Skip to content
Epomedicine

Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

Epomedicine

Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

henrique durao

Some Mnemonics for Physical Examination

Dr. Henrique Durão, FCP (CMSA), Sep 18, 2019Sep 18, 2019

CAUSES OF­ INCREASED PIGMENTATION

S: Systemic sclerosis

H: Hemochromatosis 1*

A: Alkaptonuria

K: Kala azar

A: Arsenicosis

H: Hemochromatosis 2*

A: Addison’s

N: Nelson’s

D: Drugs

  • Amiodarone
  • Busulfan
  • Bleomycin
  • Phenytoin
  • Phenothiazine
  • Psoralen

SADDLE NOSE

S: Sarcoid, Syphilis congenital, Sponastrine dysplasia, Steward granuloma (extranodal NK/T lymphoma, EBV+), Stickler syndrome (chromos 12 mutation, short nose, & stature, submucous palatal cleft, myopisa and hearing loss, joint hypermobility)

A: Alpha L I idurinidase deficiency, Anticoagulation [Warfarin]

D: Dysplasia Otospondylo megaepiphyseal and Rhizomelic

D: Deletion 7p

L: Lowe syndrome

Et al: Wegener, Polychondritis, I cell disease, Rothmund Thomson, Cocaine abuse

LOOK at the MOUTH & remember what you can diagnose

M: Mallampati (OSA), Marfan, Macroglossia (Beckwith Wiedemann syndr.), M5 (Monocytic AML), Muir’s crackle (laryngeal crepitus), Micrognathia & Macrognathia, Miura Cooperman syndrome (retrusion of the mandible causing tongue uvula impingement)

O: Odor (bronchiectasis, lung abscess), OHL (oral hairy leukoplakia in HIV = EBV)

U: Ulcers, Uvula (Bifid: Loeyz Dietz syndrome, Pallister Hall syndrome)

T: Tongue, Tonsils, Teeth, Tardive dyskinesia, Trotter syndrome (nasopharyngeal ca with unilateral deafness, + Trigeminal nerve neuralgia)

H: Hypertrophic gums (ciclosporin, nifedipine, phenytoin, myelomonocytic leukemia, Wegener’s), HOCM (high arch palate, pes cavus, kyphoscoliosis), Heavy chain disease (Franklin g heavy chain, palatal edema), Hemorrhage (ITP, aplastic anemia), Hemorrhagic gingivitis (scurvy)

MOUTH ULCERS

  • Arthritis (Reiter syndrome), Aphthous ulcers, Appliances
  • Behcet’s disease, B12 deficiency, Burns
  • Crohn’s, Coeliac disease, Chickenpox, Cancer & Mucositis
  • Drugs: Brufen & NSAIDs, beta blockers, nicorandil, PTU, Alendronate, Cytotoxics & Diabetes
  • Erythema multiform, Epidermolysis bullosa
  • F” forget not: pemphigus vulgaris & pemphigoid, Febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet’s syndrome)
  • GPA (Wegener), GCA, PAN, & Glucagonoma
  • Hand Foot Mouth disease, HIV
  • Iron deficiency
  • Johnson (Stevens Johnson Syndrome SJS)
  • KO: Trauma
  • Lupus, Leishmaniasis, Lichen planus, Linear IgA disease (cluster of jewels, string of pearls)
henrique durao
Dr. Henrique Durão, FCP (CMSA)

Hard worker, Reliable, Team player, Family man.

MBChB (O’Porto Univ.), Dip HIV Man (CMSA), DTM&H (Wits), DipPEC (CMSA), Dip Internal Medicine (CMSA), M. Med. Clinical Pharm [Cum Laude] (Univ. Pretoria), FCP (CMSA)

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS Clinical examination

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post

Related Posts

PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS

Pes Anserinus : Mnemonic

Apr 29, 2021Apr 29, 2021

Pes Anserinus is composed of the combination of tendinous insertions of the sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus muscles (guy ropes muscles) which attaches to the medial side of tibia to generate a “goose’s foot” like appearance. These three muscles are mainly flexors of the knee but also have a role in…

Read More
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS

AO fracture classification made easy

Oct 8, 2022Dec 2, 2024

It is an alpha-numeric system of classification developed by Muller and colleagues. Step 1: 1st digit specifies bone Step 2: 2nd digit specifies segment of bone Square definition: Proximal and distal segments are defined by a square whose sides = length of widest part of epiphysis Exceptions of square definition:…

Read More
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS

SIMPLE approach to Nutritional Care in Elderly Patients

Jul 4, 2025Jul 4, 2025

The essence of this approach is that, rather than requiring a highly specialized nutritionist, a systematic assessment on the part of all the disciplines that are interacting with the patients can achieve what is needed for the nutritional care of the older patient with a fragility fracture, regardless of setting…

Read More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Durão H. Some Mnemonics for Physical Examination [Internet]. Epomedicine; 2019 Sep 18 [cited 2026 Jan 17]. Available from: https://epomedicine.com/medical-students/some-mnemonics-for-physical-examination/.

Pre-clinical (Basic Sciences)

Anatomy

Biochemistry

Community medicine (PSM)

Embryology

Microbiology

Pathology

Pharmacology

Physiology

Clinical Sciences

Anesthesia

Dermatology

Emergency medicine

Forensic

Internal medicine

Gynecology & Obstetrics

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Orthopedics

Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)

Pediatrics

Psychiatry

Radiology

Surgery

RSS Ask Epomedicine

  • What to study for Clinical examination in Orthopedics?
  • What is the mechanism of AVNRT?

Epomedicine weekly

  • About Epomedicine
  • Contact Us
  • Author Guidelines
  • Submit Article
  • Editorial Board
  • USMLE
  • MRCS
  • Thesis
©2026 Epomedicine . All rights reserved.