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Palpation is the use of physical touch during examination. During palpation, the physician checks for areas of tenderness, abnormalities of the skin, respiratory expansion and fremitus. [14] To assess areas of tenderness, palpate areas of pain, bruises, or lesions on the front and back of the chest.
Pulmonary function testing (PFT) is a complete evaluation of the respiratory system including patient history, physical examinations, and tests of pulmonary function. The primary purpose of pulmonary function testing is to identify the severity of pulmonary impairment. [1]
The pulmonary examination or respiratory examination is the portion of the physical examination where the physician examines the respiratory system for signs of disease. It is performed as a part of a complete physical examination , or the physician may choose to perform a focused respiratory exam.
Impulse oscillometry (IOS), also known as respiratory oscillometry, forced oscillatory technique (FOT), or just oscillometry, is a non-invasive lung function test that measures the mechanical properties of the respiratory system, particularly the upper and intrathoracic airways, lung tissue and chest wall, usually during the patient's tidal breathing (the way someone breathes when they are ...
Dual band respiratory inductance plethysmography can be used to describe various measures of complex respiratory patterns. The image shows waveforms and measures commonly analyzed. Respiratory rate is the number of breaths per minute. A non-specific measure of respiratory disorder. Tidal volume (Vt) is the volume inspired and expired with each ...
To assess the reversibility of a particular condition, a bronchodilator can be administered before performing another round of tests for comparison. This is commonly referred to as a reversibility test , or a post bronchodilator test (Post BD), and is an important part in diagnosing asthma versus COPD.
Diffusing capacity of the lung (D L) (also known as transfer factor) measures the transfer of gas from air in the lung, to the red blood cells in lung blood vessels. It is part of a comprehensive series of pulmonary function tests to determine the overall ability of the lung to transport gas into and out of the blood.
A man undergoing whole body plethysmography. A modern body plethysmograph using ultrasound. A plethysmograph is an instrument for measuring changes in volume within an organ or whole body (usually resulting from fluctuations in the amount of blood or air it contains). The word is derived from the Greek "plethysmos" (increasing, enlarging ...