Standing or sitting
If you wish to palpate on the skin, provide a private room for assessment. Ask the patient if he/she is willing to uncover the appropriate part of the trunk area ñ removing the shirt for men and wearing a halter top, bathing suit, etc. for women. While the skin can not be viewed with clothes covering the area, these general trunk motions usually can be observed and palpated over clothing.
Anterior, posterior, or lateral to the patient.
(Guide the patient to drape appropriately.) Please stand. Move your trunk forward, back, side to side and turn to the left and right. May I touch your rib? (or other appropriate designated area) OR please turn in the directions guided by my hands.
Guide the patient to drape appropriately. With the patient relaxed and after asking permission to touch, gently place your hands on the trunk to guide motion. Either demonstrate or guide the patient to do the following motions while noting the motion of the trunk.
ï Lean the trunk forward in flexion
ï Lean the trunk backward in extension
ï Lean the trunk to the right and left in trunk lateral flexion to the right and left, respectively.
ï Rotate the anterior trunk to the right and left in trunk rotation to the right and left, respectively.
Joints of the trunk include the intervertebral joints between the vertebral bodies and the vertebral arches, the costovertebral joints, and the sternocostal joints.
ï Lean the trunk forward in flexion
ï Lean the trunk backward in extension
ï Lean the trunk to the right and left in trunk lateral flexion to the right and left, respectively.
ï Rotate the anterior trunk to the right and left in trunk rotation to the right and left, respectively.
Joints of the trunk include the intervertebral joints between the vertebral bodies and the vertebral arches, the costovertebral joints, and the sternocostal joints.
VH - Whole body skeleton, diagonal side view, cross section at T - 8