Physical Examination: Adolescent
Male
What happens during a physical examination?A physical examination is an important aspect of
staying healthy. Physicals should be performed yearly and often for
adolescents before entrance into sports. The physician will examine the
eyes, ears, nose, throat, mouth, abdomen, back, legs, arms, and thyroid
gland. In addition, the physician will complete an assessment of growth
and evaluate pubertal changes. Screening for hypertension, scoliosis,
and obesity may be performed. Approximately 5 percent of male
adolescents have a mild curvature of the spine. Curves greater than 10
degrees should be monitored by your adolescent's physician until
growth is completed.
Another
important part of this examination involves the examination of the genitals and
the scrotum. The scrotum is the bag of skin that holds and helps protect
the testicles. The testicles make sperm, and to do this, the temperature
of the testicles needs to be cooler than the inside of the body. This is
why the scrotum is located outside of the body.
During the physical examination, the physician will examine the
genitals, including the penis and testicles. The physician may ask the teenager to
cough while examining the scrotum. Although this can be
embarrassing for an adolescent male, it is necessary to help evaluate the
presence of hernias or tumors.
A hernia is when part of the intestine, or bowel, pushes down inside
the scrotum from the abdomen. If a person has a hernia, this part of the
bowel can become trapped inside the scrotum, causing serious problems.
The physician checks for this by having the male cough while feeling
inside the scrotal sac. Hernias may be felt as the person coughs and the
bowel is pushed downwards. Hernias can be corrected with surgery.
Tumors are growths that occur throughout the body, including the
testicles. Testicular tumors in adolescents are rare, but the physician
may check for this during the examination. The physician will instruct the male how to perform self-examinations.
It is important to know, as an adolescent male, that although this
part of the physical may be embarrassing, it is necessary to make sure
there are no problems.
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Online Resources page of this Web. |
Pediatric Primary Care
Adolescent Medicine (Pediatrics)
Combined Approach to Weight Management
Male Physical Development