AON Assessment Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The primary physical assessment techniques are critical for gathering comprehensive information about a patient’s health status. These techniques include inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.

Inspection is the initial step where the healthcare provider visually examines the patient for any signs of illness or abnormalities. Palpation involves using the hands to feel the body’s surface, assessing for texture, temperature, and any abnormal masses or tenderness. Percussion involves tapping on the body to listen for sounds that indicate the presence of fluids, air, or solid masses within the organs. Finally, auscultation is the technique of listening to internal body sounds, often using a stethoscope, to evaluate heart, lung, and vascular functions.

The option that lists these four techniques encompasses the full range of physical assessments typically used in clinical practice, making it the correct answer. In contrast, the other options either include unrelated terms or focus on aspects of patient care that do not pertain to the actual assessment techniques.