Physical

Assessment

Physical Assessment
Area Assessed Technique Normal Findings
Skin
Color

Inspection

Lips, nail beds,

soles and
Inspection
palms
Moisture
Inspection/
Palpation
Temperature
Palpation
Texture

Palpation

Turgor

Palpation

Actual Findings

Evaluation

Light brown, tanned

skin (vary according
to race)

Light brown, tanned

skin (vary according
to race)

Suggests
easy
bleeding
and bruising

Lighter colored palms,

soles, lips and nail
beds
Skin normally dry

Lighter colored palms

and soles; pink nail
Normal
beds
Skin normally dry
Normal

Warm to touch
Smooth, soft and
flexible palms and
soles (thicker)
Skin snaps back
immediately

Warm to touch
Smooth, soft and
flexible palms and
soles (thicker)
Skin snaps back
immediately 1-2
seconds

Normal
Normal
Normal

Physical Assessment
Nails
Nails

Inspection

Transparent, smooth
and convex cut and
clean

Transparent, smooth
and convex cut and
clean

Good
grooming

Nail beds
Inspection
Nail base
Inspection
Capillary refill Inspection/
Palpation

Pinkish
Firm
White color of nail
bed under pressure
should return to pink
within 2-3 seconds

Pinkish
Firm
Returns immediately

Normal
Normal
Normal

Hair
Distribution
Color
Texture

Inspection Evenly distributed

Inspection Black
Inspection/ Smooth
Palpation

Evenly distributed
Black
Smooth

Normal
Normal
Normal

Physical Assessment
Eyes
Eyes
Visual Acuity

Inspection
Inspection
(penlight)

Parallel to each other

Pupils equally round
react to light and
accommodation

Parallel to each other

Pupils equally round
react to light and
accommodation

Normal
Normal

Eyebrows

Inspection

Symmetrical in size,
extension, hair texture
and movement

Symmetrical in size,
extension, hair texture
and movement

Normal

Eyelashes

Inspection

Distributed evenly and

curved outward

Distributed evenly and

long curved outward

Normal

Eyelids
Conjunctiva

Inspection
Inspection

Same color as the skin

Transparent with light
pink color

Same color as the skin

Pale

Normal
Suggests anemia

Sclera

Inspection

Color is white

white

Cornea
Pupils
Iris

Inspection
Inspection
Inspection

Transparent, shiny
Black, constrict briskly
Clearly visible

Transparent, shiny
Black, constrict briskly
Clearly visible

Normal
Normal
Normal

Physical Assessment
Ears
Ear canal
opening

Inspection Free of lesions,

discharge of
inflammation
Canal walls pink

Free of lesions,
discharge of
inflammation
Canal walls pink

Normal
Normal

Nose
Shape, size
and skin
color

Inspection Smooth, symmetric Smooth, symmetric

with same color as with same color as Normal
the face
the face

Nares

Inspection Oval, symmetric

and without
discharge

Oval, symmetric
and without
discharge

Normal

Physical Assessment
Mouth and Pharynx
Lips
Inspection
Buccal mucosa Inspection
Gums

Inspection

Tongue

Inspection

Teeth

Inspection

Hard and soft

palate

Inspection

Symmetry of
neck muscles,
alignment of
trachea

Inspection

Pink, moist symmetric

Glistening pink soft
moist
Slightly pink color,
moist and tightly fit
against each tooth
Moist, slightly rough
on dorsal surface
medium or dull red
Firmly set, shiny

Pink, moist symmetric Normal

Pale
Suggests
anemia
Slightly pink color,
moist and tightly fit
Normal
against each tooth
Moist, slightly rough
on dorsal surface
Normal
medium or dull red
Firmly set, shiny
Normal
No tooth decay, milk
tooth present
Hard palate- domeHard palate- domeshaped
shaped
Normal
Soft Palate- light pink Soft Palate- light pink
Neck is slightly hyper Neck is slightly hyper
extended, without
extended, without
Normal
masses or asymmetry masses or asymmetry

Physical Assessment
Neck Rom

Inspection Neck moves freely,

without discomfort

Neck moves freely,

without discomfort

Normal

Thyroid gland

Palpation

Rises freely with

swallowing

Normal

Trachea

Inspection Midline

Midline

Normal

Thorax and Lungs

Auscultati Clear breath sounds

on

Clear breath sounds

Normal

Rises freely with

swallowing

Normal
Abdomen

Inspection Skin same color with Skin same color with

Inspection the rest of the body the rest of the body
Palpation
Assymmetrical

Assymmetrical

Normal

Physical Assessment
Upper Extremities

Inspection
Palpation

- Symmetrically
align
- No lesion
- No swelling
- No mumps
- Light to dark
brown in color

- Symmetrically Normal
align
- No lesion
- No swelling
- No mumps
- Light to dark
brown in color

Lower Extremities

Inspection

Bilaterally
symmetrical and
equal
- Right foot has
complete fingers
- Left foot has
complete fingers
- Skin color is as
same as the
other parts of the
body

Bilaterally Normal
symmetrical and
equal
- Right foot has
complete fingers
- Left foot has
complete fingers
- Skin color is as
same as the
other parts of the
body

Physical Assessment
Neurology System
Level of
consciousness

Inspection

Behavior and
appearance

Inspection

Fully conscious,
Fully conscious,
respond to questions respond quickly to
quickly, perceptive of stimulus
events

Makes eye contact

with examiner,
hyperactive expresses
feelings with response
to the situation

Normal