To carry out a proper bedside or physical examination, one must be further focused on the elements that are important at the bedside.

The first thing is, we look at the general appearance. Again, we can divide this into five fingers. The second thing we do is assess the arterial pulse including the blood pressure; third, the venous pulse; fourth, chest wall or precordial movement. And finally, last but not least, auscultation or listening to the chest for the heart sounds and murmurs. Note, however, that we have relegated auscultation to the fifth finger, even though it is critically important. The reason is, because auscultation must be judged in the context of the entire physical examination, that is, by the company it keeps.