What are Clinical Examinations? Clinical examinations are the process of evaluating a patient using basic medical skills before relying on laboratory tests or imaging studies. They are based on four main steps: 1. Inspection – Observing the patient’s general appearance, skin color, and body posture. 2. Palpation – Using the hands to feel body parts or areas to detect tenderness, swelling, or abnormalities. 3. Percussion – Tapping on specific areas of the body to determine whether underlying tissues contain air, fluid, or solid structures. 4. Auscultation – Listening to internal body sounds (such as heart, lung, or bowel sounds) using a stethoscope. Importance of Clinical Examination • Helps in making a preliminary diagnosis. • Reduces the need for unnecessary or costly investigations. • Strengthens the doctor–patient relationship. Al-Mustaqbal University – The First University in Iraq.