Temporalis muscle |
Standing in front of the patient, observe the region, then ask patient to turn head side to side and observe the lateral region |
Can see/feel well defined muscle Slightly bulged or flat |
Slight depression |
Hollowing, deep depression |
Clavicle bone, pectoris major, deltoid and trapezius muscles |
With the patient erect, observe the frontal and dorsal regions Look for prominent bones |
Men: bones are not visible Women: bones visible, but not protruding |
Men: bones visible Women: bones visible with slight protrusion |
Prominent bones |
Clavicle bone, acromion process and deltoid muscle |
Patient may be sitting or standing, with arms extended alongside the body |
Rounded, curves at shoulders and neck |
Acromion process may slightly protrude. Sharp shoulders |
Shoulder to arm joint square, angular Prominent bones, acromion protrusion very prominent |
Scapular bone region, dorsal trapezius and lumbar region |
Patient may be standing or sitting, hands straight out, pushing against a solid object |
Bones not prominent, no significant depressions |
Mild depression, bones may show lightly |
Prominent, visible bones, easy to see depression between shoulders, ribs, scapulae and the vertebral spine |
Dorsal hand, interosseus muscles |
Look at thumb side of hand, ask patient to bring together tip of forefinger and tip of thumb |
Muscle bulges, could be flat in some well-nourished adults |
Slightly depressed |
Significantly depressed |
Anterior thigh region, quadriceps muscle |
Patient must be sitting and propping leg up on the bed/chair in a 90º angle |
Well developed muscle |
Mild depression on inner thigh |
Clear depression/line on thigh |
Patellar region, quadriceps muscle |
Patient must be sitting and propping leg up on the bed/chair in a 90º angle |
Muscle protrudes, bone not prominent |
Slightly protruded bones, less muscle definition around the knee |
Prominent bones, little sign of muscle around the knee |
Posterior calf region |
Patient must be sitting and propping leg up or bending knee, or sitting with legs hanging off edge of bed |
Well developed muscle |
Muscle not well developed, reasonably shaped, slightly firm on palpation |
Minimal to none muscle definition, no firmness on palpation |