📋General Survey and Measurements

General Survey Characteristics

👤 The General Survey is a Study of the whole person

• 🩺 Covers general health state & obvious physical characteristics
• 👀 Provides an overall impression
• 📊 Includes objective parameters that apply to the whole body, not just one system
• 🤝 Even while introducing yourself and shaking hands → you are collecting data
• 📝 During health history, vitals, and measurements → note these 4 areas:
1. 👤 Physical appearance
2. 🏗 Body structure
3. 🚶 Mobility
4. 🎭 Behavior

🧾 Objective Data: Physical Appearance

• 🎂 Age: Appears stated age
• ⚧ Sex: Sexual development appropriate for age/gender
• 🎨 Skin color: Even tone; intact; consistent with genetic background
• 👀 Overall appearance: General statement of distress (present/absent)
• 🧠 Level of consciousness: Alert & oriented (person, place, time); responds appropriately
• 🙂 Facial features: Symmetrical with movement

🏗 Objective Data: Body Structure

• 📏 Stature: Height within normal range for age & heritage
• ⚖️ Nutrition: Weight normal for height/build; even fat distribution
• 🔄 Symmetry: Body parts equal bilaterally & proportional
• 🧍 Posture: Stands comfortably erect (age-appropriate)
• 🪑 Position: Comfortable sitting; arms relaxed; head turned to examiner

🚶 Objective Data: Mobility

• 👣 Gait: Base as wide as shoulders
• 🦶 Foot placement: Accurate, smooth, even, balanced; symmetric arm swing
• 🤸 Range of motion: Full mobility, deliberate, accurate, smooth, coordinated
• ❌ Involuntary movement: None present

🎭 Objective Data: Behavior

⚖️ Objective Data: Measurements

👵 Developmental Competence (Aging Adults)

• 🧍 Posture & Gait: Normal age-related changes may alter posture and walking style.
• ⚖️ Measurements: Weight and height decrease are common with age (bone loss, muscle changes, spinal compression).

⚠️ Abnormalities in Body Weight & Proportion

👶 Dwarfism

• Hypopituitary dwarfism → (Non-genetic) Deficiency of growth hormone → short stature, delayed puberty.
• Achondroplastic dwarfism → Genetic disorder affecting bone growth → short limbs, normal trunk.

📏 Gigantism vs Acromegaly (Hyperpituitarism)

• Gigantism → Excess growth hormone in childhood → abnormal tallness.
• Acromegaly → Excess growth hormone in adulthood → enlarged bones of face, hands, feet.

🍽 Anorexia Nervosa

• Psychiatric disorder → severe weight loss, malnutrition, body image distortion.

🧬 Endogenous Obesity (Cushing’s Syndrome)

• Excess cortisol → central obesity, moon face, buffalo hump, thin limbs.

🦴 Marfan Syndrome

• Genetic connective tissue disorder → tall stature, long arms/legs/fingers, cardiac complications.