OET Rx (Student Pre-Class)

Lesson 13: The Language of Physical Examination

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Course Progress

Overall Progress Lesson 13 of 100

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Part 1: Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Give clear and simple instructions to patients during a physical examination.
Explain what you are doing and why to keep the patient informed and at ease.
Use precise medical terminology to describe your objective findings.
Accurately document the results of a physical examination in the case notes.

Lesson Video

Coming Soon

This video will be available for the offline course version.

Part 2: Vocabulary & Examples

Study the words, their pronunciations, Persian translations, and example sentences to understand how they are used in context.

General Vocabulary

factor /ˈfæktər/:

عامل

The patient's inability to bear weight on his left leg is a key factor in my assessment of a possible fracture.

fail /feɪl/:

ناکام ماندن

If you fail to tell me exactly where it hurts, my examination may not be as accurate as it needs to be.

failure /ˈfeɪljər/:

نارسایی

The crackles I heard during auscultation are a classic sign of heart failure.

fairly /ˈfeəli/:

تا حدی

The swelling is fairly symmetrical, which suggests it might be due to a systemic issue rather than a local injury.

fall (n.) /fɔːl/:

سقوط

Can you describe the mechanism of the fall? Did you trip, or did you feel dizzy and then fall?

familiar /fəˈmɪliər/:

آشنا

Does this type of sharp pain feel familiar to you, or is this a new sensation?

fear /fɪər/:

ترس

It is my job to address any fear you may have about the physical examination before we begin.

feature /ˈfiːtʃər/:

ویژگی

The key feature of this rash is that it doesn't blanch under pressure, which is a significant finding.

feel /fiːl/:

احساس کردن

I am going to gently feel your abdomen; please let me know if you experience any pain.

feeling /ˈfiːlɪŋ/:

احساس

Can you describe the feeling? Is it a sharp pain, a dull ache, or more of a burning sensation?

female /ˈfiːmeɪl/:

زن

This is a female patient presenting with lower abdominal pain, so we must consider gynecological causes.

few /fjuː/:

چند

I'm just going to ask you to perform a few simple movements so I can assess your range of motion.

field (of vision) /fiːld/:

میدان دید

Please cover your left eye and tell me when you can see my finger enter your field of vision.

figure (n.) /ˈfɪɡər/:

شکل

The key figure from the examination was his blood pressure, which was dangerously elevated.

file (n.) /faɪl/:

پرونده

I am reviewing your file now, and I see you have a history of similar joint problems.

final /ˈfaɪnl/:

نهایی

The final part of the examination will be to listen to your breathing.

finally /ˈfaɪnəli/:

بالاخره

Finally, I'd like you to stand up and walk a few steps so I can observe your gait.

find /faɪnd/:

پیدا کردن

I did not find any signs of swelling or inflammation during the examination of the joint.

finding /ˈfaɪndɪŋ/:

یافته

The most significant finding from the neurological exam was the weakness in his left hand grip.

Medical Vocabulary

Gait /ɡeɪt/:

راه رفتن

The patient's unsteady gait is a significant finding that requires a full neurological examination.

Inspection /ɪnˈspekʃn/:

بازرسی

On inspection, the skin lesion appeared symmetrical with regular borders, which was a reassuring finding.

Lesion /ˈliːʒn/:

ضایعه

During the oral examination, I found a small ulcerative lesion on the inside of the cheek.

Palpation /pælˈpeɪʃn/:

لمس

Palpation of the abdomen revealed significant tenderness in the right lower quadrant, consistent with appendicitis.

Percussion /pərˈkʌʃn/:

ضربه

Percussion over the lung fields was dull on the left side, which is a finding that suggests fluid accumulation.

Posture /ˈpɒstʃər/:

وضعیت بدن

The patient's stooped posture is a key feature of his Parkinson's disease.

Range of Motion (ROM) /reɪndʒ əv ˈmoʊʃn/:

دامنه حرکت

The patient had a severely restricted range of motion in his shoulder, particularly during abduction.

Swelling /ˈswelɪŋ/:

تورم

On inspection, there was visible swelling and redness around the ankle joint following the fall.

Symmetry /ˈsɪmətri/:

تقارن

I'm checking for facial symmetry now; could you please smile for me?

Tenderness /ˈtendərnəs/:

حساسیت

The patient reported sharp tenderness on palpation of the spinous process at C7.

Part 3: Pre-Class Practice Tests

Reading Task (Interdisciplinary Context: Podiatry):

Excerpt from "A Guide to the Diabetic Foot Examination"

The annual diabetic foot examination is a critical factor in preventing lower limb amputations. The inspection component must be meticulous. The podiatrist should carefully examine the entire surface of both feet, looking for any skin lesions, ulcers, or signs of fungal infection, especially between the toes. Any finding of breaks in the skin is significant. Palpation of the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses is the next step to assess vascular status. Finally, neurological testing, such as using a monofilament to test for sensation, is essential. A failure to detect the pressure from the monofilament indicates peripheral neuropathy, a common feature of long-standing diabetes. Each finding must be carefully documented in the patient's file.

Question: What is the primary purpose of using a monofilament during a diabetic foot examination?

Listening Task (Part A Simulation):

Scenario: You will hear a physiotherapist examining a patient with shoulder pain.

0:00

Task: Complete the notes below. Write one or two words for each gap.

Physiotherapy Assessment Notes

Patient Complaint: Pain on (1)

Objective Findings:

Limited (2) of motion, especially abduction.
Palpation reveals significant (3) over the supraspinatus tendon.
No visible bruising or (4) .

Working Diagnosis: Supraspinatus (5)

Part 4: Answer Key for Pre-Class Work

Reading Answer: b) To assess the patient's neurological sensation.

Listening Answers: (1) lifting the arm, (2) range, (3) tenderness, (4) swelling, (5) tendinopathy / tendonitis

Part 5: In-Class Preparation

Be prepared to discuss the vocabulary and practice the following tasks in class.

Speaking Task: OET Role-Play Card (Medicine)

Setting: An urgent care clinic.
Patient: A 25-year-old who fell onto their outstretched hand and is now presenting with a painful and swollen right knee.
Task: Greet the patient and establish consent for an examination. Give clear, simple instructions throughout the examination. Explain what you are doing as you do it. Perform a basic examination (inspection, palpation, simple range of motion). Briefly summarize your findings to the patient at the end.

Writing Task:

You are the doctor from the speaking scenario. Write the "O" (Objective) section of your SOAP notes for this patient's knee examination. Use appropriate medical terminology to describe your findings.

Proceed to Lesson 14

OET Rx

In this lesson, you will be able to: