Methods For Reaching The Chest Excursion?

Diaphragmatic excursion is the movement of the thoracic diaphragm during breathing, typically 3-5 cm. Palpation is a tactile examination of the chest, which can detect tenderness, asymmetry, diaphragmatic excursion, crepitus, and vocal fremitus. Percussion is used to determine whether underlying structures are fluid-filled, gas-filled, or solid. It penetrates 5-6 centimeters into the chest cavity and may be impeded by other techniques.

The posterior chest is assessed through inspection, chest expansion, percussion, tactile vocal fremitus (or vocal resonance), and auscultation. Traditional reasons for palpating the chest include detecting chest wall tenderness or masses, pleural friction rubs, bronchial fremitus, and abnormalities. The pulmonary exam is a crucial and often practiced exam by clinicians, with both percussion and inspection being equally valuable techniques.

To measure diaphragmatic excursion, ask the patient to inhale and hold it. Percuss from the lower edge of the right scapula down toward the diaphragm. When the note changes, the note changes.

A nurse can accurately measure chest expansion by placing hands on the patient’s back with thumbs at the level of the tenth rib and fingers loosely grasping the chest wall structure. Palpation of the chest includes evaluation of thoracic expansion, percussion, and diaphragmatic excursion. Accentuating normal chest excursion involves placing hands on the patient’s back with thumbs pointed towards the spine.