General examination

Psychical state of the patient
 
Development and growth
 
Position, movements, speech, and voice

precedes the examination of individual parts of the human body. It already begins with the first contact with the patient, when taking the anamnesis. Not only listening to the patient, but also his/her general observation is essential.
 
At the general examination, the attention should be focussed on evaluating the mental state, growth, nutrition, posture and walk, voice and speech. The examination of the skin and body temperature follows.