thanks patient and explains that examination is complete when finished
Examination process
- Follows a fluent process which appears professional (allowing for variation in
methods taught or learnt)
- Inspect general appearance of patient:
Cachexia, pallor, shortness of breath
- Inspect breast with patient sitting up, then arms behind head, then arms on the
side for:
Swellings, asymmetries, pitting, peau d'orange, prominent veins, dimpling,
puckering, scars, redness, nipple retraction
- Inspect the supraclavicular area and axillae for swollen nodes, veins and muscle
wasting. Also look for any past signs of breast cancer, e.g.: mastectomy, scars,
hair loss, radiation burns, lymphoedema
- Lay patient at 45 degrees with hand resting behind head, and ask if any pain, or if
they noticed any lumps.
- Palpate (outwards in with flat of fingers) in the four quadrants and the nipple
areolar complex (NAC). Specifically check for discharge.
- If lump felt describe:
Tenderness, site, size, shape, surface, edges, consistency, colour, contour,
pulsatility, fluctuation, temperature, reducibility, mobility , tethering
If there is a lump, ask the patient to push forward against your hand and assess if
it is attached to underlying muscle
- Palpate the axilla, by asking patient to lift arm up, place hand in axilla, lift arm
down to rest on yours, then roll fingers down axilla 4 times. (examine the left
axilla with the left hand and vice versa). If you feel a lump, feel if it is fixed or
not.
- Palpate the supraclavicular nodes.
Presentation
- Presents findings in a clear and logical manner. Makes a reasonable attempt at
diagnosis when questioned
To finish examination:
- examine the lungs, neurological system, spine and abdomen (if there was a lump)