Elements of Respiratory, Cardiovascular and Chest Exam

Respiratory

Assessment of respiratory effort (eg, intercostal retractions, use of accessory
muscles, diaphragmatic movement)
Percussion of chest (eg, dullness, flatness, hyperresonance)
Palpation of chest (eg, tactile fremitus)
Auscultation of lungs (eg, breath sounds, adventitious sounds, rubs)


Cardiovascular 

Palpation of heart (eg, location, size, thrills)
Auscultation of heart with notation of abnormal sounds and murmurs
Examination of:
carotid arteries (eg, pulse amplitude, bruits)
abdominal aorta (eg, size, bruits)
femoral arteries (eg, pulse amplitude, bruits)
pedal pulses (eg, pulse amplitude)
extremities for edema and/or varicosities


Chest (Breasts)
Inspection of breasts (eg, symmetry, nipple discharge)
Palpation of breasts and axillae (eg, masses or lumps, tenderness)