Inspecting the trunk
If there is a particular reason to do so, uncover and inspect the back, the chest and the abdomen.
(If there is not a special reason, this can be left for the moment. You will definitely expose and examine the torso as part of your systematic examination of the respiratory system, cardiovascular system and abdomen at a later stage.
Check the thyroid gland
Before moving on from the face to the axillae, examine the thyroid gland. Look to see if it is visibly enlarged.
After inspecting the thyroid for visible enlargement, palpate each lobe and the isthmus
| AFRIKAANS | TRANSCRIPT | XHOSA |
|---|---|---|
| Ok?/ Reg so. / Kulungile. | ||
| Now I am going to examine your thyroid./ Nou gaan ek u skildklier ondersoek. / Ngoku ndiza kuxilonga idlala lomqala. | ||
| Please swallow (for me)./ Sluk asseblief vir my. / Ndicela uginye. |
Then feel gently for the gland. In most normal people, the gland itself cannot be felt - just the larynx, the cricoid and the tracheal cartilages.
If the gland is enlarged, you need to determine its shape, whether there are one or more palpable nodules, and whether it is abnormally warm. You will also listen for a bruit over a diffusely enlarged thyroid. Read more about this in a textbook.
